Attach a printer in WXP compatibility mode???  

I have an NEC Superscript 870 that does not have W7 drivers. Is it at all possible to run a printer in WXP compatibility mode as we can run programs in WXP compatibility mode??? Sure would not only save a few (very dear) dollars, but also prevent idiotic waste of a perfectly good asset (where is all of their "think green" money where their mouths are???). I am intentionally not upgrading one computer to W7 just so I can copy docs over to the WXP computer and bring them up on it so I can print them.

brucemc777 said:

I have an NEC Superscript 870 that does not have W7 drivers. Is it at all possible to run a printer in WXP compatibility mode as we can run programs in WXP compatibility mode??? Sure would not only save a few (very dear) dollars, but also prevent idiotic waste of a perfectly good asset (where is all of their "think green" money where their mouths are???). I am intentionally not upgrading one computer to W7 just so I can copy docs over to the WXP computer and bring them up on it so I can print them.

Hi Bruce. If there is an install program for those drivers, you could try to run that in Compatibility Mode, but you can't install drivers in Compatibility Mode.

Compatibility Mode changes settings for that program so that it thinks it's running in XP/Vista. But with drivers, the .dll and .sys files are written for XP and you can change all the settings you want but they'll ALWAYS be written for XP and therefore probably won't work with 7.

Thanks,
ZeshanA
If I helped, please click the scales at the top right of my post.

So I guess my printers (I have two of them) and I are up a proverbial creek without a paddle... I wonder if anyone has ever looked into and published a report/comparison as to what manufacturers do the best job in providing updated drivers for their older models. I won't bother buying NEC ever again, for what good is saving a few dollars when you have to replace the printers every time an OS gets updated?

brucemc777 said:

So I guess my printers (I have two of them) and I are up a proverbial creek without a paddle... I wonder if anyone has ever looked into and published a report/comparison as to what manufacturers do the best job in providing updated drivers for their older models. I won't bother buying NEC ever again, for what good is saving a few dollars when you have to replace the printers every time an OS gets updated?

No manufacturer will support a product by making drivers for EVERY OS. But you'd be best off by buying one of the newest models. They'll probably supply drivers for the next OS at least. As for a specific manufacturer, I bought my Lexmark last year and they've made XP drivers, Vista Drivers and now 7 Drivers. I think 3 OS drivers is good enough as Microsoft usually release an OS every three years. 3 OS'x3 Years=9 Years

I think 9 years makes a Lexmark printer a pretty good investment .

P.S. Thanks for the rep

ZeshanA

Hi there

The best way round this problem is to install windows XP as a Virtual machine - use Virtual Box (free) or vmware server / player (both free).

Then by sharing files from the W7 host system with your VM you can simply use the XP Virtual machine as a "Printer Server".

Don't install any apps on it - just the printer.
I think also if you download XP mode you get a Free XP system if you don't have your XP disk any more. However you will have to DISABLE desktop integration and run it as a "Normal VM" to install printer drivers etc-- it's easier to use VBOX or VMWARE IMO).

Look at the Virtualisation section in the forums for help in setting up virtual machines.

No need to throw hardware away just because it's xxx years old. I'm still using an old HP plotter from the late 1980's and its STILL Excellent.

Cheers
jimbo

As courtesy of a series of unfortunate events, I recently have upgraded the computer in question to the W7 machine it is now. Perhaps, no, actually replaced every component other than the video card, is more accurate. I am now running an Intel quad core 2.8 (or so) and 8GB RAM. The reason for those notes is my question on running a VM - If I start the VM up, what performance hit will the computer take? I have played with running a WXP VM once before and it seemed fairly simple, but I did not experiment enough to really have a feel, much less operating knowledge, for.

I worry about what would be needed to do anytime I reboot the system, the resources it would take along with the hit on the main system operation, and everything that I simply do not have the experience to ask that might create a problem for me. On the other hand from the little I have read, it would seem that all the knowledgable people constantly run a VM for a number of reasons!