New
#11
Maybe I explained it badly...
- When running Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium the printer and scanner worked flawlessly using an USB cable
- After we upgraded to Windows 10, the printer itself still worked fine, but the scanner did not, a condition we did not notice until the time for rollback had come and gone
- Now, after an install of Windows 7 32 bit Home Premium, the printer seems to not recognize it when, as part of the install, we connect the USB cable to the computer
I'm blameless on this one. My wife, knowing that the quote upgrade unquote was free, and getting tired of the incessant Microsoft nags updated on her own. Which, of course leaves me (and this forum) to deal with the fallout. I've already marked threads about this issue as 'solved' on the Windows 10 forum, and on the Installation & Setup subforum here. Hopefully, those threads do not need to be reopened since I have managed to get Windows 7 successfully installed.
I still think you need to wipe that drive - sorry but in my mind it is the only way to make sure you have cleared the drive completely and securely.
I agree with Baddog that one should always back up before doing such moves and I personally clone a drive then use that clone to upgrade to whatever if things go pear shaped or I just don't like it the original drive is swapped back in.
The nags boweasel mate could have been hidden and if they come back as they surely will unless you are very vigilant with the wretched updates you need to go to the 10 forum and get hold of the tutorials that list such things, As a matter of fact I automatically set updates to let me choose and also install the disable upgarde batch file to all of my machines - Upgrade to Windows 10 Update - Enable or Disable in Windows 7 or 8.1 - Windows 10 Forums
But this isn't solving the problem with the printer eh? Is there any chance of getting a wifi adaptor and trying that because that link I sent re the driver for the printer should have fixed it good and proper.
As horrible as the thought is, you might be right. Or not. I refuse to believe that the printer cable port on the back of the HP 4500 decided to malfunction at exactly the same time that I reinstalled Windows 7. I'm not a big believer in coincidence. So I'm left with the thought that Windows 10 did something to the printer, or to the computer. Since I reformatted the HDD, my belief is that 10 screwed up the printer somehow that left the printer cable port dysfunctional. But I allow that my failure to do a total wipe of the drive may have compromised something on the reinstall of 7. I dunno. The prospect of reinstalling all those drivers and updates is daunting. But the prospect of buying another printer and finding out that I have the same connection problem is equally scary.
Unless I'm mistaken, even installing a wireless printer requires at least some initial wired connection. I'm assuming that it's necessary for the driver, otherwise why would the troubleshooting diagnostics tell me that I'm missing the printer driver? That issue wouldn't go away simply by purchasing a wireless adapter. If it would, then I could simply install the printer wirelessly to our laptop, then set it up as a network printer, making it accessible to both computers.,
Well have set up a few now and just recently too and never needed the cable for that - all you need are the drivers for the printer - and the wifi card if you purchase one. It could be different in your case but I am thinking that would be most unusual.even installing a wireless printer requires at least some initial wired connection
The driver for the printer has to be installed of course and it would include any software for a wifi connection and the printers I installed with wifi were HP's.
In the manual http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c02051571 around page 115 to 125 there are solutions for any firewall and network issues - anyway the wifi is just an option.
Apparently with HP printers you need the USB cable to get the driver. I downloaded the basic software (meaning driver only) for the HP 4500 to the laptop I'm using now and started the install. I was never prompted to choose whether it would be a wired or wireless setup - it just told me at some point to plug in the USB cable. After I did, just like with the Lenovo tower, nothing happened. The install did not continue. The word 'Next' never became un-grayed. When I checked the box to skip that step, the printer was installed on the laptop, but it was non-functional, because it had no driver.
Well I don't know about other places but I set up both my partners and my laptops without having to use a cable - maybe it is different out here. The drivers I just downloaded from HP on the net after initially using the DVD that came with the printer - we are using a HP 6700 Officejet Pro all in one and so far it has worked flawlessly. The software disk was well out of date of course which is why I went to the net.Apparently with HP printers you need the USB cable to get the driver
According to HP Printer Specifications for HP Officejet 4500 All-in-One Printer Series | HP® Customer Support
The model you listed in the OP doesn't have wired or wireless capability,