Solved Can't install Lexmark printer driver because MS driver blocks it

[halfbeing]

I am trying to install Lexmark's universal drivers for my E323 printer. I get to the bit where the install tries to find a printer to create a queue, and then it gets stuck.

If I unplug the printer, delete the Microsoft E323 queue, and then run the Lexmark driver installer again, and if I then get to the page in the installer for finding the printer and connect the printer, there is some brief activity from the installer showing that it has at least seen the printer and is trying to create a queue. However after a couple of seconds I get a notification from the system tray showing that Windows has once again nipped in there and installed its own queue, and the Lexmark driver installation gets stuck once more.

How can I force installation of the Lexmark driver/queue instead of the broken Microsoft driver?

 

[marsmimar]

Hello halfbeing and welcome to Seven Forums.

According to Lexmark's compatibility page, the only driver that should be used with the E323 is the Windows 7 OS Driver which should be pre-packaged with the Windows 7 installation media or is available as an optional download from Microsoft or Windows Updates. The Universal Printer Driver doesn't appear to be compatible with the E323.

http://support.lexmark.com/index?page=content&id=OS6&locale=EN&userlocale=EN_US

If Lexmark does have a newer driver for your E323, you might be able to find it by following these instructions; especially the part about uninstalling an older driver before installing the newer version.

If that doesn't help there's an email link in the left column here.

 

[halfbeing]

Thanks for your reply.

I have actually got it working now with the Lexmark universal driver using the following procedure:

Run the Lexmark installer as far as it goes (i.e. without creating a new queue). This will install the driver.
Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers;
Right-click the printer (the queue created by Windows) and select Printer Properties;
Go to Advanced tab;
Choose your driver - in my case the Lexmark Universal v2 driver instead of the MS one.

 

[marsmimar]

That's great news! I've had my share of problems with Lexmark. When my Win 7 driver wouldn't work, Lexmark had me try all sorts of things. I finally used a Vista driver in compatibility mode. Congratulations getting it fixed.