How to install printer over network?

[Anthony2816]

Here you go, Aem. This is with the printer attached to the XP 32-bit machine, trying to install it over the network on the W7 64-bit machine. The last two shots show the loop I get stuck in. After Windows fails to find a driver either locally or on the internet (despite the fact that if I plug the printer into this computer it works fine), it asks me to point it to an inf file. No matter where I point it, it says it "doesn't contain software for your device", leaving me no option but to cancel. It never allows me to select a printer from a list.

 

[magicK]

I dont know why you ignored me last time, but install the VISTA drivers on the XP machine (NOT THE PLUG AND PLAY) and then your 7 machine will be able to download the drivers the way your trying to...

 

[Anthony2816]

Sorry, MagicK; I didn't ignore you, but forgot to reply.

I've tried to get Vista drivers (both 32 and 64 bit) from HP.com, but when I select those OSs all they offer for my Color Laserjet 2550L are their "Universal Printer Drivers"...and when I click on the link for any of the three drivers offered, I just get a "file or folder doesn't exist error"...so I was unable to do as you suggested.

 

[Anthony2816]

Bump?

 

[magicK]

Looks like they changed the drivers a little bit.

Connect the printer to the XP machine
Id try installing http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...wEnvOID=2093&swLang=8&taskId=135&mode=4&idx=0 that on the XP machine install like this: First time Driver installation: Policy is disabled
When using the Add Printer Wizard or the Install.exe file to install the UPD 5.0.1 for the first time on a PC, the default behavior will be that the Policy management is disabled. This means that the UPD will not search for management policy information created either by the Managed Printer Administrator software, or by the Active Directory group policy object


then try to network with the 7 machine

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...wEnvOID=2093&swLang=8&taskId=135&mode=4&idx=0

 

[aem]

Ok can you advise what is in the drivers folder? Is it an .exe that extracts and installs the driver when you install manually?

I would like to see what is in this .exe zip file. The .inf file that the system is trying to use is evident that it isn't the correct one (ie 32Bit vs 64bit). sometime the system will select the .inf file that it finds to be a matching with the OS however, it might not know that the system needs a 64Bit etc.

 

[Anthony2816]

MagicK, I just tried to download the file from that link you gave me, and again got a "No such file or directory" error.

I'll try calling HP tomorrow to see if there's some way to get it.

(I also notice your link went to the PCL5 driver...is that the correct one? I have no idea...)

 

[Tepid]

MagicK, I just tried to download the file from that link you gave me, and again got a "No such file or directory" error.

I'll try calling HP tomorrow to see if there's some way to get it.

(I also notice your link went to the PCL5 driver...is that the correct one? I have no idea...)

As long as it is the right driver for the right OS and model printer, it should work.

I also get the same error,, it is a problem on HP's website.

 

[Anthony2816]

As long as it is the right driver for the right OS and model printer, it should work.

Well, it's their "universal" driver...

 

[Tepid]

Well,, Universal doesn't always mean Universal. It's that English language thing. all the vowels and sometimes y

They don't all work with all printers,,,,

 

[DocBrown]

I have had good luck & bad luck networking printers with Win7.

Sometimes I have to connect the printer directly to the Win7 computer & install it as a local printer. Then move it back to the other computer & try to install it over the network. Sometimes it works with some printers & sometimes it don't.

Trial & Error Testing



" Doc "

 

[magicK]

Hmm yeah I just tried to d/l the package and im getting an error too. Someone may need to call HP cause I doubt they know.

 

[chev65]

Maybe if you follow this post from Jimbo it will help.

Hi all

I've posted this topic so many times -- but here we go again.

(Mods perhaps a sticky here for Networking Printers)

I've posted on this before but to share Printers attached to XP computers with either X-64 or X-32 versions of Windows 7 is SIMPLE. These instructions are for the Printer attached to the XP machine (but works in reverse as well).

("Stand alone" Network printers can be done slightly similarly BTW).

assume the computers are call XPMACHINE and W7MACHINE.

1) Ensure Printer on XP machine is shared - assume it's called SHAREDPRINTER.

2) On the Network Browsing on your Windows 7 machine ensure you can "See" the Printer share.

Now on the Windows 7 machine do the following (doesn't matter if it's X-86 or x-64).

3) Control Panel==> add LOCAL (Yes LOCAL) printer. I know it's on a Network but hold your horses -- what we are actually doing is "Poodlefaking" the Windows 7 machine into thinking it's running the printer.

4) Create NEW port==>Local port

5) Portname is \\XPMACHINE\SHAREDPRINTER

6) Now Windows 7 will load a driver and you'll be able to print on the XP machine.

Simple

(For a "Network stand alone printer") at 4) chose TCPIP port
and at 5) enter the IP address.


If the printer is on the Windows 7 machine and you want to print on the XP machine then do the same instructions on the XP machine --
port name in this case will be \\W7MACHINE\SHAREDPRINTER

Cheers

jimbo

 

[Anthony2816]

Chev65 and Jimbo, thank you, thank you, thank you! That worked great.

Why the heck this undocumented bit of convolution is necessary I can't begin to guess, but I'm glad this part of adapting to 64-bit Windows 7 is over.

(And to tie up one loose end, I finally got the 64-bit universal drivers from HP, MagicK, but when I tried to install them on the XP machine, it wouldn't install...just gave a "(null) is not a valid Win32 application" error. But thanks for your input anyway!)

 

[DaLog]

Anthony, I had a similar problem and found a fix. I have pasted below a portion of a message I left on the Hardware forums that describes how I fixed the problems. I am fairly confident that this will fix your problem.

The computer could "see" the printer on the network but said it couldn't find a driver for it.
4) I did several hours of research on the web and hit upon a solution that WORKED!
5) I selected "Add a Printer" from the Devices and Printers menu.
6) I selected "Add a LOCAL printer" (Emphasis on LOCAL, NOT NETWORK printer)
7) In the next menu I selected "Create a new port" and "Local port"
8) In the next menu where it asks "Enter a port name", I entered \\DELL8100\970Cse. ("DELL8100" is the name of the computer that shares the printer and "970Cse" is the name of the printer share) In my humble opinion the "Enter a port name" should be labeled "Enter a port PATH" instead!!!!!
9) Then I just kept hitting "Enter" until it finished.

 

[crshields]

Solution!

So I was suffering from the same issue with my Vista32 lappy and Windows7 64 desktop. I was quite angry until I noticed that Windows7 has an option to install additional drivers for other computers. I tried installing the 32-bit drivers locally and had the same issue. Thus, it had to be something with the driver and windows7. Opened up the .inf file and sure enough, the driver called the printer "Canon MP160 Printer" and windows7 called it "Canon Inkjet MP160 Printer." Edited the .inf file to match the windows7 name and voila.

So here it is simply:

Download the drivers

If the printer is connected to the x64 machine, open the .inf file and look for the section titled [Model Name].

Rename "HP 2550L" to "HP Color Laserjet 2550L" or whatever your x64 machine calls it.

Try the network installation again.

If the printer's connected to the 32-bit machine, you probably just need to delete some of the words out of the 64-bit driver.

 

[Lozzy]

Maybe if you follow this post from Jimbo it will help.

Hi all

I've posted this topic so many times -- but here we go again.

(Mods perhaps a sticky here for Networking Printers)

Hi Jimbo,

that works a treat, thank you so much...simple isn't it? when you know

make this sticky pleeese!!

 

[sjunaidr]

Thanks for you all for this great discovery, It works fine

 

[emhsurfr]

Dear Chevy65/Jimbo,

You are a life saver!! I am sorry I haven't seen your other posts. I spent almost 5 hours trying to figure the same problem as Anthony2816. I exhausted all options, including going to the manufacturer web sites (getting same bloody messages), going to other forums and going down to the "geek squad" at best buys. None useful and all advises were unsure and B.S. I even bought a print server for $90 and was fuzzying with it (without success of course). Then I came across your response and it worked within "1 Minute". Wish others don't just B.S. and get to the point like your solution. Thanks so much again!!!!!