Thanks TomB!
Appearently if you use a
USB Connection "windows 7 downloads drivers automatically". Mine didn't go as smoothly, but nonetheless, with a few minor changes, it was a SOLUTION!
WIN7RULES!
In my case, I tried connecting with an ethernet cord. You either can't use an ethernet cord or I just wasn't patient enough to find out. In any event, my computer was taking forever to locate "available devices", so I had to "feed" my printer's location to my computer. I've added the steps that I took (approx 5 mins). I've tried to make the directions extremely detailed, as I imagined my mother trying to do this by herself.
Hopefully it works for others, too!
NOTE: If you have changed your network password and cannot remember it, these steps will help you retrieve it through your printer. However, if you have changed your network password and don't remember it
AND your printer is no longer connected to the network, you will need to "reset" your router. I'm not sure how you do this, but I believe it involves contacting your ISP (internet service provider). Sorry.
Connect Your Printer to Your Network:
STEP 0: If your printer is already connected to the network skip to Retrieving Your Printer PASSWORD and IP ADDRESS:
STEP 1: On your HP C7200, push the Setup button (picture of a wrench).
STEP 2: Scroll down until Network is highlighted and then push the OK button.
STEP 3: Scroll down until Wireless Setup wizard is highlighted and then push the OK button.
STEP 4: Scroll down until 2wire577 (or whatever network name your router assinged or you renamed it) is highlighted and then push the OK button
STEP 5: Enter your password when it asks you for either a password or a network key. If this is a first-time setup, the password is the network key located on the bottom of your router. Otherwise, it is either the network key (still) or whatever password you assigned when you initially setup your network.
Retrieving Your Printer PASSWORD and IP ADDRESS:
STEP 0: Make sure your computer is "ON" and connected to the network. If you already know your printer password and IP address, skip to Downloading HP C7200 Drivers with Windows 7.
STEP 1: Push the Setup button (picture of a wrench).
STEP 2: Scroll down until Network is highlighted and then push the OK button.
STEP 3: Scroll down until View network settings is highlighted and then push the OK button.
STEP 4: Scroll down until Display wireless summary OR Print Network Configuration Page is highlighted and then push the OK button.
NOTE: If you chose Display Wireless Summary rather than Print Network Configuration, be sure to write down your printer's IP address. If your computer has difficulty locating your printer, the IP Address will become necessary in STEP 5c below.
NOTE: If you don't know your network password you MUST choose the "print" option because the "display" option gives the printer IP Address, but does not give the network password. The "print" option will give you both.
STEP 5: In either case, look for the IP Address that is assigned to your computer (e.g. 192.166.1.xx) and the Admin Password.
NOTE: If you did not reset your network password, the print out will say "Not Set" under Admin Password. In this case, the password is the network key located on the bottom of your router (mine has 10 digits).
Downloading HP C7200 Drivers with Windows 7
STEP 1: Open
control panel
STEP 2: Under the
hardware and sound icon heading click
view devices and printers (1st item listed for me).
STEP 3: Click on add a printer link. NOTE: this is a "link" NOT a "button". For me, this just didn't stand out enough, so I will describe where it is located. Near the top-left part of your screen, locate the blue forward & backward buttons (i.e. the left arrow and right arrow bottons) that look exactly like the Windows 7 internet forward & backward buttons; below these buttons you will see an add a device "link"; just to the right of that you will see the add a printer "link"; Click on add a printer link.
STEP 4:
Manually: select
add a local printer
Wirelessly: select
add a network, wireless or bluetooth printer
STEP 5:
Manually: In the
select a printer window locate & click/highlight
Photosmart C7200 series and then click the
Next button below.
Wirelessly: In the
select a printer window locate & click/highlight
Photosmart C7200 series and then click the
Next button below.
HOWEVER, if your computer has trouble locating the printer (as mine did), Direct Your Computer to Your Printer (wirelessly):
STEP 5a: Click The Printer That I Want Isn't Listed located below the select a printer window. A new window, Find a printer by name or PCP/IP address, will popup.
STEP 5b: Select the Find a printer by a PCP/IP address or hostname (3rd option) & click the Next button below.
STEP 5c: Type in your computers IP address (see STEP 4 in Retrieving Your Printer PASSWORD and IP ADDRESS instructions) where it says Host name or PCP/IP address. (e.g. 192.166.1.xx)
The computer should find the printer location, recognize it, and begin to download the appropriate drivers. If it does not find it, try it again; If it still doesn't work, maybe there is something else preventing your computer from locating the printer.
Enjoy!
WIN7RULES!
FYI: If your printer
AND your computer are
BOTH currently connected wirelessly, you don't need any special connection for these steps, and you can skip to
Retrieving Your Printer PASSWORD and IP ADDRESS. However, if
BOTH of them are not currently wirelessly connected to your network, you will need to manually connect them.
STEP 0: Physically,
connect your printer to your computer, using a USB cord (my ethernet cord didn't work for me, but if that's all you got, try it). Your computer & printer DON'T have to recognize each other for this step.
NOTE: the
password is either the network key located on the bottom of your router or whatever password you assigned it). If you reassigned the password but don't remember it, follow the
Print Network Settings in
Step V (at bottom of these instructions); it will be located in the General Information (1st section) as Admin Password.