Hi - I am new and this is my first post and I am not very tech knowledgeable, so please excuse my ignorance. I bought a new computer loaded with Win 7 Pro (32 bit). I installed all of my programs and everything worked fine, until I tried to set up my HP printer - which both Win 7 & HP say is Win 7 compatible (though it is an older printer). Windows Update found the printer, downloaded the driver and set it as my default printer with a big green arrow saying "Ready." When I try to print something (no matter the source) I get a pop up that indicates the document is being sent to the printer, then nothing happens, as if it just times out before the printer ever receives the signal (no flashing lights on printer - nothing). Then I check the printer queue and it is in there with an error. I delete the job and then check the printer in the control panel - and it has a big yellow ! - so I run troubleshooting and it says that it couldn't print because another job is in the printer queue.
I have tried all the suggestions for stopping the printer spooler and clearing the queue and restarting the spooler - and then everything appears to be OK again ready to print, (I get the big green arrow ready sign on printer icon again) - but then the same thing happens again. I have even tried another HP printer and all is the same. I have installed both printers, removed both printers, restored the machine back to arrival time, started everything all over, run MS's Mr. Fix It program for printer problems, done everything I can find with batch files, etc., all to no avail. I desperately need a printer that works. My internet searches indicate that many others out there have had the same problem with Win 7 and printers, but I never find the right answer.
Can anyone here help me? Is it something in the registry"? Is it the printer drivers even though HP says they are supported for Win 7? Is there some software that will fix it. I am willing to buy a new printer, if that would do it, but what's the point if something is corrupted in the Win 7 registry? Thanks much for any advice I can get. Very Frustrated.
I have tried all the suggestions for stopping the printer spooler and clearing the queue and restarting the spooler - and then everything appears to be OK again ready to print, (I get the big green arrow ready sign on printer icon again) - but then the same thing happens again. I have even tried another HP printer and all is the same. I have installed both printers, removed both printers, restored the machine back to arrival time, started everything all over, run MS's Mr. Fix It program for printer problems, done everything I can find with batch files, etc., all to no avail. I desperately need a printer that works. My internet searches indicate that many others out there have had the same problem with Win 7 and printers, but I never find the right answer.
Can anyone here help me? Is it something in the registry"? Is it the printer drivers even though HP says they are supported for Win 7? Is there some software that will fix it. I am willing to buy a new printer, if that would do it, but what's the point if something is corrupted in the Win 7 registry? Thanks much for any advice I can get. Very Frustrated.
My Computer
- OS
- Win 7 Pro (32 bit)
Don't beat yourself up if you have difficulty getting a printer that worked well in Windows XP but doesn't work in Windows 7 working again. Although I used 32-bit Windows XP with no printer issues and then decided to install 64-Bit Windows 7 where-by some of my scanners and printers couldn't be coaxed into working for me in Windows 7. I installed Windows XP Virtual Mode and then installed scanners and printers in XP Virtual Mode. XP Virtual mode has a taskbar of sorts near upper left and you must activate the scanner or printer (or whatever peripherals you install in XP Virtual Mode) each time you reboot the PC (or reboot XP Mode). It took me a while to get that re-activation step set in my mind but when I remember to re-connect/re-activate the device my scanner and printer work fine. Having gotten my home PC working then goaded me into doing the same thing with my PC at work and a non-functional scanner in 64-Bit Windows 7 works fine in Windows XP Virtual Mode. I buy and configure a few hundred PCs each year for my employer and vote whole heartedly for the 64-Bit version of Windows 7. I've never cared for Internet Explorer but find Internet Explorer 8 (64-bit) works much faster than Internet Explored 8 (32-bit). Windows 7 has other nifty features and capabilities. I learned that Microsoft will stop supporting Windows XP in about a month or two so I don't think you should regret having gotten Windows 7.
