My computer doesn't recognize my printer

[Jack_Dawson]

My Compaq Presario 5900T doesn't recognize my new HP PSC 2410xi photosmart all-in-one printer. Says I don't have the right "driver" for it. Wouldn't the right "driver" be on the fucking CD it came with? Arrrrrrrrgh. As if Clark dropping out wasn't bad enough.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. go to the HP website and search for the printer driver

you can download it, I believe, or they can send you a CD.

[arwalden]

2. Maybe They Just Haven't Been Properly Introduced...

"Computer, I'd like you to meet the Printer. Printer, this is my Computer."

-- Allen

[Hand]

3. Insh'Allah... n/t

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. Did you install the driver?

And when asking tech questions, it's good to tell us what OS you're using, what kind of connections you have, etc.

Might need to uninstall the driver, and start over.

I've found that on my XP machine, which has the auto-detect function, that sometimes it autodetects a device, while at the same time the installation-CD for the device fires up, and I don't realize they're working at the same time, and it screws everything up.

So I wait for the wizard guy to show up, and kill him.

Then do the installation.

[Deja Q]

5. RationalRose is right, but try this first

I always install the software and reboot before connecting the peripheral to the computer. That way, after the reboot, the computer sees the driver properly.

I'd shut down, unplug the printer, power back up, go into Device Manager, find and remove any references to any printer/all-in-one device. Reboot again. Install the software. Shut down. Hook up hardware. Reboot. Hope for the best.

Given that those printer drivers, especially all-in-one'ers, can be up to 200MB in size these days, you'll probably want to try my suggestion and leave the downloading as an overnight task, particularly if you've a 56k connection. :puke:

Which OS? Win 3.1? Win95? 95 OSR2? 98? 98 SE? ME? NT 4? 2k Pro? XP Home? XP Pro? MacOS? Linux? BeOS? GEOS? AppleDOS?

[BlackVelvetElvis]

6. This happens to me alot

Download the latest driver from their website.
If that doesn't work, uninstall the driver and the printer software and reinstall.

[shance]

7. Have they been formally introduced?

Im sorry. I couldnt resist.

And I know very little about matchmaking computers and printers either unfortunately.***

[Lydia Leftcoast]

8. That's funny

My relatively new HP printer fails to hook up with my computer sporadically. Then I disconnect and reconnect the cables, and after much whirring and trembling, it starts working again, maybe.

Frankly, I never had these problems with my ancient Canon printer until it broke down completely after four years of yeoman service. I had to run out and buy a new one in the midst of a job, and the HP was the only one I could afford.

It's a piece of junk, IMHO. Next time I have a bit of disposable income, it's being sent to the scrap heap and replaced by a DEPENDABLE printer.