Printing to WinXP through a USB port.

[kanga85]

Has anyone out there in the Big Wide World actually got a HP DeskJet 710C to print thru a USB port in WinXP, rather than just thinking in general terms that they know how to do it?    The same applies to a LaserJet 5P.

Thanks

[Travis_C]

Hello kanga85

The following article is for help installing the Deskjet 710C on Windows XP. Let me know if you run into any particular problems.

The Driver for Your Product Is Included in the Windows XP Operating System

The Laserjet 5P you have is a commercial printer. I suggest posting in the HP Business Support forum for a better chance at finding a solution.

You may find the Commercial Laserjet board here.
http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Printers-LaserJet/bd-p/bsc-413

[kanga85]

Thanks Travis,

I have tried all the steps listed in the article you suggested, and done it many times over the past week.   I have removed all other ports and  tried other USB sockets.   The computer appears to load the USB driver alright, lists a USB001 port, which I plug into, and then installs Deskjet 710C, finding software for it.   When I send a document to the printer, Windows indicates that it is sending it, no document is indicated as waiting to print against the Printer icon, but nothing arrives at the printer.   The document has disappeared into the ether - I don't know where.

I have tried turning the printer on and off, have tried inserting it into the USB port while the computer was on, and before I turned it on, all to no effect.   The printer was running fine two weeks ago when it was attached to a different computer through a serial LPT1: port, but that computer had a motherboard meltdown, so I have had to now plug the printer into the present (newer) computer which does not  have a LPT1:  port.   This newer computer was previously able to print to the Deskjet through my wireless network, but somehow the USB connection is failing me.

Any further advice?   Thanks for your consideration.  

[Travis_C]

Hello kanga85

Have you tried to use the HP Print and Scan Doctor? Also are you using a Parallel to USB cable or adapter? I would start with the Dr. and see if it can fix it or give an error.

http://www.hp.com/go/tools

[kanga85]

Thanks Travis,

Still no luck.   I have a parallel to USB cable hooking the printer directly to the computer.   I have run the HP Print and Scan Doctor.   It ticked all the boxes, found no problem, but when it sent a document to the printer, it didn't print, simply disappeared, and was no longer listed against my printer icon.   I don't know where the document went!   I tried the further HP help, turning everything off, rebooting and plugging in my printer.   Nothing was found, but I have prviously done this and it has found USB drivers, and since I have tried every USB port previously perhaps they all now have USB drivers installed.   What next? 

I tried to install the DeskJet 710C into my newly updated PC, with old harddrive updated from XP to Win7 Home Premium (64 bit) on a new motherboard, and with both LPT1: port and USB port.   It may have old XP drivers on it as, before the upgrade, it was runing the printer.   The installation now  didn't work.   Am I likely to be able to use this printer on my WIN7 machine.   If so, how?

If I buy a new WIN7-compatible HP printer (USB inlet) presumably Windows will find it and installed the drivers.   But will this new printer then print from XP machines on the network?   Its all a bit of a worry to my family.  

This upgraded to WIN7 machine finds, via my MSHOME network, another computer running XP and with HP LaserJet 5P plugged in through a LPT1: printer port.   However, the Win7 machine will not install this printer, nor print to it.   My daughter has a laptop running Win7 and she finds the LaserJet 5P on the network, and CAN print to it.   She doesn't know how she did this - it just works!   Why does one Win7 machine print to the LaserJet 5P while the other cannot?   I can easily find and print to the LaserJet 5P from other computers runningXP on the network.

Thanks to you and HP.   I value your help.  

[pcwizard]

Hi kanga85,

Follow the instructions below.

1. Open devices and printer

2. Click Add a printer

3. Click Add a local printer

4. From the Use existing port select the USB option, and then click next

5. Click on the Windows Update button to get all support window 7 drivers updated

6. Once update is finished. Click on HP from left menu, and then select the Deskjet 990c from the right menu, and then click next. 

7. Follow the remaining instructions to complete the installation. 

Once you have the 990c printer added make sure it is the default printer, and then try printing to your Deskjet 710c printer using this driver. Let me know if you have the same issue?

[kanga85]

Thanks PCWizard. 

 No luck.   I followed your instructions to the letter, but after the Windows update I was NOT offered any DESKJET 990c option.   The only Deskjets available from a long list of other printers were DeskJet 450 and Deskjet 460.

I had previously tried to install the 710C as a 990C using the drivers in WinXP, but again no luck.

Next step?

[pcwizard]

Hi kanga85,

Run the windows update again from the add printers window. The 990c driver will be listed as an available NOS driver in Windows 7.

[kanga85]

Thanks PCWizard.   No luck.

I follow your steps, go to Windows update, wait a while update occurs, see the same manufacturers in the left-hand panel as you do, but not the same printers under HP in the right-hand panel.   In a long list (~343 printers, starting with HP ColorLaserJet 2600n and ending with HP OfficeJet Pro K850 Series), the only HP deskjet printers are the two listed in my previous post, a 450 and a 460 .   I must be downloading a different update to the one you get.   How do I get your one?

You mention Windows 7.   The machine I am trying to attach my printer to is XP.   Does this make a difference?

Because of your WIN7 mention, I tried moving the DeskJet 710C to a machine running WIN7 (although this is geographically a less suitable spot for the printer).   Again I cannot install it either through LPT1: or through a USB port.   Plug and play doesn't find it.   If (USB input) I go to 'Add a Local Printer', no DeskJet 710C (or 990) is offered.   When I go to Windows Update I get the message 'Windows was unable to get a list of devices from Windows Update.   Please try again later'.   I have had this message at least ten times over the past two weeks.   I am getting extremely frustrated.   But thanks for your continuing efforts.  

[pcwizard]

Hi kanga85,

I appoligize I was thinking this was on a Win 7 computer. Follow the steps in the document below, and let me know if you can get the printer installed?

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bud09005