HP photosmart 7660 not functioning on Windows 7 Home Edition OS

[James1105]

Hi, i'm really frustrated as I bought W7 Home and did not know you had to reinstall everything. After 5 days I have everything except for my printer. I've trreied installing the drivers, but there is 4 different ones as opposed  to  Deskjet 5600, there is a 5605,and 3 5610 drivers. I installed 2 and each time on setup it said usb printer not connected even though it was. When I try to manually install the drivers it sends the test page but nothing happens. I've been online for 2 days now and don't know what to do. I love my printer it works fine and don't have money to buy a new one, can anyone help PLEASE!!!!!! 

[Mister_Do]

Hi James1105,

It looks like your printer does not have a full featured driver/software available from HP, but rather you are to use the driver that is built-in Windows 7. Here is an HP Support document that explains how to install this printer: http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01796821

I hope this helps.

[James1105]

I've tried that several times and when I get to the test page it says error-printing

[RandomRabbit]

no guaruntees, but you could try the 7760 driver located in Windows Update.

[James1105 · Accepted solution]

So to anyone who has an HP Photosmart 7660, I have solved the issue of making the printer work on Windows 7. Go to start, go to printer and devices. Click add printer, choose LPT1 as the port, select HP then choose Deskjet 5600 (HPA) (HP), install it once it is finished click finish don't choose print page. Now right click on the printer, and choose printer properties. Go to Ports, now here is where HP made there problem. They say change the port from LPT1 to Dot 4, or the largest port. They are wrong, choose USB001 Virtual printer port for USB, now go to the General Tab,click on print test page and you're in business!!!!!!! 

[bluesnow]

Using the 7760 driver is the answer. Install a new printer on the same port and choose the 7760 driver from Microsoft.

[Chris_8318]

Thank you very much for this information. The HP 5600 driver works but does not allow automatic duplex printing with the special attachment. The 7760 driver is much better as it supports duplex printing with the attachment.

Using the same procedure as mentioned here its possible to install the 7760 driver. The difference is that during the procedure Add a printer/Local printer/choose LTP1/Next/ you need to click the windows update button, allow time to download the options in the list, then select HP on the left and then select the 7760 driver on the right to proceed. When finished double click the printer icon and select the correct port in the ports tab.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01796821=

Interestingly the XP 7660 driver also installs on Win 7 32 bit and also supports duplex printing with the attachment but I think the 7760 driver is better. The XP driver will not install from the CD as there is an error message during the install. Instead  when you first connect the printer to the USB there is an error and the printer icon in the printers folder shows an error. Right click the icon/troubleshoot/ and it tells you there is no driver installed and gives you some options. I can't remember the exact procedure after that but at some point you can get into device manager and click on properties to update/install the driver and browse to your original XP installation CD and the driver will install. 

The only issue is that the toolbox doesn't work with the XP driver and I can't find the toolbox withthe 5600 and the 7600 drivers. and the 7760 driver there is still no toolbox associated with the printer whichever driver is installed.

I know the toolbox functions can be applied manually using the buttons on the top of printer but is there a way of accessing the toolbox using Windows 7 with any of these drivers? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Kind Regards

Chris

[ibjerni]

THESE DIRECTIONS WORK!!!!!   FOLLOW THEM STEP BY STEP.....AND WHEN IT SAYS TO GO TO THE 5600 PRINTER IN PRINTERS AND DEVICES AND RIGHT CLICK AND GO TO PRINTER PROPERTIES..........DON'T GO TO PROPERTIES......GO TO PRINTER PROPERTIES. 

I'VE SPENT 16 HOURS TRYING TO HOOK UP MY HP 7660 AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT ACTUALLY WORKED!!!!

KUDOS TO THE James1105 FOR THIS FIX!!!!!!!!!

[Lvf]

Oh my God, I LOVE YOU James 1105!!!  You have no idea how many headaches I have had trying to install my printer to my new computer, and I tried your solution and it worked like a charm!!!  A year I had been trying!!!!!  Thank you, thank you soooooo much for sharing this info!

[lynmeme6]

Thank you so much.  You saved me a lot of money.  I thought I was going to have to buy a new printer.  With three kids and being on disability does not let me have any extra money each month.

Amanda