I bought an HP 2855e

[rjb54]

I installed my new HP deskjet 2855e on my laptop with windows 10, it works perfect. I also want to install it on my older laptop, it has Windows Vista home basic. I run a program that I want be able to print directly tp the printer from the older laptop. I downloaded the drivers from HP's website and put them onto a CD, but Vista is to old to load the drivers. Is there any other drivers I can load onto the laptop with Vista?

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @rjb54,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding your printer!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

Unfortunately, Windows Vista is not officially supported for the HP DeskJet 2855e printer, which can make it challenging to find compatible drivers. HP DeskJet 2855e is designed to work with newer operating systems like Windows 7, 8, and 10. Here are some potential solutions you might consider:

• HP offers a Universal Print Driver (UPD) that might work in basic mode, which could allow simple printing functions.
• You can download the UPD for your printer from the HP Driver page. The UPD supports Windows Vista (32-bit and 64-bit).

Using Network Printing:

• If your printer and older laptop are connected to the same network, you could share the printer from your Windows 10 laptop and access it through the network on your Windows Vista laptop.
• Here's how you can set up a shared printer:
  • On your Windows 10 laptop, go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
  • Select the HP DeskJet 2855e printer and click on Manage.
  • Go to Printer Properties and then the Sharing tab.
  • Select Share this printer and give it a share name.
  • On the Windows Vista laptop, go to Control Panel > Printers > Add a printer > Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer.
  • Browse for your shared printer and complete the setup.

Compatibility Mode:

• Try running the Windows 7 or Windows XP drivers in compatibility mode on your Vista machine.
  • Right-click the downloaded driver file.
  • Select Properties > Compatibility.
  • Select Run this program in compatibility mode for: and choose Windows XP (Service Pack 3) or Windows 7.
  • Click Apply and then OK.

Consider Upgrading the OS:

• Upgrading your older laptop's operating system to a newer version like Windows 7 could provide more compatibility and support for newer drivers. This would be a more long-term solution.

Alternate Printing Methods:

• As a last resort, you could save your work as a PDF on your Windows Vista laptop and transfer the file to your Windows 10 laptop via a USB drive or email. Then you can print the PDF from the Windows 10 laptop.

Please note that these methods might provide basic printing functionality but it's not guaranteed as Windows Vista is significantly outdated and many new devices are not compatible with it.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

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Best regards,