windows 7 driver?

[KnCrick]

I recently purchased an HP DeskJet 4200e series printer.  Wireless set up went well on the new windows 11 laptop.  I am now trying to set the printer up via usb to an HP desktop using windows 7.   The computer recognizes the printer but cannot find a driver.   Any suggestions on how to get the driver to make this work on the desktop computer?

[Raj2111]

Hi @KnCrick 

Welcome to the HP support community.
 

I understand you're experiencing an issue with your HP device, and I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. I'm here to help you today.

It seems like you're trying to connect your HP DeskJet 4200e series printer to a desktop running Windows 7 via USB, but the driver is not being found. While Windows 7 is an older operating system and might not automatically detect all newer printers like your DeskJet 4200e series, there are a few steps you can try to get it up and running.

Here’s what you can do to install the printer driver:

1. Download and Install the Driver Manually

Since Windows 7 doesn’t always automatically detect new printers, you may need to manually download and install the correct driver from HP’s website.

Steps to download the driver:

Go to the HP Support Website:
Visit HP's official driver download page or search for "HP DeskJet 4200e series drivers" in your browser.

Select the Printer Model:
When you’re on the support page, make sure you select the correct printer model (HP DeskJet 4200e). You should find it under the "HP DeskJet" section.

Choose Your Operating System:
Select Windows 7 as your operating system to get the correct driver.

Download the Driver:
Download the full driver package (not just the basic driver) to ensure you get all the necessary software, including the printing and scanning functions.

Install the Driver:
Once the driver is downloaded, run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts to install the driver. This should guide you through the process and allow you to connect your printer via USB to the Windows 7 desktop.

2. Install the Printer via USB

After you’ve installed the driver, you should be able to connect the printer to the HP desktop via USB. If the printer is not automatically detected after installation, try the following:

• Disconnect the Printer from USB and wait until the driver installation completes.
• Plug the Printer Back In via USB, and Windows should attempt to recognize the printer.
• Go to Control Panel → Devices and Printers, and check if the printer appears there. Right-click on it and set it as the default printer if needed.

3. Use Windows Update to Search for a Compatible Driver

If the manual driver installation doesn't work, you can try letting Windows 7 search for a compatible driver automatically:

1. Connect the USB cable between your printer and desktop.
2. Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers.
3. Right-click on the printer and select Troubleshoot.
4. Allow Windows to search for drivers, and it might find a compatible one automatically.

4. Check for Windows 7 Compatibility

Since Windows 7 is an older operating system, it’s possible that the printer model may not fully support it without some workarounds, especially if it's a more recent printer model. If the HP DeskJet 4200e series doesn’t have a dedicated driver for Windows 7, you might need to use a generic driver or older DeskJet drivers that work with your model.

5. Use a Universal Printer Driver

If nothing works, HP offers a universal print driver that should be compatible with many HP printers. You can download it from the HP support site and install it as a fallback.

Here’s the link to the HP Universal Print Driver (UPD):
HP Universal Print Driver

Choose the appropriate version for Windows 7 and install it. Once installed, you can try to set up the printer by selecting it in Devices and Printers.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
 

-Regards
Raj-HP Support