I cannot view ink levels under Windows 7, please help!

[DougWa]

I used to get an ink level window during printing under Windows XP. Not only is that gone under Windows 7, there is no "printer assistant" and nothing in "Printers and Faxes" tells me the ink levels. Printing a test page gives me lots of text but no ink levels. G0ogle thinks that installing the HP Print and Scanner Support Assistant will do the trick, and that utility finds the HP 5150 but throws an error when querying the ink levels.

Would some kind techie give me an alternative way to view ink levels?

BTW, under Ubuntu, "HPLIP Status Service" gives me the ink levels, so the printer is capable of providing the telemetry. It's just Windows 7 that is poopy.

Any help? Please?

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

@DougWa 

Product introduced in mid-to-late 2003.

There are no Full Feature Software drivers for Windows 7 (and this printer).  The Full Feature Software provides the Printer Assistant, which in turn provides access to the various printer features (for example, Ink Levels).

Looking at the Software and Drivers Website page for Windows 7, you are instructed to install the Windows print drivers - these work for basic printing but do not provide the full range of features and options included in the Full Feature Software.

HP Printers - Installing and Using the Windows Built-in Print Driver

The printer lacks a printer control panel (and depends instead on a "light" system of on / off / flashing) - there is mention in the User Guide about the Ink cartridge light (flashing) when / if there is some kind of issue with the ink cartridge(s).  A quick check did not find anything useful about checking the actual ink levels.  (You can certainly look again for yourself  - a "quick check" means I scanned the document but did not read it in its entirety.)

Personal Observation

The printer is well past the time when it is considered "obsolete" - the website support, documentation, and other references to the printer might be removed at any time (typical support for consumer grade equipment is ten years).  If you need any of the documents or other information from the support website for your printer, I suggest you download and save the files where they won't be lost.

Reference and Resources – Places to find (more) help and learn about your Printer

Printer Homepage – “Things that are your printer”

NOTE:  Content depends on device type

Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, Lots of How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, User Guides, Product Information, more

HP Deskjet 5150 Color Inkjet Printer

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[DougWa]

"Dragon-Fur"... your "EXPERT" badge is well deserved! THANK YOU for the great info!!

[Dragon-Fur]

@DougWa 

You are most welcome.

Have to love vintage tech that just keeps working.  Smiling.

Thank you for participating in the HP Community Forum.

We are a world community of HP enthusiasts dedicated to supporting HP technology.

Click Thumbs Up on a post to say Thank You!

Answered? Click post "Accept as Solution" to help others find it.