Help! Vista + printer = nothing

Insert Username Here · Post by **Insert Username Here** » 2007-07-03 10:28am

First, I should say that I'm a Mac guy. All my Windows experience was from when I worked at HP and was primarily XP and 2K. The last day or so is the extent of my Vista experience.

So I'm at my in-laws, and my FIL has computer issues (aside from it just sucking). The printer won't work. I've checked the connections to the computer and power, I've installed the driver, I've checked online for driver updates (nothing)...Vista is still showing the printer as offline (I keep looking for a 'take printer online' button...). The printer manual is no help.

Anyone have a couple steps to suggest for me? I'm at a loss. I knew my way around XP a little, but even that's been a few years now, so I'm very rusty.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2007-07-03 10:42am

Are you using the latest drivers off the printer manufacturer's website, or drivers off the CD?

Insert Username Here · Post by **Insert Username Here** » 2007-07-03 10:58am

White Haven wrote:Are you using the latest drivers off the printer manufacturer's website, or drivers off the CD?

I'm using the one off the cd, but I couldn't find one on the website. I will look again, though, to make sure.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2007-07-03 11:02am

What's your printer's model number? There might be Vista drivers on the web if it isn't too ancient.

Insert Username Here · Post by **Insert Username Here** » 2007-07-03 11:07am

I found the problem. At least with the driver. I tried getting the driver from the Vista computer, but the driver page won't load. I get an error. There is a drive to download. The only thing I can think to do is download it with my Mac, burn it to a disk, and install it from there.

I don't know if it's a different driver than what I already have, but I'll find out soon enough. The printer is a Canon Pixma MP160.

Hopefully this will work...

Insert Username Here · Post by **Insert Username Here** » 2007-07-03 11:16am

That didn't work. I got the driver installed, but it's still not printing. I get a "printing error" in the queue when I try to print. Gonna try restarting, but in the meantime, any other thoughts?

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2007-07-03 11:48am

Is your father-in-law running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Vista?

Insert Username Here · Post by **Insert Username Here** » 2007-07-03 01:13pm

White Haven wrote:Is your father-in-law running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Vista?

Well, I assumed the 32-bit, but I can't say with any certainty. Is it easy to check?

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2007-07-03 01:19pm

Insert Username Here wrote:
White Haven wrote:Is your father-in-law running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Vista?
Well, I assumed the 32-bit, but I can't say with any certainty. Is it easy to check?

It should tell you which version of the OS it is in your machine's owner's manual. Or the computer's restore discs should say, if you have any of those. Chances are good it's most likely the 32 bit version though.

Insert Username Here · Post by **Insert Username Here** » 2007-07-03 01:47pm

General Zod wrote: It should tell you which version of the OS it is in your machine's owner's manual. Or the computer's restore discs should say, if you have any of those. Chances are good it's most likely the 32 bit version though.

After a lot of rummaging, the install disks turned up. It is 32-bit, which is the driver version I downloaded.

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2007-07-03 02:45pm

Hmm. Rapidly running out of ideas beyond 'You're fucked,' which is a distinct possiblity given Vista's compatiblity issues. You are making sure to totally remove the old drivers first, yes?

Insert Username Here · Post by **Insert Username Here** » 2007-07-03 02:51pm

White Haven wrote:Hmm. Rapidly running out of ideas beyond 'You're fucked,' which is a distinct possiblity given Vista's compatiblity issues. You are making sure to totally remove the old drivers first, yes?

Umm, no, actually. I didn't remove the old driver. Can you give me a quick tip on doing that with Vista?

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2007-07-03 03:48pm

Aaah, bugger, you would hav eto ask that. I don't have a Vista box at my fingertips to double-check myself on, unfortunately, and I haven't done enough work with Vista to know all the new menu names by heart yet. That said, under Control Panel there should be an option somewhere that refers to removing programs, I think it might be in its own 'Program and something' element now, got a vague image of that from the last time I had to muck with it. In there, you should be able to uninstall the printer software after selecting it from a list.

Insert Username Here · Post by **Insert Username Here** » 2007-07-03 04:31pm

Now it's really messed up. I removed all the drivers and re-installed the vista driver. Now the printer won't show up at all.

Zac Naloen · Post by **Zac Naloen** » 2007-07-03 04:38pm

Insert Username Here wrote:Now it's really messed up. I removed all the drivers and re-installed the vista driver. Now the printer won't show up at all.

Unplug it and plug it back in. Let Vista redetect it.

Insert Username Here · Post by **Insert Username Here** » 2007-07-03 11:07pm

Zac Naloen wrote: Unplug it and plug it back in. Let Vista redetect it.

No dice. Still not seeing it. Maybe it will miraculously fix itself overnight...

Netko · Post by **Netko** » 2007-07-04 02:35am

Try another USB port, that might help with detection.

Other then that this sounds like one of those screwy problems that are very difficult to fix, especially from afar not knowing the config.

Insert Username Here · Post by **Insert Username Here** » 2007-07-04 04:38pm

Got it! Finally! I did a couple things. I switched USB ports like Netko suggested. I also reinstalled the Vista driver. But before doing that, I not only uninstalled the driver first, I also uninstalled all the software the original driver installed.

I'm guessing there was a conflict between the new Vista driver and the older software that came with the printer. Of course, I doubt the scanning feature is going to work, but it's not needed anyway.

Thanks for all the help, everyone!