Wired Printer Install
To begin we need to collect the following information:
- Computer Type – PC or Mac
- Operating System
- Printer Make/Model
- Printer Type – USB or Wireless
- Make sure the customer has an Internet connection
After you have obtained this information it is recommended you go to the manufacturer’s website and download the manual for the printer model you are working with. This will assist you in the installation. All guides listed here are superseded by the directions in the manual as the manual will have more accurate installation tips for that particular model. Click on the links below for the customer situation. These guides are by no means exhaustive and are designed to give general direction as every brand is different.
For most printer installs there are relatively easy steps to follow. Below is the order of steps you need to walkthrough:
Before beginning a printer install you want to make sure the computer does not have some other printers installed if not necessary. Make sure they that have tried to install a printer that it is not connected. Talk to the customer to see if there is any other printer that should be installed on this computer. If not, proceed to the operating system and follow steps to make sure nothing is installed.
- Windows XP
- Start, click on Control Panel
- Printers and Faxes
- Right-click on any unnecessary printers and remove them.
- Windows Vista
- Windows Seven
- Start, click on Control Panel
- Devices and Printers
- Right-click on any unnecessary printers and select remove device.
Unless the customer is partial to the software that comes with the printer, it is recommended to just install the printer drivers. This is help keep the system free of unnecessary software.
- Windows XP
- Windows XP will require the software/drivers. Go to the manufacturer’s website and locate the particular model of printer you are installing. If possible, download the driver only. Some brands will have a software package and you will be required to install it. It would also be wise to download the manual for this printer if you have not done so, to help better assist the customer during the installation.
- Windows Vista
- Windows Vista will automatically detect the printer when it is attached and install the correct driver for the given system. It is recommended that you let Windows handle the installation unless there is a known issue.
- Windows Seven
- Windows Seven will automatically detect the printer when it is attached and install the correct driver for the given system. It is recommended that you let Windows handle the installation unless there is a known issue.
After you have acquired the software, you will need to install it if necessary. Make sure the printer is not plugged into the computer! If it has been already, unplug it, make sure nothing is listed in printers, and restart the computer. This will give you a fresh start. Follow the steps below for installing in each operating system:
- Windows XP
- Open the file you downloaded from the manufacturer’s website and begin installation.
- If unable to download a file, use the included CD with the printer.
- At some point during the install it will request you plug in the USB cable to the printer. Only do this when prompted to ensure drivers are properly installed.
- In the end you should see the printer listed under the printer section in Control Panel. There should be a checkmark on it, indicating it is the default printer and no error message on the icon. When you double click on the icon, you should see the status in the title bar as “ready”.
- Windows Vista
- Windows Vista is designed to go out and find the driver automatically when the printer is plugged into the USB port. If the software is not currently installed, Vista will search the Internet for the appropriate drivers.
- With some brands it may be unable to find the appropriate software or compatibility issues with that software. At this point you will need to go to the manufacturer’s website and download the appropriate software for your version of Vista and precede with their installation steps.
- Windows Seven
- Windows Seven is like Vista in that it is designed to go out and find the driver automatically when the printer is plugged into the USB port. This works generally very well in obtaining the appropriate drivers and getting them install with minimal fuss.
Once the software/driver installation is complete its time to do the test print. It is best to do an each print from Notepad, typing something in that is customer friendly such as the original “Hello World”. Make sure the page prints correctly. If after you click print nothing happens, follow the troubleshooting steps under “Customer installed drivers but nothing is printing.”
First and foremost we need to anaylze the error. What does it mean? Is it related to the program or is it a software conflict? Is it a permissions issue? Some simple quick questions will get you started in the right direction. Obviously we cannot list all the things that could go wrong for every vendor. The steps below are generic and are designed to help you start back over.
- Windows XP
- Go to Add/Remove Programs, in Control Panel, and remove the software for the printer if it shows in the list.
- Make sure the printer is unplugged.
- We need to remove the items from Device Manager.
- Go to Start
- Right-Click on My Computer, and go to Manage
- Click on Device Manager on the left hand side.
- Go to View at the top and click on Show hidden devices.
- Locate anything under Other Devices and remove them by right clicking on the item and then click on Uninstall.
- Locate anything additional under Printers and remove them by right clicking on the item and then click on Uninstall.
- If everything else looks normal, go back to Basic Printer Installation tips and continue with clean install.
- Windows Vista
- Go to Programs and Features, in Control Panel, and remove the software for the printer if it shows in the list.
- Make sure the printer is unplugged.
- We need to remove the items from Device Manager.
- Go to Start
- Right-click on Computer, and go to Manage. You may need to click on Continue for permissions.
- Click on Device Manager on the left hand side.
- Go to View at the top and click on Show hidden devices.
- Locate anything under Other Devices and remove them by right clicking on the item and then click on Uninstall.
- Locate anything additional under Printers and remove them by right clicking on the item and then click on Uninstall.
- If everything else looks normal, go back to Basic Printer Installation tips and continue with clean install.
- Windows Seven
- Go to Programs and Features, in Control Panel, and remove the software for the printer if it shows in the list.
- Make sure the printer is unplugged.
- We need to remove the items from Device Manager.
- Go to Start
- Right-click on Computer, and go to Manage. You may need to click on Continue for permissions.
- Click on Device Manager on the left hand side.
- Go to View at the top and click on Show hidden devices.
- Locate anything under Other Devices and remove them by right clicking on the item and then click on Uninstall.
- Locate anything additional under Printers and remove them by right clicking on the item and then click on Uninstall.
- If everything else looks normal, go back to Basic Printer Installation tips and continue with clean install.
Customer installed drivers but nothing is printing
Below is a list of some things to check to figure out what direction you need to head in.
- What program are they trying to print from? Check to make sure that program is setup to use the correct printer.
- Does the printer icon show in the lower right hand corner of the screen next to the clock? If so, when you open it, does it have any errors?
- Make sure their printer is set to default.
- Check the the printer queue
- Windows XP
- Go to Start and click on Printers.
- Double click on the printer
- Make sure there are no items in here with "error" as the status.
- Check the title of this window to make sure it doesn't say "Use Printer Offline". If so, click on Printer at the top and choose "Use Printer offline" to uncheck it.
- If items are stuck in the queue, right click on the document and click delete. Continue to do this for every item.
- Windows XP
- Windows Vista
- Windows Seven
- Go to Start and click on Devices and Printers
- Double click on the printer
- Double click on "See what's printing"
- Make sure there are no items in here with "error" as the status.
- Check the title of this window to make sure it doesn't say "Use Printer Offline". If so, click on Printer at the top and choose "Use Printer offline" to uncheck it.
- If items are stuck in the queue, right click on the document and click delete. Continue to do this for every item.
- Try printing from the program again. If it goes back to the queue and errors, try removing the printer software and printer and reinstalling. Follow the steps for "Customer started installation but it failed" and continue with "Basic Printer Installation Steps".