Having difficulty installing network printer

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Ok, downstairs I have a desktop computer with XP Home. There is an old (but works GREAT) Epson Color Stylus printer connected to the parallel port. I also have a Canon Pixma ip4000 connected to the USB port.

Upstairs I have 2 XP Home laptops. They connect fine to my network and access share files and the shared printers. All is fine.

I used to have a W7 laptop and I remember going through some stuff but eventually it worked just fine, acessing my shared files and printers.

Unfortunately, that laptop bit the dust. I bought a Toshiba Satellite laptop and so far all works perfectly EXCEPT I cannot get it to work with the printers. It accesses my network and shared files fine. I know it can be done because I did it before.

Here’s what I’ve tried. I went to networking and chose Add A Printer. I specified network printer. It found both printers. But when I try to add the selected printer, it says that it can’t find the driver. Frankly, I looked on my desktop computer and I can’t find it either. I can also look on my two XP laptops but I am not sure what to look for. I went to the manufacturers sites and was unable to locate a driver, but it should be on my computers, I would think.

I wish I could remember what I did about 3 years ago to get my W7 to work with both computers.

Any ideas?

Mel

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Did you check the manufacturer’s sites for Windows 7 drivers?

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As per my post:

“I went to the manufacturers sites and was unable to locate a driver, but it should be on my computers,…”

Mel

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Sorry, I missed that part. The paralel one seems harder to solve, but you can try and connect the USB one to the laptop, to see if Windows includes a driver for it. Once you set it up as local, you will have the driver and then you can simply try to add it as a new network printer.

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You probably already checked Toshiba here for drivers. I can’t drill down any further without the exact model number.

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You probably already checked Toshiba here for drivers. I can’t drill down any further without the exact model number.

Sorry Ted, that’s a bit weird. Does Toshiba have drivers for printers from other manufacturers?

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Sorry, my mistake. I deleted that post.

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I deleted mine too ;).

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It would nice to know what model# & make like 1400,C88+…….etc.Here’s a link that will help you network your printer in the mean time;http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/12246/share-a-printer-on-your-network-from-vista-or-xp-to-windows-7/

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Chowur:

Reread my post. I indicated the Canon was the IP4000.

The Epson is an old one: Color Stylus 600

Mel

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The Epson is listed by Microsoft to be natively supported by Windows 7: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/Windows-7/en-us/Details.aspx?type=Hardware&p=Epson+Stylus+Color+600+Inkjet+Printer&v=Epson&uid=460100&pf=13&pi=1&c=Printers+%26+Scanners&sc=Ink-Jet+Printers&os=32-bit

Also found some advice in another forum:

I had your identical problem, epson 600 driver for windows 7, and today I solved it.
When you add a new printer in windows 7 and the model you need does not appear in the device list, you have to select “windows update”.
In this way some new printer models will appear in the list and, among these, also the epson 600.

There is a driver for 7 32 bits for the Canon: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/consumer/printers_multifunction/pixma_ip_series/pixma_ip4000#DriversAndSoftware

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According to Epson Windows 7 Compatibility Chart the C600 drivers are built-in with Windows 7. See post#4 for steps to get Windows 7 to recognize the printer.

Joe

--Joe

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Joe and Ruirib:

I am sure the C600 must be a different printer? I have the Epson Stylus Color 600 and that can only be connected to the parallel port of the XP machine. So how can I get the driver on my W7 machine (with a USB connection, it automatically searches for the driver).

Also, Ruirib, that software (there is a 64-bit one) seems to require that the printer is already installed. It is an enhancement, as far as I can tell. I plan to be in contact with Canon later today.

Mel

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Joe and Ruirib:

I am sure the C600 must be a different printer? I have the Epson Stylus Color 600 and that can only be connected to the parallel port of the XP machine. So how can I get the driver on my W7 machine (with a USB connection, it automatically searches for the driver).

The link I posted ensures compatibility with your printer. It’s from Microsoft. I am guessing Joe was referring to the same printer, maybe abbreviating its name.
At some point during the driver installation, as a network printer, you will be given a choice to pick the driver manually. That’s
your opportunity.

Also, Ruirib, that software (there is a 64-bit one) seems to require that the printer is already installed. It is an enhancement, as far as I can tell. I plan to be in contact with Canon later today.
Mel

There are 2 programs and another piece of software described as a driver add-on. I suggest you download the programs, install them (one of them must have the driver) and then install the driver add-on. Be ready to connect the printer locally, initially. Once you have it installed locally, then add it as network printer and Windows should be able to use the driver you have already installed.

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I just abbreviated the printer name. The Epson Stylus Color 600 is listed in the chart as having driver built-in with Windows 7. Have you tried not letting Windows automatically search for a driver? You should be able to manually tell Windows what kind of printer it is.

Joe

--Joe

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Thanks for your help. I’m still having problems. I was able to install the Canon ip4000 locally. I had to change some settings in Windows Update to allow Windows to eventually find a driver and install it. So, when the Canon is directly connected to my W7 computer, it works.

I then tried to add a network printer. That appeared to work. BUT, when I try and print a document when the Canon is connected to the network but not to my computer, it says that the computer is offline.

Any ideas?
Mel

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Further Update. The Epson printer situation is solved.
By changing the settings in Windows Update, I was able to have Windows find the driver. It’s installed and working perfectly.

Now, if I can find a driver for the Canon, it might work (again, Windows Update said it could not find the driver, although it found the driver when I had it plugged in directly to my computer. I’m going to try and find the driver on my computer. THEN maybe I can browse and complete the process.

Mel

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Canon lists a driver for Win 7, both 32 Bit and 64 Bit.

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Ted:

Maybe I’m having a bad day — I do not see a driver to d/l. Somewhere else I saw some kind of enhancement that will work if I already have a driver. I need a driver to install Canon from the network.

Mel

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You have to put your OS in (Win 7 32 Bit or Win 7 64 Bit) in the drop down box. This will open a page with the driver on it. It appears the driver for both 32 Bit and 64 Bit are the same driver.

28664-Canon

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What is listed on the Canon site is NOT the printer driver. It is a driver addon to increase the functionality of the driver. The site says you must install the driver using Microsoft Update.

Joe

--Joe

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On my Canon (Pixma MP 620), I had to use the Canon Wireless Setup Assistant softwareto detect the printer on the network. Since you installed the drivers from WU, you have to just detect the printer on the network. This S/W is listed under the MP620, but specifically states it is for Pixma printers. Perhaps this will help you discover the printer on your network.

I also actually ended up connecting my Canon printer directly to my router with an ethernet cable.

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Joe is correct, sorry. With my Canon Pixma MP620 I actually had to connect the printer directly to my router via ethernet cable to allow my laptops to see and connect to the printer reliable. I do not know if the driver for my Pixma MP620 would work with your Pixma ip4000, but it is available on the Canon site.

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