560: File TPK560P4.PPD needed to install on XP--Where Can I Obtain?

[RogerKni]

I just bought a Phaser 560 used--I have a one-week grace period in which I can return it. When I try to install it and click Finish, Windows XP Add Printer Wizard prompts me thus: "The file 'TPK560P4.PPD' on Tektronix Printer disk is needed. Type the path, then click OK."

But there was no such disk included with the printer when I bought it. Nor is it available for download from the Xerox site--I've searched it. I've also searched the internet for that file name and come up empty.

My printer is connected to the computer and I have printed documents from the computer onto it (telling Windows I was using my old Phaser 540, my former default printer). (That printer required no such file from its disk when I installed it.) So is there anyone who'd sell me that disk, or e-mail the file to: rogerknights@comcast.net

 

[RogerKni]

PS: I called Xerox and their voice messaging system says that they no longer provide ANY support for this printer, for love or money. So I couldn't obtain it from them.

 

[XeroxTech]

Here you go

ftp://ftp.tekcolor.com/ftp_dir/1059067895/W9PCNT2000W3O2/NA/560apps.exe

ftp://ftp.tekcolor.com/ftp_dir/1085079969/W9NT2000/4.x/PPD4eng.exe

ftp://ftp.tekcolor.com/ftp_dir/1073502435/2000/5.x/win2kms.exe

 

[RogerKni]

Thanks XeroxTech for your promptness, helpful spirit, and the effort you put into providing three links. Unfortunately (sob) I'd already downloaded them all from the Xerox site. (I.e., when I clicked on each of them and clicked Save, Windows told me that I already had a copy and asked Was I sure I wanted to replace it. Nevertheless I told it to Save them anyway, but doing so didn't help.)

My guess is that this odd file is some sort of of printer description file that Windows wants--I'm puzzled that Windows isn't interrogating my printer to get this info, the way it apparently did with two earlier used Phasers I bought and gave up on (a 350 & a 540). If it was on the disk Tektronix distributed, it's odd that it's not proiveded on the Xerox download site. And yet there must be thousands of these files floating around on floppies and users' hard drives! If only I could get access to them!

 

[XeroxTech]

try installing this.

http://s13.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1RJZYSINIP1P81WRMSVTPM6H4J

 

[XeroxTech]

also what adobe products do you have installed?

 

[RogerKni]

Fortunately, by chance, this problem has resolved itself. Six hours ago there was a brief (.25 second) power surge (or hiatus), and my PC turned itself off. When I pressed the On button, Windows booted up with the comment that it recognized that a new Tek 560 printer was now attached. Then, when I went thru the Add a Printer Wizard, I was no longer prompted to provide the file TKP560P4.PPD. Windows either had it built in, or found it somewhere online. And my test page printed out properly, in color. Then I was able to go in and customize the Printing Preferences, including the features in the Enhanced 560.

I think this attribute of Windows may suggest a solution for other people who have a similar problem: connect your new printer and shut down your PC. (Probably it wouldn't be necessary to toggle the On/Off button.) Then XP will (or may) recognize the new printer when it boots up. (But why doesn't the Wizard interrogate the printer port when the user is specifying to it that he's installing a new default printer?) I mention this because apparently printer drivers can be a nightmare. Eg, PC World has an online article, "Don't let printer woes drive you nuts," at

http://pcworld.about.com/magazine/2011p045id103784.htm.

Thanks XeroxTech for the link you provided, but it had only an earlier version (TKP560P1.PPP) of the PPD (Postscript Printer Description) file I wanted (TKP560P4.PPP). Once I looked at the PPD file that was included in your download, however, I realized that I'd misspelled (as TPK ...) the file I was looking for, so I went back to Google and this time was able to track it down (but only on a European site!). But when I attempted to read it with Adobe Reader (latest version), it claimed the file had been corrupted. It said the same about the files extracted from the download link you provided. That's a whole 'nother can of worms I didn't want to get into, and I was really frustrated, so I'm very thankful that I was saved by a bolt from the blue--and I hope it proves helpful to others.