Can I Install a Generic / Text Only Printer in Windows 8

[Auguy]

I have an OKI 420 printer (USB) I need to install on Windows 8. Is this possible? I'm not familiar with Windows 7 or 8 and I won't have access to the computer or printer until I get to the client's location. This VFP 9 app works fine on an XP computer, but I'm worried about the printer on Windows 8. I wouldn't think this would be a problem but my searches didn't come up with anything. Any guidance about installing this printer would be appreciated.

Auguy
Sylvania/Toledo Ohio

 

[Dan Freeman]

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=OKI+420+printer+windows+8

 

[Mike Lewis]

So, do you want to install the Generic / Text Only driver (as per the heading of your post), or the OKI 420 driver?

I assume the Generic / Text Only driver is supplied with Windows 8, just as it is with all the other versions of Windows. I can't see any reason why it shouldn't be.

As far as the OKI 420 is concerned, the OKI website is extremely unhelpful. Their FAQ says that they have a page specifically about Windows 8 drivers, but when I went to that page, it only mentioned Windows 7. The download pages does list a 420 driver for Windows 7, but makes not mention of Windows 8.

If you don't get the answer here, you might have to contact OKI support - or get your customer to test it for himself.

Mike

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Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Visual FoxPro articles, tips and downloads

 

[Auguy]

Thanks Mike, yes it is the Generic / Text Only that I want. I also miss typed, it should have been a 421.

Auguy
Sylvania/Toledo Ohio

 

[Mike Lewis]

Would that be the ML421 (which I believe is a dot-matrix printer?) If so, it does seem to be available for Windows 7, as per this page:

http://my.okidata.com/pp-ML421.nsf/openingdrivermenu?OpenFrameSet

I also found this page, which has a link to a support page specifically about Windows 8 drivers, but that page doesn't seem to be available:

http://my.okidata.com/oki-faq.nsf/FAQCentral/ACE25FA1CD6C8C8B85257AA30047D11E?OpenDocument

I mentioned above that the OKI website is unhelpful. Having spent a few minutes trying to find the answer to your question, I realise I was putting it mildly. It's one of the worst sites I've come across recently.

Mike


__________________________________
Mike Lewis (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Visual FoxPro articles, tips and downloads

 

[Auguy]

I've been roaming around in their site for a while without finding much.

Auguy
Sylvania/Toledo Ohio

 

[Olaf Doschke]

Well, if you worked with Generic / Text Only, it should continue to work and then I also wouldn't switch to the printer sepcific driver, unless you want to start using the report designer extended features of graphical report objects, which of course are not supported witht the Generic driver.

Otherwise MS also has the Windows8 Upgrade assistant showing eventual problems with hardware support, which you can run on Win7 down to Vista I think, if not even on XP. But that should be done before switching to Win8 of course. MS has a quite good knowledgebase about hardware driver support, from my experience with that assistant. Your mileage may vary, of course, but eventually through their logo program the preinstalled drivers are quite good and updates of them by the Windows Hardware recognition wizard are also good.

Bye, Olaf.