Setting up printer problems

[camille1973]

I am trying to setup my printer, which I was using with my Windows XP computer, now I need to set it up on my Windows 7 computer. The problem is that I think I need the setup ini file and only have the setup exe (which I downloaded from my printer's manufacturer's website - Canon), so if I could get hold of the ini file I would be right. I tried everything including plug and play, but it doesn't install the updated driver, and I tried to get Windows 7 to find the driver, still no luck. I have the updated driver on my Windows 7 computer, but can't get it to install with the printer. Could someone please tell me how I could solve this problem? Thanks in advance.

 

[linney]

What is the model of your Canon printer? Do they have a specific Windows 7 driver on the Canon website, or are you going with another operating system driver?

Why do think you need a setup.ini file? Any such file, if required, I would imagine would be included in the Setup.exe. When you right-click on the Setup.exe are you selecting the "Run As Administrator" option, this might give you extra privileges sometimes needed in Vista and Windows 7 for successful installs.

Also does the Setup.exe extract files to a temporary location before any install actually begins? If it does then you might find a breakdown of the setup files in that location. Usually it would be in C:\Users\usernamexxxx\AppData\Local\Temp.

 

[jontout]

Are there compatible Vista drivers available for your printer?

If not, you could try installing 7zip which will allow you to view the contents of the .exe file and potentially drag them to your desktop to help with the installaion.

 

[camille1973]

I have now found the files which have been unzipped. I think I will have ring Canon about this because I have this message: 'Cannot correctly run this installer on this operating system. Use an installer compatible with your operating system', and when I downloaded the zipped file, it said that it is compatible with Windows 7. So hopefully Canon has a solution.

 

[linney]

Are you running foul of a 32-bit v 64-bit driver situation?

It is a good idea to contact Canon. I hope you let us know the outcome.

 

[BadBigBen]

I am with Linney, in that without knowing what printer you have nor which Windows version (32 bit or 64 bit), there is not much we can do to help you, e.g. point you to the correct driver, or how to install the driver; so deferring you to Canon is the only option at present...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[camille1973]

I have just been informed by Canon, that there isn't any driver for my printer, because my new computer has Windows 7 64-bit installed on it. Now I either have to transfer files to my laptop so I can print, or buy a new printer.

 

[linney]

You are not the first person to run into the lack of drivers for old hardware on new systems.

How to find a compatible printer driver for a computer that is running a 64-bit version of Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/895612#appliesto

If your Canon is not a top of the range printer, then the good news is that you can probably replace it with an "all in one" printer, copy, scanner, for around $60 if you shop around.

Dual Booting with XP is another option, or maybe even a Virtual PC solution?

 

[BadBigBen]

there is also the possibility of:

1. Networking the printer, via your Laptop...
2. using a compatible PS5 driver, e.g. a HP driver, as most printers can be driven with a generic PostScript driver...

and you still have not mentioned the printer model...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[DKHM2]

Good ideas, BadBigBen, I would also add, the ideas of:

jetdirect
and
print server for USB

depending on what exactly the needs of the printer are

Unless the printer was already "ethernet ready" (builtin print server) in which case I'd just hook it up to the router and be done with it. Too bad we don't know the model of Canon, camile1973, we might be able to help more, if for instance, we knew whether it connected via ethernet or usb, and other details... details we'd get from the model.

Camile, if you're frustrated and shopping for a new printer, I can recommend the brother multifunction. It has a builtin print server, you hook it up to your router, not your PC, and the software is installed only to enable the advanced features like scanning etc, so it will always work for printing.

Otherwise, there is still hope for the Canon.