Adding New Hardware

Hello Everyone!

I do hope if this is not the correct forum that you will accept my apologies and that the moderator will move it to the appropriate one. Thank you! :)

I am writing on behalf of my room-mate AGAIN! She runs Windows 98SE and awhile back she had to run her Quick restore disk on her HP computer for a problem which is now fixed. She bought a HP Deskjet 960c printer from a co-worker and it came with software and drivers but was on CD for Windows XP. That was no problem as I just went online for her and downloaded all she needed and had her printer all up and running in good shape. This was all before she ran her Quick restore disk mind you.

Now....for the life of me.....I cannot get her printer to work again. I have downloaded all the software and up to date drivers from the HP site and installed them correctly and when I go to print the test page, nothing happens. I have it configured as last time. To the USB port. The printer icon is down by the clock, and the test page is in queue and the print icon is also down by the clock but the printer is doing nothing. The power light is on, paper is filled. The tool box shows that both ink tanks are 90% full. The USB cable is connected tightly on both ends, I don't have Pause Printing checked, I DO have this checked as my default printer. In my settings and under Printers, this is my only printer and under details, it shows that it's configured to go to my USB port. I believe it's reading ok, or it would not be able to read my ink tanks. If I right click on the Print Icon down by my clock, and open the Printing Queue Window, it shows me I have one Test Page in Queue and the time it was placed there.

I have installed so many printers over the years that this is just plain frustrating. I see no reason that this should not be working. So, I'm hoping that you good people who have helped me in the past will be able to give me some insight into what I've missed or what I can try. I've removed all software and drivers and re-installed everything and had the Automatic thingy on HP install it and then I went the route of manually Adding New Printer under Settings and Printers, and then Under Add New Hardware.

Sorry this is so long but I just wanted to tell you what all I've tried so to give you a full picture and idea.

Once again, her computer is a HP with Windows 98SE and the Printer is also a HP DeskJet 960C.


Thank You so very much for any advice, help, or even constructive criticism. I learn from all areas! :)

Have a great evening, everyone!!!

AttaGirl142, right-click "My Computer" select properties, device manager, and see if there are any 'splats' on the USB printer entry...

Also this, from HP support. (you've probably been here already...)

http://h20015.www2.hp.com/en/documen...solve#P19_1750

Hey Junker! :)

Thanks for your replies! I appreciate you trying to help but alas, I just gave up and chalked it up to the printer having a poltergeist running free somewhere and hooked up her old Lexmark printer again. I was losing wayyyyy too much of my peace of mind. LOL I will go back and look at the crazy problem another time and start fresh again. I believe I had gotten to the point where I had spent too much time and was getting too frustrated with something that should have been accomplished with my eyes closed. A printer is one of the easiest things to install and considering I had installed that very printer before and it was up and running great, made it even more frustrating.

So....... thank you for your help, I do appreciate it!!! :) I hope you have a good weekend!

...And so it goes with USB.

USB is not so reliable, I've found. It usually requires a complete uninstall (certain keys in the registry too) and removal of the device from the computer in order to have a successful reinstall. Also including a requirement that everything must be accomplished in a certain order of install. Drivers first, device second. But not always...

Reading through the specs, apparently this printer can use a parallel port or USB.

On your next attempt, I would suggest connecting to the parallel port and leaving the USB connection off. Maybe better luck, maybe not... :confused:

Dun'no if you'll come back to look or not AttaGirl,,but i have the HP 940c connected via USB. I find it needs to be shut off and the USB unplugged when installing drivers. At one point when installing,it will tell you to plug the power in and the USB connection. HP's driver disk is very funky and takes awhile to load,but you just need to be patient and follow along...

Hi Ridge,

I was going to add this to my comments above:

If the install runs you through a procedure that only uses a USB connection, then of course their instructions must be followed.

As a couple of examples on the difficulties of USB:
I have a USRobotics modem that uses the Com Port or USB, and the install requires a Com connection only for the install. After that, then the USB connection can be used.

I also have a Canon scanner that must be connected at all times, or else the scanner will not work whenever I want to use it, requiring a complete reinstall before I can use it.

USB is further complicated since the device manager seems to lose it's proper configuring of the USB controllers on occasion. In such case, a test for the proper operation of the USB ports on the computer should be performed before trying to load drivers for a device that uses them.

This site seems to be complete in its info about USB, also providing a download for testing the proper operation of the USB ports.

http://www.usbman.com/Troubleshooter%20General.htm

If installed properly,you will notice in Device Mangler,that HP adds it's own USB entries also...

Hey Ridgerunr and oldhermit! :) :)

Thanks for the posts you put up regarding my problem with the HP Printer and Driver! I really appreciate the kind and friendly help I have learned to count on here! It's a warm place to be! I'm not sure which one of you suggested it, but yes, I did have the USB cable disconnected when I was downloading and installing the Driver. I tried anything I could think of. I was even ready to cash in the USB completely and go with the LPT1 port and use Parrallel cable again like olden days but this printer calls for EEE 1284-B cable and of course it didn't come with one and I had one from an older printer lying around in a misc. computer parts box but it was marked EEE 1284. The connector ends were too narrow. So I guess that letter "B" at the end of the 1284 DOES indeed stand for something. LOL As I said, I was trying anything. LOL

The most frustrating part was that when my room-mate had originally bought this printer from one of her co-workers, I had it hooked up for her in one evening. I had to go online and download the software and drivers as the Software CD it came with was for Windows XP and she runs Windows 98. But the point is, I had it all downloaded, installed and running good in no time. What gives? LOL USB connector and all. Oh well....these types of problems are created to make people like me know that they really only know how to tie their shoes and to come in out of the rain. LOL

Thanks for your help! I really really do appreciate all of your postings and I've learned through them!!!

Take care and have a good rest of the weekend!