Installing upgrade HP dj990 driver in Win98SE

[Paul Willson]

Hello Folks,

I have been trying for three days to install the latest download driver from
the HP website. Email support has given me their boilerplate advice, but
nothing has worked. Windows own driver datbase conflicts with the
installation, and then the system either can't find the printer in USB or
freezes the installation program.

I have followed HP's instructions on manually removing all HP files before
starting.

I wanted to upgrade in the first place because I was having trouble printing
PDF files.

Any installation tips and/or suggestions on PDF conflicts? I would
appreciate any help I might get.

Thanks,

PW

 

[Paul Willson]

Dear Lowtech,

Thanks for your help. Before trying anything else, I edited my registry to
remove all HP keys (Local Settings\Software was loaded with them.) Then I
downloaded the new driver again. Then I switched to my parallel port.
Successful install. This whole upgrade experience has left me with a
downgraded opinion of HP, especially its email support arm, which ultimately
suggested I pay for phone help. Fat chance.

By the way, do you have any tips on the best way to reinstall the IR Print
software and which version to use?

Thanks, PW

PS: My problem with PDFs was that nothing at all would happen after I'd
clicked Okay to print.



At least three times in the past 5 years I've had to uninstall (remove) the
USB device from the control panel entirely, and reinstall all USB devices.
You can try that.

I'd suggest you use the parallel port on your computer, for I'm guessing if
you're running 98 it isn't a new "legacy free" computer. If you already
have
a printer attached to it, adding an extra parallel port isn't a very
expensive
proposition. You could test on the current port.

With any version of Windows 9x the parallel ports are more reliable than the
USB ones. The HP 990 runs on both. I use parallel with my desktop and USB
with my Mac powerbook.

I sometimes have problems printing PDF files on the 990 (all the text fonts
turn into rubbish) but by rebooting and printing early before I've loaded
other programs, the problem always vanishes (512mb isn't enough always).

You might also want to make sure the PDF file wasn't created by a version of
Acrobat that is much newer than your version of Reader. Unless the creator
is
careful, that can cause problems if some features are used -- but I wouldn't
think it would effect printing.. In Acrobat Reader use File/Document Info
to
see.

Finally, check with other PDF files. Fonts used in the PDF file may not be
embedded in the file nor on your system. If that is the case, Reader will
substitute what it thinks is the right font, which may or may not be
accurate.

 

[lowtech]

Sorry, can't help you with the IR software, for I never got around to using
the IR port for anything. I tried briefly to get my old HP200LX palmtop
(DOS 5) to use it, but didn't try very hard.

Dear Lowtech,

Thanks for your help. Before trying anything else, I edited my registryto
remove all HP keys (Local Settings\Software was loaded with them.) ThenI
downloaded the new driver again. Then I switched to my parallel port.
Successful install. This whole upgrade experience has left me with a
downgraded opinion of HP, especially its email support arm, which ultimately
suggested I pay for phone help. Fat chance.

By the way, do you have any tips on the best way to reinstall the IR Print
software and which version to use?

Thanks, PW

PS: My problem with PDFs was that nothing at all would happen after I'd
clicked Okay to print.

<snip>