OK, it is a bit more difficult than I thought. The drivers extension is
usually .sys or .dr. There is a bunch of them of course. First I thought
that by going to Control Panel>> Hardware and Sound >> Printer>> And right
clicking properties you could uninstall drivers. At leas to my recollection
it was the case XP. It does not seem to be the case in Vista.
What I suggest is this. Obviously you know the old printer's maker. You
should find out the name of the original "driver" downloaded file that
usually comes with it. I mean it should be at their website If it is a very
old printer this information may not be available. The file is usually a zip
file.
Let's assume that it is available. You go to their website and download that
driver again. Sort of "virtual" action. This usually results in for instance
the download creating a special folder for the driver. You have to catch
this folder's name. You have to watch carefully where it will end up. It
should end up in the existing folder. At this point you will know where the
darn folder is located and you will find the driver with .sys extension plus
a file with .inf extension and perhaps some other supporting files. At this
stage you will have to backup everything: the computer or perhaps even the
computer plus the registry. Just in case.
The next step for you is to elevate yourself to the role of administrator. I
am posting instructions how to do it.
Old post are not perused. If you have any additional problems repost I will
work with you. Others may also help.
You may try to delete the folder with the old driver in question with
administrator's privileges. This way Vista will have a full accountability
of what you are doing.
That have failed you contact your manufacturer by email via a live concierge
talk and ask them point blank where the darn driver is located and how to
delete it.
Forget about Synaptic Syndrome. He is a fringe. He has nothing better to do
than malign Vista and those who work with it and enjoy it. He is an idiot
who has never helped anybody.
These are instructions as to how elevate your status to administrator's
level:
You are not the administrator and will never be. Administrator is an object.
You can temporarily give yourselves rights to perform some operations as if
you were Administrator, yes. Your power still will be limited. Actually you
do not need more than that.
In order to do what you want you will have to open "Local Users And Groups"
GUI (either typing lusrmgr.msc in Windows\system32\ -- do not forget to open
Command Prompt as "run as Administrator" - take a notice!!!) or if you have
Home or Home Premium you should go thru Control panel> System and
Maintenance>Administrative Tools>Computer Management>Local Users and Groups.
Open up thumbnail Groups, open up Group "Administrators" (nb: it is plural)
and you will see the object "administrator" in there. Add yourselves to this
group. Close the GUI.
You may have a somewhat easier life from now on but it may not be enough.
You may also need to establish yourselves as a person who has the right to
write into certain folders if you want. Go to that folder, left
click>>Properties>>Security tab>>Edit>>Add>>type in your name>>Close that
window, Check checkbox "Full Control">>Apply>>OK.
You may also need to delete Inheritance. Click Advanced. That will give you
an option to uncheck a checkbox and the onwership rights of other objects
will be terminated.
Now you will have the right to do what you want in this folder and ALL its
subfolders. You will never be denied any access. You should exercise this
power judiciously and on a limited basis.
Also this link may be useful.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/84215-folder-options.html