Finding the printer

[Eustace]

I have installed the V305 Dell printer, but it does not appear in Start

Settings > Printers.

When I plug the USB cable to the printer, there is a dialog:

-----------
Found New Hardware
Windows needs to install driver software for your Dell V305
Locate and install driver software (recommended)
-----------

I click it. There is some activity in the Taskbar tray. Then it says
it's OK, but still it isn't OK. There is still no Printer in the Start >
Settings > Printers, and if I try to print a text document, it says that
first I need to install a printer...

What's going on?

emf

 

[Dominic Payer]

Start here
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~ck=anavml
and download and install the driver needed.

 

[Eustace]

Start here
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~ck=anavml
and download and install the driver needed.

OK, I installed the newest driver just in case. Well, this time I did
observe something different: While the driver software congratulated me
for connecting my printer, there was this Windows alert:

=============
Microsoft Windows
Printer Communication System stopped
working and was closed

A problem caused the application to stop
working correctly. Windows will notify you if
a solution is available
=============

The situation is as described in my original message. What should I do now?

emf

 

[vista bill]

OK, I installed the newest driver just in case. Well, this time I did
observe something different: While the driver software congratulated me
for connecting my printer, there was this Windows alert:

=============
Microsoft Windows
Printer Communication System stopped
working and was closed

A problem caused the application to stop
working correctly. Windows will notify you if
a solution is available
=============

The situation is as described in my original message. What should I do now?

emf

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When something like that happens to me, I restart my computer and see
if things work ok. They always seem to be ok after a restart. You
might need to restart a second time.

Bill

 

[Eustace]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When something like that happens to me, I restart my computer and see
if things work ok. They always seem to be ok after a restart. You
might need to restart a second time.

Bill

Do you mean restart and try to reinstall the driver?

emf

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Do you mean restart and try to reinstall the driver?

emf

He means "did you reboot after installing the driver and before trying it?"

 

[vista bill]

He means "did you reboot after installing the driver and before trying it?"

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for explaining what I meant, Gene.

Bill

Shared responsibility. It takes a village to answer a post, or something
like that...

And feel free to return the favor, especially when I don't get it right

 

[Eustace]

He means "did you reboot after installing the driver and before trying it?"

Well, I didn't right away after installing the driver, but I have
rebooted a few times since them. I just rechecked Start > Settings >
Printers. Unfortunately there is not V305 there...

Is there any way to find the nature of the problem that caused the
Printer Communication System application to stop working correctly?

emf

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Well, I didn't right away after installing the driver, but I have
rebooted a few times since them. I just rechecked Start > Settings >
Printers. Unfortunately there is not V305 there...

Is there any way to find the nature of the problem that caused the
Printer Communication System application to stop working correctly?

emf

It's pretty mysterious to me.

I would start doing things like checking (replacing) the USB cable and
making sure the cable is USB-2, not USB-1. Also make sure the printer is
*not* plugged into an external USB hub, but directly into the computer. Use
another port.

I would also consider completely uninstalling the driver and other printer
software and starting over. Do all of that with the printer *un* plugged.
After the printer software and drivers are installed, then plug the printer
in.

Either that, or install the software with the printer *plugged in*. That
sounds dumb, but some devices require it one way and some require it the
other way.

I's also try setting up a borrowed printer of a different brand to see if
that works, thus halfway pointing to the printer and its software as the
villain - or if that fails too, then it might be your computer or OS.

That's the best I can do - wish it was better...