How to use a shared printer (win xp 32bit) on windows 7 (64 bit) without 64bit driver?

[Markus]

Hi,

I've connected my Epson EPL-5900L to my desktop-pc (Windows XP 32bit) and
share it in the network.
Now I want to use this shared printer on a Windows 7 (64bit) notebook but
unfortunately there are no 64bit drivers for this printer (not for windows 7
and not for vista).

Is there a way I can use this printer on the notebook?
--> Maybe a "proxy-printer" on the XP-machine where exists 64bit driver für
windows 7.

Hopefully someone can help me.

Markus

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Post here:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7hardware/threads

Or here: http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7network/threads

 

[Chuck]

Hi,

I've connected my Epson EPL-5900L to my desktop-pc (Windows XP 32bit) and
share it in the network.
Now I want to use this shared printer on a Windows 7 (64bit) notebook but
unfortunately there are no 64bit drivers for this printer (not for windows 7
and not for vista).

Is there a way I can use this printer on the notebook?
--> Maybe a "proxy-printer" on the XP-machine where exists 64bit driver für
windows 7.

Hopefully someone can help me.

Markus

A quick search did not locate any win 7 64 drivers.
I also tried to find the specs, but Epson only listed a 5700i
Perhaps the printer can use either a generic postscript or ESC P/2
driver? The 5700i specs did not mention what the programming and
emulation capabilities are for this printer.

 

[Markus]

I'm not sure if I can use a generic postscript driver.
How can I test it?

Markus

 

[Chuck]

I'm not sure if I can use a generic postscript driver.
How can I test it?

Markus

Windows Update (From install a printer) Has additional Epson and
postscript drivers available. It may take enough time to update the
driver list that you think it has frozen.
From this point, it's a matter of picking a likely candidate and see
what happens.
I did not notice any that exactly matched your printer, but there were
various Epson drivers that are sort of generic, and Microsoft drivers
that might work to some extent.
A problem area was the lack of info concerning your printer in the
specs. on the Epson web site. The Esc P level was not defined, and so
forth. Many of the "early" laser printers were a combination of ASCII
printers, postscript printers, and a Mfrs generic (Esc P), as well as
with some features somewhat unique to a particular printer model.

Epson used to have a printer programming document for each model or
series that was available on request. I haven't had to ask for one in
years, so I don't know what Epson does currently, let alone with a model
as old as the 5700.

 

[Markus]

It seems that the 5900L has no PCL support.
But I've solved the problem with this tutorial:
http://iharder.sourceforge.net/current/macosx/winmacprinter/
I just created the postscript-print (in my case a HP LaserJet 4000 Series
PS) and shared this printer.
--> Maybe you someone need to download the HP Universal Print Driver:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...askId=135&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=25474

Now I use this printer on Win7 and the output of this printer is redirected
to gsprint which prints the output on my Epson EPL-5900L.

It's not nice but works.

Markus

 

[Chuck]

Windows Update (From install a printer) Has additional Epson and
postscript drivers available. It may take enough time to update the
driver list that you think it has frozen.
From this point, it's a matter of picking a likely candidate and see
what happens.
I did not notice any that exactly matched your printer, but there were
various Epson drivers that are sort of generic, and Microsoft drivers
that might work to some extent.
A problem area was the lack of info concerning your printer in the
specs. on the Epson web site. The Esc P level was not defined, and so
forth. Many of the "early" laser printers were a combination of ASCII
printers, postscript printers, and a Mfrs generic (Esc P), as well as
with some features somewhat unique to a particular printer model.

Epson used to have a printer programming document for each model or
series that was available on request. I haven't had to ask for one in
years, so I don't know what Epson does currently, let alone with a model
as old as the 5700.

"I'm not sure if I can use a generic postscript driver. How can I test it?"

Basically, you install the driver, and point it to the printer. Your
printer is a parallel port printer, according to the Epson data.
It may also have a network interface, but that was not mentioned.