I have tried many methods in trying to install HP printer software on
Windows Vista, including months of 'help' from HP. various guides on
Internet and sending to HP a week to install the software. 4 months after I
purchased the HP Photosmart printer C7280, the software is still not fully
installed (Control Centre won't work, fax software won't work, Photosmart
worked only after 3 months & after much effort - probably because
unsuccessful installation of HP software has upset my Windows system).
Finally HP 'offered me the help to re- format my PC and reinstall Windows
Vista' when there is nothing wrong with my PC. HP wanted to take the easy
way to have a virgin PC without any other software. So does it mean that
HP printer software may not work or cannot install on PC with some other
software or cannot co-exist with other software.
HP solution to reformat my PC is too troublesome for me to accept as all my
installed software would be gone. Worst I may even lose the software
licences as I have already installed the software before and I may not be
allowed to re-installed on a newly installed Windows Visata. The point is
there is nothing wrong with my PC or the Windows with my PC. So it is not
fair to me that HP wanted me to present them a 'virgin' PC (free of all
software
except Windows Vista) for them to install the printer software. HP claimed
that 'there are thousand of software out there that can cause problem to the
installation of HP printer software'. You think so? I think it is just red
herring, or camouflage for its poor installation software that is not
robust, that does not provide good error diagnostic messages with
accompanying automated or manual fixes or solutions. So, after 4 months
of agony, I continue to be saddled with the problem of a printer in which in
which the fax software is not working, HP scanner and the all-in-one control
center software are also not working - an incomplete printer product. HP
claims nothing with that!
I believe you and me are not alone. There are probably many others out
there facing similar dilemnas. Think carefully should you be continously
offered help from HP. Step by step, you may be led to the offer of the help
from HP to reformat your harddisk and to uproot all the effort, the data and
software that you have installed on your PC. This kind of offer of help -
is it helpful? Or is it to cover up for the inadequacy of HP installation
software? What kind of help is this? Isn't like saying to install an
electrical wire in your house, you have to rip up and renovate your whole
house. So think carefully, whether to accept the 'help' from HP.
Those who have not bought HP printer & install on Windows Vista, think
carefully the possibility that you may end up in the situation I am you.
Better option is that you buy a printer that can work on your existing PC
and co-exist with the software in the PC, and without the hassle of
re-formating your PC as required by HP for their 'help' to fully install the
printer software.
I had no problem to install the printer software on Win XP on my old PC.