Installing software for HP Scanjet 6300c on Vista Home Premium

[Steve Turner]

I am trying to install the drivers and software for my HP Scanjet 6300c on
Vista Home Premium SP1. I can't get the scanner to initialize. This is
admittedly a few years old but it's in perfect running order. And it cost a
fortune when I bought it. Has anyone any ideas as to work around? Is there a
compatibility setting I have to change perhaps? Thanks.

 

[Paul Montgomery]

I am trying to install the drivers and software for my HP Scanjet 6300c on
Vista Home Premium SP1. I can't get the scanner to initialize. This is
admittedly a few years old but it's in perfect running order.

It's more than a "few years old". And if you're running Vista, it's not in
"perfect running order" either. You need Vista drivers, and they aren't
coming.

And it cost a fortune when I bought it.

There's a Craig's List item selling one for $15. Today's scanners are a
whole lot better than that one, and cost a lot less than it did. Start
saving your spare change.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Have you visited the HP website to see if they have an updated driver?
Alternatively contact HP Tech Support (via email as this isn't a life or
death problem) and ask their advice; there may be an alternative driver
which they can suggest that may be able to solve the problem.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Steve Turner]

It's more than a "few years old". And if you're running Vista, it's not
in
"perfect running order" either. You need Vista drivers, and they aren't
coming.


There's a Craig's List item selling one for $15. Today's scanners are a
whole lot better than that one, and cost a lot less than it did. Start
saving your spare change.

Thanks for the advice. No longer worth it to me to upgrade. I guess I'm
confined to running it only on my XP machine. I'm not a throw away kinda
guy. This scanner works fine. I HATE just chucking something that works.
Reduce, reuse, recycle!

 

[Steve Turner]

Have you visited the HP website to see if they have an updated driver?
Alternatively contact HP Tech Support (via email as this isn't a life or
death problem) and ask their advice; there may be an alternative driver
which they can suggest that may be able to solve the problem.

Yes, John. They have the old driver on line for download but they state that
they no longer support the item for Vista. Hurrumph!

 

[John Barnett MVP]

I have an HP PSC 1215 printer which, although HP did make a Vista compatible
driver, actually doesn't print correctly when connect to Vista. What
actually happens is that, when printing, if you image the word having an
imaginary horizontal line in the middle of the word, the top half of which
is slightly offset to the left, you will see my problem. This happens in
most instances. But it doesn't happen with Windows XP. Yes HP have tried to
sort it out, but they never found a solution.

Now because I knew the printer worked fine on XP and I also had a full copy
of XP available, my workaround was to install virtual machine software
(Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 is free) install XP to the VM software and then
install the printer. That solved my problem. Okay I will buy a another
printer when I get round to it, but this one is only 2 years old. Don't want
to be too hasty, anyway just in case, after I buy my new printer, HP decide
not to create drivers for Windows 7 when that is released.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Yes, John. They have the old driver on line for download but they state that
they no longer support the item for Vista. Hurrumph!

Just to try to clarify the situation, this has nothing to do with
Vista in particular. This can be a problem whenever you have an older
peripheral device and you change from any operating system to a newer
one. The responsibility to write the necessary drivers is that of the
hardware manufacturer, not Microsoft. Each manufacturer makes it own
decisions about what new drivers it wants to incur the cost of
writing. In many cases, manufacturers will unfortunately decide that
it doesn't make economic sense to write a new driver for an older
piece of hardware.

 

[bhk]

Just to try to clarify the situation, this has nothing to do with
Vista in particular. This can be a problem whenever you have an older
peripheral device and you change from any operating system to a newer
one. The responsibility to write the necessary drivers is that of the
hardware manufacturer, not Microsoft. Each manufacturer makes it own
decisions about what new drivers it wants to incur the cost of
writing. In many cases, manufacturers will unfortunately decide that
it doesn't make economic sense to write a new driver for an older
piece of hardware.

What you say is very true, however, I do have a HP Deskjet 510 (first bought
in 1992) working quite happily on Vista home premium using generic MS
drivers!

Kenneth

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

What you say is very true, however, I do have a HP Deskjet 510 (first bought
in 1992) working quite happily on Vista home premium using generic MS
drivers!

Good, glad to hear it. But consider yourself lucky.

 

[Steve Turner]

I have an HP PSC 1215 printer which, although HP did make a Vista
compatible driver, actually doesn't print correctly when connect to Vista.
What actually happens is that, when printing, if you image the word having
an imaginary horizontal line in the middle of the word, the top half of
which is slightly offset to the left, you will see my problem. This happens
in most instances. But it doesn't happen with Windows XP. Yes HP have tried
to sort it out, but they never found a solution.

Now because I knew the printer worked fine on XP and I also had a full
copy of XP available, my workaround was to install virtual machine
software (Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 is free) install XP to the VM software
and then install the printer. That solved my problem. Okay I will buy a
another printer when I get round to it, but this one is only 2 years old.
Don't want to be too hasty, anyway just in case, after I buy my new
printer, HP decide not to create drivers for Windows 7 when that is
released.

<snip>

What you write here really piqued my interest. I downloaded it, havent'
installed it yet. But the specs don't say Vista Home Premium. I noticed that
omission. So I'm wondering whether having Home Premium precludes my using
it. Great idea though!

 

[Steve Turner]

Yes

<snip>

What you write here really piqued my interest. I downloaded it, havent'
installed it yet. But the specs don't say Vista Home Premium. I noticed
that omission. So I'm wondering whether having Home Premium precludes my
using it. Great idea though!

 

[Mick Murphy]

Virtual PC works with Vista home Premium.
It is just that MS does not support it.

 

[Steve Turner]

Virtual PC works with Vista home Premium.
It is just that MS does not support it.

Oh WOW. Thank you VERY much, Mick!

 

[GrahamH]

Hi i had the same problem with my HP5370C.
Dont bother with HP software and drivers, take a look at Vuescan
http://www.hamrick.com
I installed this software on my Vista pc and it works great with my scanner
and includes a driver. It also has support for HP 6300c
Hope that helps.
Graham