printer communication problem

[brenda]

I am using Windows XP. I have an Epson photo smart
scanner and a HP deskjet 940c printer. When trying to
use the copy mode of the scanner, I get an error message
that the printer is not installed correctly. I have been
told there is a patch for this problem, but I can't seem
to locate it. Please advise

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

I don't know about the Epson scanner, but the printer is certainly an old
model. You don't perhaps have them both piggy-backed together as LPT
devices do you? This isn't supported under XP.

 

[brenda]

No, they are on seperate usb ports. The printer works
fine otherwise.

 

[brenda]

This was sold to us as a package by Gateway. The printer
and scanner are not connected in any way. They have
never communicated correctly. I am getting a run around
about how to resolve this problem.

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

The first thing I would try is an uninstall and reinstall of the HP
printer.....
http://www.coribright.com/Windows/Article One.htm

New drivers are at
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...g=en&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&softwareitem=dj1183en

However if they have never communicated correctly, they may just not like
each other!

 

[Tim]

EPSON Smart Panel Copy Utility is a short-cut rather than a program.
It provides a simple interface for a far more complex procedure. It
does this by automatically assigning a lot of default values and thus
allows you just to press a button.
To do this it has to interface with the printer driver. EPSON Smart
Panel Copy Utility did not work well with the HP 900 series ink jet
printers. There is not a problem with your operating system or the
scanner. There is a patch to allow more non-EPSON printers top
function with the Smart Panel but many have found that this does not
resolve the issue with the HP 900 series.
One way to get around this is to install an EPSON ink jet through the
Add Printer Wizard and make it the default (this will be a dummy
installation as no such printer will be attached). Then the Copy will
open and you can change to the HP. However this does mean that you
will have to use file/print and select the correct printer from every
other program as well...
This is not seen as a big issue, and there is other Copy software free
on the internet that will allow you to achieve what you wish.