My printer is in a snit.

[glynndah]

The current printer's software is hopelessly corrupted and won't install updates, drivers, etc. It needs to be replaced {throwing it onto a concrete patio from the second floor window is probably not going to do it any good}. I want a fairly compact printer-scanner combination with a wireless-friendly connection that I can network into a couple of computers. My budget's about $200. Any suggestions?

 

[Handley_Page]

The current printer's software is hopelessly corrupted and won't install updates, drivers, etc. It needs to be replaced {throwing it onto a concrete patio from the second floor window is probably not going to do it any good}. I want a fairly compact printer-scanner combination with a wireless-friendly connection that I can network into a couple of computers. My budget's about $200. Any suggestions?

Serious question:
Have you considered removing the corrupt driver and installing new ones ?
(Assuming that the printer still works OK)
I'd have thought trying that before spending more cash might be worth a try.

 

[TxRad]

HP is correct. If you have the disk, there is usually a repair option on the bootup menu. If not then try to uninstall the printer. If it won't then just install the program again over it. Same directory.

 

[glynndah]

Serious question:
Have you considered removing the corrupt driver and installing new ones ?
(Assuming that the printer still works OK)
I'd have thought trying that before spending more cash might be worth a try.

HP is correct. If you have the disk, there is usually a repair option on the bootup menu. If not then try to uninstall the printer. If it won't then just install the program again over it. Same directory.

Yes, I have the disc and have tried reinstalling it numerous times. It's brokeded. I can get as far as the second step. "This disc does not recognize the current language. Please choose from these options. English..." I press English and we start all over again. Amusing for about the first hundred times, but then it does get tedious. I've downloaded the drivers but they will not install or load. I may try unhooking everything, instead of just the USB cable as recommended, and start all over again tomorrow and see if I can "trick" it into installing.

Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[Handley_Page]

Yes, I have the disc and have tried reinstalling it numerous times. It's brokeded. I can get as far as the second step. "This disc does not recognize the current language. Please choose from these options. English..." I press English and we start all over again. Amusing for about the first hundred times, but then it does get tedious. I've downloaded the drivers but they will not install or load. I may try unhooking everything, instead of just the USB cable as recommended, and start all over again tomorrow and see if I can "trick" it into installing.

Thank you for your suggestions.

Is this on a PC ?
Remember you MUST remove the old drivers first, and then re-boot the machine
then re-install.

 

[TxRad]

Yes, I have the disc and have tried reinstalling it numerous times. It's brokeded. I can get as far as the second step. "This disc does not recognize the current language. Please choose from these options. English..." I press English and we start all over again. Amusing for about the first hundred times, but then it does get tedious. I've downloaded the drivers but they will not install or load. I may try unhooking everything, instead of just the USB cable as recommended, and start all over again tomorrow and see if I can "trick" it into installing.

Thank you for your suggestions.

Ah, let me guess. It's an HP printer.

 

[Saxon_Hart]

Personally I wouldn't even mess with the disc. I'd wipe the old drivers from my puter and then go to the printer manufacturer's website and download a new and up to date driver. The disc compatibility might have changed when your OS updated. I had this happen once with a printer.

 

[R. Richard]

First: Go to your printer manufacturer's web site and see if they have a toll free help number. At best, they might be able to solve your problem. Even if they can't solve your problem, they might offer you a deal on a new printer.
You haven't stated what it is that you use your printer for. If you do the occasional letter, poster, whatever, an inkjet with FAX, scan and copy is the way to go. However, per page costs are high.
If you do a volume of printing, laser is cheaper.
Search the Internet to get printer reviews before you buy!

 

[jomar]

I am partial to Brother lasers.

 

[glynndah]

Is this on a PC ?
Remember you MUST remove the old drivers first, and then re-boot the machine
then re-install.

Yes, it's a PC. I think I've removed the old drivers, but I'll double-check tomorrow. Right now it's too dark in the basement to mess with it.

Ah, let me guess. It's an HP printer.

Nope. It's a Lexmark. I've had pretty good luck with them in the past.

Personally I wouldn't even mess with the disc. I'd wipe the old drivers from my puter and then go to the printer manufacturer's website and download a new and up to date driver. The disc compatibility might have changed when your OS updated. I had this happen once with a printer.

I tried that. The new and improved drivers won't load. Part of the problem may be the printer is getting old and crotchety.

First: Go to your printer manufacturer's web site and see if they have a toll free help number. At best, they might be able to solve your problem. Even if they can't solve your problem, they might offer you a deal on a new printer.
You haven't stated what it is that you use your printer for. If you do the occasional letter, poster, whatever, an inkjet with FAX, scan and copy is the way to go. However, per page costs are high.
If you do a volume of printing, laser is cheaper.
Search the Internet to get printer reviews before you buy!

I'll try that tomorrow. They're not know for giving deals but it's worth a chance. Heck, at this point finding a printer that uses the same kind of ink cartridge would be great. I don't do much printing so an inkjet is fine.

Thank you for all the suggestions. Your help is much appreciated.

A from the currently printless good little witch.

 

[slyc_willie]

We use a Canon MX510 printer/scanner. I don't remember the cost, but it wasn't much. Under $100. It's fairly efficient on ink, with a replacement double pack costing about $40.

 

[TE999]

I just bought an HP DeskJet 3512 at Wally World for around $65.00. I works just fine and is wireless.

 

[slyc_willie]

I just bought an HP DeskJet 3512 at Wally World for around $65.00. I works just fine and is wireless.

I should have mentioned ours is also wireless. We can print from any of our smart phones, the iPad and a Samsung Galaxy, both the Macbook and my HP laptop, and my desktop. The only thing it's actually plugged into is the desktop.

 

[Handley_Page]

I have a scanning colour ink-jet thing made by Brother.
It's damned good

 

[glynndah]

Update:

Although I could not get any drivers to load yesterday, today I did manage to install new drivers from the Lexmark website. I'm sure it had nothing to do with my selecting and ordering a new printer.

 

[R. Richard]

Update:

Although I could not get any drivers to load yesterday, today I did manage to install new drivers from the Lexmark website. I'm sure it had nothing to do with my selecting and ordering a new printer.

Helps with the budget!

 

[TE999]

Update:

Although I could not get any drivers to load yesterday, today I did manage to install new drivers from the Lexmark website. I'm sure it had nothing to do with my selecting and ordering a new printer.

It knew it was being replaced and decided to play nice. These 'tecnicronical doohickeys all talk to each other in a secret code only they can understand, so be careful what you say and do around them.

Now I need to get more tinfoil for my hat and wax all the pomegranates again.

 

[glynndah]

It knew it was being replaced and decided to play nice. These 'tecnicronical doohickeys all talk to each other in a secret code only they can understand, so be careful what you say and do around them.

Now I need to get more tinfoil for my hat and wax all the pomegranates again.

Exactly! Which probably explains why I can no longer get the television downstairs to pick up the satellite signal.

 

[Saxon_Hart]

Update:

Although I could not get any drivers to load yesterday, today I did manage to install new drivers from the Lexmark website. I'm sure it had nothing to do with my selecting and ordering a new printer.

Funny...my sunglasses used that very same principal to come out of hiding when the pair I ordered showed up. They wouldn't come out of hiding when the cheap temporary pair was bought. No, they waited until the expensive pair was here.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

It may be too late for you this time, but for anyone else who is in the market for a printer, in many cases the cost of the ink is a more important consideration than the cost of the machine. Over the life of your printer, you will spend far more on ink refills than on the actual printer. It makes sense, therefore, to factor in that cost when considering a new purchase. This is especially true if you are a high volume user (>500 pages/month). For heavy volume users, spending over $400 or $500 on an printer will actually save you money in the long run. Why is that? Because ink for the more expensive machines is priced lower than for the cheaper machines.

If you are a low volume user (<100 pages/month), then it still makes sense to purchase the cheaper machine. You don't buy enough ink to offset the higher price of the more expensive machine.

For those in the middle (between 100 and 500 pages/month), the calculations are much more difficult. You really have to compare the cost per page of every machine you are considering, add that to the cost of the machine, and factor it over the expected lifetime of the device.

 

[glynndah]

It may be too late for you this time, but for anyone else who is in the market for a printer, in many cases the cost of the ink is a more important consideration than the cost of the machine. Over the life of your printer, you will spend far more on ink refills than on the actual printer. It makes sense, therefore, to factor in that cost when considering a new purchase. This is especially true if you are a high volume user (>500 pages/month). For heavy volume users, spending over $400 or $500 on an printer will actually save you money in the long run. Why is that? Because ink for the more expensive machines is priced lower than for the cheaper machines.

If you are a low volume user (<100 pages/month), then it still makes sense to purchase the cheaper machine. You don't buy enough ink to offset the higher price of the more expensive machine.

For those in the middle (between 100 and 500 pages/month), the calculations are much more difficult. You really have to compare the cost per page of every machine you are considering, add that to the cost of the machine, and factor it over the expected lifetime of the device.

Shall I begin my rant about printer ink?

 

[Saxon_Hart]

Shall I begin my rant about printer ink?

Then don't buy my machine. It's a Canon. I bought the printer/scanner/copier/fax for under $50 at a large US retailer. When I buy the ink, I pay between $24 and $28 for the black, and $26 - $32 for the color. And the cartridges are not refillable. Luckily I only need to buy ink once a year or so.

 

[TxRad]

Then don't buy my machine. It's a Canon. I bought the printer/scanner/copier/fax for under $50 at a large US retailer. When I buy the ink, I pay between $24 and $28 for the black, and $26 - $32 for the color. And the cartridges are not refillable. Luckily I only need to buy ink once a year or so.

All cartridges are refillable. All it takes is a 3/32" drill bit, ink, a syringe, and tape to close the hole.

I have a small wire nut screwed on the drill bit so I can hand drill the holes.

The only time I buy cartridges is when old one wears out the copper print face.

Oh yeah, the hole goes in the top as the cartridge sits in the machine.

 

[Saxon_Hart]

All cartridges are refillable. All it takes is a 3/32" drill bit, ink, a syringe, and tape to close the hole.

I have a small wire nut screwed on the drill bit so I can hand drill the holes.

The only time I buy cartridges is when old one wears out the copper print face.

Oh yeah, the hole goes in the top as the cartridge sits in the machine.

I like it! I'll have to do that when my current set runs out. Where do you procure the ink or can you use any ink. And do you drill multiple holes i the color cartridge?

 

[TxRad]

I like it! I'll have to do that when my current set runs out. Where do you procure the ink or can you use any ink. And do you drill multiple holes i the color cartridge?

There are dozens of companies on line that sell the ink. And no, regular ink dries up to quickly. And don't forget to tape the holes or the good ink will dry up also.

One hole in the black and one for each color in the color one. If you can find the thin white bodied cartridges, it makes finding the right spot to drill easier. Otherwise its a bit of trial and error on the color side.