Installing Printer Drivers
Easter is coming soon so make sure you have all the supplies you need to print those Easter cards.
Here is the link to that fix your own printer site again. People have been asking
for it.
http://www.fixyourownprinter.com
Here is another neat web site for those ambitious tinkerers. Downloadable service manuals for almost every printer out there, as low as $6.99.
http://www.2manuals.com
Please take advantage of your new savers coupon good for anything on our web site.
Installing Printer Drivers
by Barry Shultz
A printer driver is a piece of software that allows the computer to talk to
the printer. Without it the printer would be hopelessly lost since they do not
speak the same language. Many times the printer manufacturer will find new
and better ways to communicate with the printer and offer improved printer
drivers for their customers to install. This could be because they might have
a fault in the old driver or they added improvements to take advantage of enhanced technology emerging with newer computer systems. It's a good
idea to keep a check on your printer driver version and upgrade if it is too far out of date.
Here is how to check your print driver version number.
Windows 95/98
1. Click the Windows Start button, choose Settings, and then choose Printers.
2. Right-click your default printer and choose Properties. (Your default printer will have a checkmark within a black circle above the printer icon.)
3. Click the General tab, click the "Print Test Page" button, and then click OK to print the test page.
Windows XP
1. Click the Windows Start button, choose Control Panel, and then choose Printers and Faxes.
2. Right-click your default printer and choose Properties. (Your default printer will have a checkmark within a black circle above the printer icon.)
3. Click the General tab, click the "Print Test Page" button, and then click OK to print the test page.
Look on the test page for Driver Version.
All of the major printer manufactures have web sites and they allow you to freely download their printer drivers. All you need to know is your printers
manufacturer and model number. When you go to their web site look for
words like "Downloads", "Drivers", "Software" or "Support" and drill down to your model.
Here is the web site URL's for the more popular brands. (I've done most of
the drilling for you to the drivers). Some of these links are rather long so be
sure to get the entire URL in your browser.
Hewlett Packard
http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html
Canon
http://www.usa.canon.com/html/conCprTSIndex.jsp?app=download
Epson
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/SupportIndex.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes
Lexmark
http://www.lexmark.com/US/support/drivers/
Xerox
http://www.xerox.com/go/xrx/template/productsupport.jsp?Xcntry=USA&Xlang=en_US
Dell
https://support.dell.com/productselection.aspx
Brother
http://www.brother.com/E-ftp/info/index.html
----------------
Follow the installation instructions for your manufacturers driver. Each one is different and there isn't enough room here to explain all of them to you but
here are a few pointers.
PLEASE read the install instructions first before attempting to install the driver.
Many of them can be long downloads if you're using a dial up connection, so give yourself some time if that is the case.
Some require you to remove your old driver first. It's important that you do
this if you want a successful install of your new driver.
If possible, have your old driver disk handy in case something goes wrong with the install of the new driver.
Make sure you select the correct driver for your printer to take full advantage
of its capabilities.
Do a test print before and after the install and compare the driver versions to make sure the install was successful.
Check your settings in your old driver and make note of them. If your text,
color shading or personal preferences change after you upgrade you'll wish you had.
It may not be necessary to upgrade your printer driver just because the manufacturer has a newer one available. But if you're noticing strange
things while using any newer software with your printer then consider upgrading your driver. Read the documentation for the newer driver. They
may have added a few features to the driver that you'll want to take advantage of even if you're not having any problems.
***
Till next time.
Happy printing
Barry Shultz
Atlascopy, Inc.
PO Box 1292
Dover, DE. 19904
http://atlascopy.com
You may freely distribute this article as long as you include the following at the end of the article with the URL hard linked exactly as it is on this web page.
Barry Shultz is the author of Atlascopy News, and President of Atlascopy,
Inc. Atlascopy specializes in
affordable alternatives to the high cost of printer supplies. Sign up for
the Atlascopy Newsletter and get 10% coupons every week in your email. http://atlascopy.com/signup_new.htm
Go to Atlascopy to save a bundle on your printer and refilling supplies.
http://atlascopy.com
Can't find what you're looking for? Try searching Google!
|
