Computer VISTA question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MS Fowler · #1 06-20-2009, 11:50 PM

I think is an easy one for anyone who is computer savvy.
At my wife's request (!), I swapped the printers for our computer, installing the Lexmark Z515 onto her Vista Home edition basic Compaq computer.
The disc that came with the printer would not install the driver--I think becasue there is no Vista OS driver on the Lexmark disc.
I went online and after several attempts finally installed a driver from Lexmark onto the Vista computer. It shows up in the "Printers" tab on Control Panel.
However, it is "offline", and will not print the document in the que.

The question is simply, " How do I make the printer go "online"?

JonL · #2 06-21-2009, 01:35 AM

I don't know Vista, but usually there's a drop-down menu, maybe it's under "File," or "Printer" or something. There will be a choice "offline." If you select it it should change to "online." This is from memory of my computer at work. I'm on a Mac here at home.

amosfella · #3 06-21-2009, 03:19 AM

erase vista and install xp....

JonL · #4 06-21-2009, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amosfella

erase vista and install xp....

Sell the computer and buy a Mac!

(No, I DO NOT want to start one of THESE threads again!

This was meant to be a JOKE!!!)

GermanStar · #5 06-21-2009, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

I think is an easy one for anyone who is computer savvy.
At my wife's request (!), I swapped the printers for our computer, installing the Lexmark Z515 onto her Vista Home edition basic Compaq computer.
The disc that came with the printer would not install the driver--I think becasue there is no Vista OS driver on the Lexmark disc.
I went online and after several attempts finally installed a driver from Lexmark onto the Vista computer. It shows up in the "Printers" tab on Control Panel.
However, it is "offline", and will not print the document in the que.

The question is simply, " How do I make the printer go "online"?

I cannot say why, but 'offline' in this case, means 'not connected'. Your Printers applet has found the driver, but not the printer. Check, then recheck the connection and of course, be certain that the printer is turned on. Had the printer been powered up and correctly attached, Vista would have attempted to install the driver itself, and if unable to do so, prompted you for assistance.

Ara T. · #6 06-21-2009, 04:22 AM

Did you try finding a Vista driver online @ Lexmark's website?

MS Fowler · #7 06-21-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ara T.

Did you try finding a Vista driver online @ Lexmark's website?

Yes. That is where I found an actual driver. Every other website in my search seemed to be someone offering the driver, but really selling me a subscription to a driver updating service.

Printer is powered up and plugged in to a USB port.

LUVMBDiesels · #8 06-21-2009, 09:56 AM

Unplug the printer and then plug it back in. Does Vista do the 'found new hardware' thing? If not then the OS does not see the printer. Some older printers and other things just will not work with Vista...

If your comouter is running VHB, then downgrading it to XP is not a bad idea -- IF and it is a BIG IF there are XP drivers for the computer hardware. I am stuck with Vista on this laptop as Microsoft prevented Toshiba from writing XP drivers for their new models as a way to force people off stable XP and into the wild ride that is Vista...

I am going to yank Vista off this thing and install Open Solaris as the main OS as soon as I can burn the CDs... I will still be able to run a Vista VM

MS Fowler · #9 06-21-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

Unplug the printer and then plug it back in. Does Vista do the 'found new hardware' thing? If not then the OS does not see the printer. Some older printers and other things just will not work with Vista...

If your comouter is running VHB, then downgrading it to XP is not a bad idea -- IF and it is a BIG IF there are XP drivers for the computer hardware. I am stuck with Vista on this laptop as Microsoft prevented Toshiba from writing XP drivers for their new models as a way to force people off stable XP and into the wild ride that is Vista...

I am going to yank Vista off this thing and install Open Solaris as the main OS as soon as I can burn the CDs... I will still be able to run a Vista VM

I understand what you are saying, but I am not nearly enough of a geek or hacker to attempt to install a different OS. Way too intimidating.

mpolli · #10 06-21-2009, 04:42 PM

My only advice is this:

Unplug printer and turn everything off.

Reboot computer.

After it is all started up (about 1 hour...) turn printer on and plug into USB

Pray

MS Fowler · #11 06-21-2009, 05:13 PM

Latest attemp---
I downloaded the Windows service pack. After about an hour, it printed a "printer test page". However, it still will not print anything else.

Is MS related to NexTel? I get about the same level of (dis) satisfaction from both.

Palangi · #12 06-21-2009, 07:02 PM

Is the Lexmark selected as the defauly printer?

MS Fowler · #13 06-21-2009, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palangi

Is the Lexmark selected as the defauly printer?

Yes

Zeus · #14 06-21-2009, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Yes

Hi MS,

You said you downloaded a service pack? Have you run Windows Update recently?

Vista is actually a very good and solid OS, I've been using it (Ultimate 32-bit) basically since it came out. On all our family PCs (3 of them).

I would run Windows Update if you haven't and install all recommended updates. Keep running the service until there is nothing left to update. Keep you printer plugged in and powered up while doing so.

After all that, reboot with printer unplugged. Then after you have logged in, plug in printer and power up. See what happens then.

Reason being is that you may be lacking some critical updates and/or drivers.

MS Fowler · #15 06-22-2009, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeus

Hi MS,

You said you downloaded a service pack? Have you run Windows Update recently?

Vista is actually a very good and solid OS, I've been using it (Ultimate 32-bit) basically since it came out. On all our family PCs (3 of them).

I would run Windows Update if you haven't and install all recommended updates. Keep running the service until there is nothing left to update. Keep you printer plugged in and powered up while doing so.

After all that, reboot with printer unplugged. Then after you have logged in, plug in printer and power up. See what happens then.

Reason being is that you may be lacking some critical updates and/or drivers.

I have it set to automatically check for updates. I was a little surprised when I ran the update manually and found a service pack. That is what I installed yesterday. I will follow your suggestions today, or ,more likely, tonight, and report back.