[Boomshadow]

I have an HP LaserJet 1012 that works fine in Windows XP (and networks just fine with Ubuntu and Mac laptops), but will not work with Windows 7. I tried installing the drivers first, and Windows 7 recognized the device by name...but not as a printer. So it wouldn't print. Then I tried uninstalling the drivers and just plugging the printer in on its own--same result.

Any suggestions? I've been told that the 1012 is a host-based printer and that it does not use PCL, which I find hard to accept because PCL came out several years before the 1012 did. It's embarrassing that Windows' vaunted backward compatibility isn't working in my favor here.

[tek101]

Keep in mind .....Wds 7 is still in BETA (FREE version).........You will have some limitation on Old devices ....

Try either Vista ...or Vista 64 bit OS drive see if it works .....Not many choice right now ...Untill HP comes up a new firmware for your printer ....

h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=306510&prodSeriesId=377934&prodTypeId=18972&swLang=8&taskId=135

[mjd420nova]

This seems to be a recurring case as with Vista. Microsoft refuses to update the drivers for their new platforms or provide the proper source codes to manufacturers so users can continue to use their peripherals with the new OS. That's what drove so many users to roll back to XP from Vista when they sould no longer use their printers, scanners and other hardware. WIN7 looks to be more of the same faults that Vista had.

[smax013]

Boomshadow said:

I have an HP LaserJet 1012 that works fine in Windows XP (and networks just fine with Ubuntu and Mac laptops), but will not work with Windows 7. I tried installing the drivers first, and Windows 7 recognized the device by name...but not as a printer. So it wouldn't print. Then I tried uninstalling the drivers and just plugging the printer in on its own--same result.


Any suggestions? I've been told that the 1012 is a host-based printer and that it does not use PCL, which I find hard to accept because PCL came out several years before the 1012 did. It's embarrassing that Windows' vaunted backward compatibility isn't working in my favor here.

Just because the PCL language was out does not mean that your printer supports it. Many "cheap" laser printers were host based printers. This is because PCL (and other printer "processed" languages) cost more to implement...it requires more hardware on the printer, which makes the printer cost more.

As a result, you cannot likely use a "generic" HP PCL printer drivers...you need one that can handle the host based functions.

When you say that you tried installing a driver first, which driver was it? The Vista driver? Or the drivers that came with the printer (i.e. likely XP drivers)? In other words, have you tried downloading and installing the Vista driver?

[Boomshadow]

It was the Vista driver. One would think that, coming from HP and everything, it would just work.

[smax013]

Boomshadow said:

It was the Vista driver. One would think that, coming from HP and everything, it would just work.

Yes, but a Vista driver is not a Windows 7 driver. While some Vista drivers will work with Windows 7, not all will.

That is the price of using a pre-release OS (i.e. either Beta or RC)...not everything will be there and work properly. That is why Betas (including Release Candidates) always include a "use at your own risk" and "do not use with mission critical uses" warnings. Since Windows 7 is not officially released, you cannot knock HP for their driver not working with it.

[Boomshadow]

That would be a marvelous point--except that it works no worse with 7 than it did with Vista.

[smax013]

Boomshadow said:

That would be a marvelous point--except that it works no worse with 7 than it did with Vista.

So, are you saying it does not work with Vista?

If so, then "bash" away at HP...they would deserve it if they put out a Vista driver that does not work with Vista. I was merely thinking you were having problems getting it to work with Win 7.

[Boomshadow]

Sorry for the delayed response. The HP driver never worked with Vista, except by jumping through a bunch of hoops. The hoops have apparently been moved for Windows 7. I did, however, find a kludge that will allow me to share off an XP box in the house, which while counterintuitive minus zero no limit, works.



Unfortunately, it looks as though I'm out of luck with my (admittedly off-topic) HP 5200C scanner. Ah, well...there's always Ubuntu and Sane. ;)

[smax013]

Boomshadow said:

Sorry for the delayed response. The HP driver never worked with Vista, except by jumping through a bunch of hoops. The hoops have apparently been moved for Windows 7. I did, however, find a kludge that will allow me to share off an XP box in the house, which while counterintuitive minus zero no limit, works.

Then HP deserves some "bashing" for not putting out a Vista driver that actually works. Ironically, I would have said that they potentially would have deserved less bashing if they never bother to try putting out a Vista driver (while nice of them, they are not really under any obligations to put out drivers for products past some age...we, of course, could debate what that age is...and whether your printer is past "that" age).

Since Windows 7 has not officially been released, they do not deserve any bashing for your printer not working with Windows 7.

Quote

Unfortunately, it looks as though I'm out of luck with my (admittedly off-topic) HP 5200C scanner. Ah, well...there's always Ubuntu and Sane. ;)

As much as I would like to say that it is unfair (and it is unfair), that is life. Companies will not support everything for an indefinite period of time.

FWIW, you could likely use VueScan with Vista (do not know if it works with Windows 7...again Windows 7 has not been officially released, so ANY product that works with it is just "luck" and the choice to use it is purely on YOU or anyone else that uses Windows 7). It supports an HP ScanJet 5200C.

While it sucks that HP did not update drivers for it, I understand it (not sure if I "agree" with it or not though). After all, to them it is just a "business" decision. In reality, how many people are they likely to piss off enough by no providing drivers for older products. The percentages are likely small. So, they instead choose to spend their time and resources working on other stuff that they perceive (rightly or wrongly) to better help their bottom line. While this mentality sucks, it is part of the world...consumers get hosed all the time.

[mikemaxton]

Boomshadow, on 04 July 2009 - 05:55 AM, said:

I have an HP LaserJet 1012 that works fine in Windows XP (and networks just fine with Ubuntu and Mac laptops), but will not work with Windows 7. I tried installing the drivers first, and Windows 7 recognized the device by name...but not as a printer.

I've been told that the 1012 is a host-based printer and that it does not use PCL, which I find hard to accept because PCL came out several years before the 1012 did. It's embarrassing that Windows' vaunted backward compatibility isn't working in my favor here.

I just chose the HP 1015 driver for my 1012 and Win 7 install. Seems to be working fine, no issues that I have found yet, after 2 weeks.

mike maxton