Windows Vista forum: Why wont my printers work with my new 64-bit Vista machine?

Have you gone to the support websites for each of your printers to see if there are Vista 64-bit drivers available? I also have an HP 64-bit Vista computer and I had to do that for each of my printers. Drivers are generally easy to download and install. I looked up your Epson printer and the Vista 64-bit drivers are available. Just go to Epson.com and click on Drivers and Support. You should be able to do the same thing for your Dell printer. Good luck!

Go the respective web sites for your printers and search for 64 bit printer drivers. Download and follow the installation instructions. Almost all makers have 64 bit drivers. If you can't find the driver on the web call the manufacturer and ask where the driver can be found. You have not made any mistakes.

I bought a new HP with Vista last year. I have an "Epson Stylus Photo RX580, All-in-One" which I have had for several years. The Epson works just fine with my HP-Vista computer. I do recall we had trouble getting it going and I'm sorry I can't recall what we did to fix it. Hopefully someone will have technical information for you. I just wanted to tell you not to let anyone tell you to buy all new equipment.

You can easily do a search on Google for each printer to find information from multiple sources, including the manufacturers and Microsoft. Your Epson CX4600 is fully compatible with Windows 7 64 bit according to both of those sources. There is no driver necessary, nor available for download, as it is already a part of or included with Windows 7 both 32 and 64 bit editions. Legacy hardware drivers are normally developed by their manufacturers during the development period of the new operating systems.

If however, a manufacturer decides not to develop drivers for their older devices during this period, then that device would not be compatible with the new operating system. That is the case in the Dell a940. It is neither compatible with the 32 or 64 bit versions of Windows 7. As Dell does not itself manufacture printers, it is most likely that the actual sub contractor who manufactured that printer in Dell's name is either out of business, or perhaps no longer on good terms with Dell. This gives Dell a bad name but only because of their own decision to associate with the original manufacturer of that device. Of course, this is only conjecture and a likely scenario. Another likely scenario is that depending on the age of some devices, the manufacturer may decide its time to retire that product and time for you to buy a new one from them.

Your buddies may or may not be right. You need to check with Epson and Dell to see if they have 64 bit drivers for the model printers you have. If you need help with this find a friend or family member that is more computer literate to help you. My wife and I help friends, and family with their computer problems a lot and we don't ask anything in return. We do it kind of as a hobby because we are both retired and like to help them save money and we are a bit more computer literate than they are. If we do run into a problem we cannot fix, then we tell them to take the computer to a shop for repairs. Roger in Winnemucca, NV

I had no problems last year when we bought a new HP tower with the 64 bit version of Vista. I just went to the printer manufacturers web sites and downloaded the approapriate drivers. The printers included a Sharp AL-2040CS laser, an older HP inkjet, and a Lexmark inkjet that came bundled with a previous system.

First ... have to agree with your friend who said getting Win 7 was an error, but you are where you are...

The Epson Printer - apparently is supported with the latest software available here :
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/Supportdlsurvey.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&download=http%3a%2f%2fsupport.epson.com%2feasyprint&pn=Stylus+CX4600&pc=Epson+Stylus%3csup%3e%26reg%3b%3c%2fsup%3e+Series&ft=utility&returnpage=%2fsupport%2fsupDetail.jsp&returnparams=%26infoType%3dDownloads%26oid%3d41663%26prodoid%3d46048266&licenseoid=17774

Just accept the Epson Software License Agreement(also select whether or not you wish to be bugged by them with e-Mails.

As for the Dell AIO A940 Printers ....... the DELL site does not appear to support that printer on that OS

When M$ first introduced Vista to the world there was widespread panic because Vista was not backward compatable to any other windows system. Most hardware mfgr's had not upgraded their drivers to the Vista process. Here are the locations where you can download the drivers for free.

Epson - http://driverwhiz.com/drivers-en?brand=Epson&logo=Epson&subid=1001-us-en-10000000783&gclid=COK9_an16qACFSdPgwodeCH0Fg

Dell - http://driverwhiz.com/drivers-en?brand=Dell%20Printer&logo=Dell&subid=1001-us-en-10000000634&gclid=CNHtxLP26qACFRdZbAodzVT1Ug

If you click on the install button after downloading it should install itself. Also be sure everything is attached to your computer (either wirelessly or hardwired) and that the power is on.

I hope this helps.

Tom

First off your buddy doesn't sound anymore comuter literate than you, because the issue here is that the driver/software for your printers need to match your operating system. In this case because you bought a computer with a 64-bit operating system, as opposed to the more common 32-bit operating system, you need to update your drivers to 64-bit versions. You need to go to Dell's and HP's websites, click on support and locate and download the Windows Vista 64-bit version software for your printers. If your prnters are old enough there is a chance that HP or Dell will not update the printers to work with 64-bit operating systems (regardless of whether it is WIndows, Apple, or Linux, etc.). although 32-bit operating are still more common than 64-bit, the industry is moving towards 64-bit operatings systems, and in general these 64-bit operating will work fine with 85% to 90% of the 32-bit software out, less so for 16-bit software (expecially games). However the biggest issue are drivers, and for computer equipment such a printers, video cards, sound cards, etc. that require drivers to be installed you will need to update these drivers. If you have older equipment (and in computer time that's probably greater than 3 years old) it will be iffy whether the manufacturer will spend the time and money to develop new drivers when they can sell you a new piece of equipment.

Just go to Epson.com and download the 64-bit drivers for your printer. I didn't check the for the Dell, but it should be there also.

The first thing I would do if you haven't already done so is see whether Windows Update has drivers for the device. (Start/Windows Orb> type Windows Update> and press enter> install any drivers that it finds)

If Windows Update doesn't know the drivers than I would go to the vendors' website. In the case of your CX4600 google "Epson CX4600 drivers" and the first page is Epson's driver page for this printer. Download the drivers for Vista x64 and run the download once it is complete. Once the install is complete you should be able to use the device.

The Dell printer was a little harder to find the driver. I searched the model # on Dell's site for drivers and came upon this page: http://support.us.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R153050&formatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=203950

Again install the driver and you should be able to use it.

Hope that helps. For future reference, always try Windows update first since it can often find drivers. The drivers aren't always the latest drivers, but they usually work fine. If that doesn't work google the product name along with the word drivers and whatever version of Windows you are running.

Well Paul, it looks like your printers are antiquated (out of date). I would suggest to upgrade to a new printer or multifunction printer / scanner. Personally I use a independent scanner (Epson 700) and 2 printers (Cannon i9900 for pictures and documents and an Epson R220 for DVD and CD printing).

You can buy a name brand printer for $50.00 on up. Not knowing your budget I suggest checking the cost of ink for any printer you might want to purchase. Kodak offers printer / scanners for a reasonable $130 - $250 price range. a little higher than some others. However, depending on the amount of printing you do you will make up the machine cost in ink as their ink is inexpensive compared to others ($15.00 for the color cartage and $10.00 for the black).

Good Luck,

Jim

Your post interested me because I have that printer as well. Found a good post on the Dell forum for walking you through the process of uninstalling the current driver, running the required Vista patch and installing the updated Vista 64-bit driver. The post includes links to the patch and drivers on the Dell site.

http://en.community.dell.com/forums/t/19268896.aspx

Good Luck!

Well Paul, the good news is that there are 64 bit drivers for your Epson CX4600 that you can download from Epson. Just go to Epson.com under the drivers & support tab and you'll find what you're looking for. The bad news, Dell has not released 64 bit drivers for your AIO 940. Anyway, I, for one, applaud your choice for going with a 64 bit operating system on your computer. Good luck and keep learning. Here's the link:
http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/index.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes

Hi Paul,

Your friend may be right but depends how old the printers are if the company do a drivers for them. I have windows 7 64 bit and and have gone to the websites of the printer etc and got the drivers I needed. Well good news most companies supply 64 bit drivers for recent hardware and peripherals etc. If the printer is really old then they may not do the 64 bit drivers but check the web site first. I often find the uk sites are really bad and not up to date as is in this case so follow my instructions. Try the second one first it will take you direct to your page.

Option 1

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/index.do

As the uk site is rubbish. Click on drivers and support choose printers then ink jet then look for your printer and it will take you to the same page. It is there as I checked. This is the url try to copy and paste in to your adress bar. It may not work as sometimes they expire otherwise do what I said above.

Option 2

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=25723&infoType=Overview

Click on drivers and downloads yours is the first one now it will ask you to agree etc and than download to your desktop or it may go directly to your download folder. Double click the file after you have scanned it with your anti virus just to be sure, and follow instructions.

If you cannot copy the url then go to www.epson.com as the uk site id rubbish. Click on drivers and support choose printers look for your printer and it will take you to the same page.

With your Dell go here

http://support.us.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&releaseid=R146813&formatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=195111

Again if it does not work go to dell site. The easiest way to search for drivers is put your printer name i.e. Dell AIO 940 in to your google search bar at the top and it will bring up information which you should be able to follow.

Hope this all helps I know it looks daunting but it really is not. Always do a search for any problems etc and often a page will come up with info on.

Steve