Adding Printer in Windows XP

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ADKM

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#272865 21-Jul-2020 11:29

Just wondering what the correct procedure is when adding a USB printer. The add Printer wizard offers to add Port USB001 (Virtual Printer Port for USB. Is that the one to choose - or do you Create A New Port-Local Port and give it a name ?

Also - if anyone knows - after doing what seems right and browsing the correct OEMSETUP.INF file (as per the manufacturer), all you get is The specified location does not contain information about your hardware what might be wrong ?
Thanks

Oblivian

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#2526466 21-Jul-2020 11:48

Depends on the printer/driver.

Some devices (Epson) like to make their own virtual USB port.

Others you can pick the default USB001 port.

Some you can plug in and install driver, others need to pre-install to capture the HW ID and wait for it to say 'connect printer now'

1101

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#2526470 21-Jul-2020 11:55

Download FULL driver package from manufacturer.
Unplug printer.
Run the driver installer you just downloaded
*** Dont plug in the printer untill the install software tells you to : that can be important on some installs ***

Also,
Some printer drivers simply dont work properly with some win10 Build versions (and dont allways get updated/fixed) . Rare but does happen .

ADKM

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#2526487 21-Jul-2020 12:11

Printer is Kyocera. I've downloaded 2 drivers and also another 2 the support person sent me.

All result in The specified location does not contain information about your hardware no matter what I do! LOL now in the 4th day of attempts!

Having installed printers in Windows since v3.1 I'm a bit at a loss. Can't imagine a reputable company would make 4 bum printer drivers and the comp (running XP) has no problem with other printers.

All a bit weird. Support guy said to use the 64 bit driver on my 32 bit system. That didn't inspire much confidence, but neither 32 or 64 worked anyway. Now case being "escalated" but thought I'd ask here anyway, And yes, I am using the XP drivers.

The error message re the specified location means the OEMSETUP.INF file, yes? Looking at this file in Notepad I see the correct model number in there.

fearandloathing

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#2526490 21-Jul-2020 12:25

Does the driver support XP? I wouldn’t expect a modern printer to support legacy OS’s

Oblivian

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#2526492 21-Jul-2020 12:30

Remember there is 2 phases here. Not PnP system with XP

First the port that makes windows communicate to the printer, and THEN the printer being identified correctly.

Just sounds like you are trying to force the printer driver level first.

Pointing to a printer INF, wont find the comms emulator.

And yes, none found is it cant find a suitable *.inf with the HW ID listed. But it probably needs the port added before it gets there. Which is where either the generic USB001 comes in, or its pre-defined one it is hunting for.

Look in device manager for the !s, if found you can scroll down it for the HW id that it is missing and possibly pinpoint better

ADKM

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#2526501 21-Jul-2020 12:45

Yes, the printer does support XP. The Readme in the driver file even identifies which INF and it's path,

>Pointing to a printer INF, wont find the comms emulator.

That could be part of the problem :) XP offers the Add Printer Wizard and I can choose the USB001 Port. Clicking Next only gives "Install Printer Software". That's the point where I browse to the INF file. Are you saying that's wrong, I need to install the Port first ? I can't see any way way to do that. DM shows COM & LPT ports and USB controllers. Should there be something new there? Tell me more?? !

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

Oblivian

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#2526511 21-Jul-2020 13:11

To be honest it's so long I've done an XP install I can't be sure

But you need it to search a folder and subs (using i have a driver browser) rather than pick a specific file. And Likely untick show signed/compatible only.

But if there's a setup.exe, use it. They were pre set to load the comms and then driver.

Else it's rt click install on the .infs and hope for the best. Or look at them and follow through the file copy and virtual port steps in the .infs where you may find more

ADKM

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#2526521 21-Jul-2020 13:20

Thanks anyway. As you say a while since doing this in XP. I would have expected (from the Install Printer Software dialog) "Have Disk" would bring up a new selection in the "Manufacturer" and "Printer" lists... and one would be the right printer model. But instead all I get until blue in the face is The specified location does not contain information about your hardware.

From memory I've never had to manually add/configure a port beyond what the wizard offers. Anyway will just have to wait and see what "escalated support" offers.

Oblivian

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#2526542 21-Jul-2020 13:52

I would need to put up a virtual XP to confirm.

But it's along the lines of, pick USB001 - When you see list of printers, either 'Have disk', browse to driver and let it search subfolders. Or pick a generic text one (or super basic kyocera and force it down its throat) to at least test

1101

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#2526906 22-Jul-2020 10:03

Does USB AND USB2 actually work on the XP PC . Are the motherboard USB drivers installed (and updated as much as possible) ?
Is the printer USB , USB2 or USB3 ?

Try installing it on LPT1 first , just to get the driver installed
Sometimes you need to dig down into lower subfolders to find the correct inf files

When its installed on LPT1 , try changing its port to USB001 (or whatever)

but,

It may be the install for the USB driver for that printer that causes the hickups, if so, good luck with that.

You could also try connecting the printer via parallel or network interface if you cant get it to install/work via USB

"USB001" may not be the correct usable interface for this printer, it may require its own, different USB port to be installed .

It could even be a USB3 or USB2 XP incompatibility issue (if the printer is fairly new)
Perhaps printer driver doesnt support XP+USB . Try & get it working via parallel or Network .

I'd bet they didnt do alot of XP driver testing on newer printers :-)