There might be time when you need to install a new printer driver manually. Usually, when you
connect your printer device to a computer, the operating system will detect the type of device, and then it will find and automatically install a valid driver out of its own repository. If an appropriate driver for your printer is not found, then you need to install the driver provided by your printer manufacturer. Your new printer might come with an installation CD that has needed drivers. Otherwise, you need to download printer drivers from the manufacturer’s website and install them.
All the listed possibilities give us a rule thumb that might be used with printer drivers. Use printer drivers provided by the operating system unless there is no one that fits your printer. Use printer driver provided by the printer manufacturer if your current driver causes malfunctions or greatly limits capabilities and features of your printer.
Before you download a new printer driver from the printer manufacturer, check the drivers already present on your system. If there is one for your printer, then you can install it from the operating system repository. To check the list of available drivers and install the driver from the list use following procedure:
1. Click Start button, Open Control Panel, and double-click Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click on the icon of a printer that needs the driver to be replaced. Then, click Properties option in the menu.
3. Click the Advanced tab located at the top of properties window for the printer.
4. Find and click New Driver button to install a new printer driver from the Windows local storage for drivers.
5. If there is no compatible printer driver in the list and you install a new driver on your hard drive from the manufacturer, then click Have Disk button, input the path to the driver’s location, and click OK to close the properties window.
6. In the “Add Printer Driver Wizard” click Next button and follow the instructions.
7. Try to make some printing. If you find some problem, then right-click your printer icon and click Properties option in the menu. Open Advanced tab and disable "Enable advanced printing features" option. Click OK to finish.
If you install a new printer driver on the network, and your server is incompatible in processor architecture with the client computers, then you also need to install additional drivers on your printer server to support client computers. Visit this Microsoft page for additional information.
Various Considerations
- The printer driver files might get corrupted for some reason, and then you need to reinstall corrupted printer deiver for fixing print spooler problem.
- You might need to install a new printer driver if the one used with your printer was updated by the manufacturer to fix errors found in a previous version.
- Printer driver errors might come up with the operating system update, and then you need to install a new printer driver to fix possible printer malfunctions. Though, it is possible that an updated operating system already has its own driver that fits your printer, and you don’t need to bother with a one provided by the manufacturer.
- Your operating system finds a driver that can be used with your printer, but it might be limited to basic functions, as compaired to the capabilities of your new printer, and you need to install a new printer driver that is designed for your particular printing device.
- If you have an old printer device with a driver that was designed for an outdated version of the operating system, then you might need to install a new version of the printer driver that adapts your old printer to new operating system version.
Good Practices
All the listed possibilities give us a rule thumb that might be used with printer drivers. Use printer drivers provided by the operating system unless there is no one that fits your printer. Use printer driver provided by the printer manufacturer if your current driver causes malfunctions or greatly limits capabilities and features of your printer.
Before you download a new printer driver from the printer manufacturer, check the drivers already present on your system. If there is one for your printer, then you can install it from the operating system repository. To check the list of available drivers and install the driver from the list use following procedure:
Printer Driver Instalation
1. Click Start button, Open Control Panel, and double-click Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click on the icon of a printer that needs the driver to be replaced. Then, click Properties option in the menu.
3. Click the Advanced tab located at the top of properties window for the printer.
4. Find and click New Driver button to install a new printer driver from the Windows local storage for drivers.
5. If there is no compatible printer driver in the list and you install a new driver on your hard drive from the manufacturer, then click Have Disk button, input the path to the driver’s location, and click OK to close the properties window.
6. In the “Add Printer Driver Wizard” click Next button and follow the instructions.
7. Try to make some printing. If you find some problem, then right-click your printer icon and click Properties option in the menu. Open Advanced tab and disable "Enable advanced printing features" option. Click OK to finish.
If you install a new printer driver on the network, and your server is incompatible in processor architecture with the client computers, then you also need to install additional drivers on your printer server to support client computers. Visit this Microsoft page for additional information.
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