Dell 966 All-In-One Printer with Vista

No, I cannot print anything. I am sure I am selecting the correct printer. I can fax from this printer. My Vista is 32 bit. I am talking about a computer at home. It is a fairly new Acer pc with 4GB RAM and 350GB HD.

Please follow my instructions below and let me know what happens.

Make sure your computer has the latest Windows Updates, especially .net framework, needed to run many applications and the latest Java.

Disconnect your printer. Download and run this patch to completely remove the printer from your computer. Run the patch(a MUST on Vista machines) until it prompts you to restart your computer.

Restart your computer.

Download the Vista 32-bit Drivers



Install the proper drivers, you'll be prompted when to connect your printer(powered on). Please use a 5ft or smaller USB Cable.



When finished, install the latest firmware for the 966 printer.



You may also need to read this, but I would suggest that you setup your wireless router like the Forum Sticky suggests.





How Do I Connect a Dell? Wireless Printer to a Wireless Network



Choose your printer. Beneath your printer, select your operating system. You'll be redirected to another page. Then click on show all steps. It will walk you through the installation process.

Scanning

Scanning using USB connection, open the Dell All-In-One Center, click on scanning and copying and scan from there.

Scanning wirelessly, use the scan buttons on the printer.


As for scanning, if you have the disk that came with the printer, then insert the Printer disk and stop it from running. Go to My Computer and double click on it. Look for the drive with the Dell disk in it. Right click on it, left click explore. Look for the OCR Folder. In the OCR Folder, there is an Abbyy Folder. right click on setup.exe, that's in the Abbyy Folder and left click run as administrator. This will install the OCR program.





Rick

Rick,

Thanks for the help. I will try it as soon as I get home and let you know how it works.

Linda

Sometimes there a few minor glitches.


Rick

Rick,

I followed the instrustions. I had already installed the firmware. I did not go through the wireless instructions.

I have the same result. It shows the document in queue. When I open the printer, the status is Printing but nothing happens. The printer does not make a sound.

My pc is an Acer Aspire 3100. The processor is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4800+ 2.50GHz. I have 3GB RAM. My Vista is 32 bit. I have Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1. My hard drive is 144GB. I have update running automatically, so I assume my Java is up to date.

Should I go through the wireless setup? This printer is maybe 3' away from me.

Linda

My weekend to work.

Option one, try the wireless setup.

Option two, Try this.

Disconnect the printer, run the patch and restart your computer.

Disconnect any USB devices attacted to the computer.

Go to device manager(right click my computer, left click properties, left click hardware, left click device manager)

Go to the USB Controller section and click the + sign.

Starting at the bottom, USB Root Hubs, and working your way to the top, USB Universal Controllers, un-install everything in that section.

Restart your computer. Windows will find everything again and correct the problem one. Please be patient. The new hardware wizard may work 3-5 minutes before it's done.

Now install the proper drivers. It will prompt you to connect the printer(powered on)


Rick

Rick,

I believe my mouse and keyboard are usb. If I disconnect them, I can't go to device manager.

I thought you had a laptop. That post wouldn't be very good for a desktop.

I feel that you are having an issue with one or more of your USB Ports. If that issue can get straightened out, then the printer might install. Try a different USB Port.

Actually if you try setting up the wireless part, you don't have to worry about the USB Ports, at this time but, you computer may have an issue.


Rick

Rick

I uninstalled all the USB controllers. I let windows install what it needed to and I reinstalled the Dell Printer. I moved it to a different USB port. I have at least six USB ports.

Next windows wanted to install the Dell printer. I thought it had, but when I went to print, the printer was not there. I did a restart.
Windows found the printer again and wanted the driver. I pointed to the folder where I had downloaded the driver and it finished the install. I tried to print a word document and the same result.

I am not feeling well today. I will try again tomorrow.

Thanks for all your help.

Linda

That port you just tried, works.

Hopefully this should be the last time. Disconnect, run the patch, restart and install the drivers, first(you'll get the prompt then). Do NOT let Windows install the drivers. Often they are the wrong drivers and/or they get installed wrong.

Hope you feel better.


Rick

Rick,

I did start over. I ran the patch. I restarted. I installed the driver only plugging in the printer when asked to. The Dell graphics come on where the blue lines go back and forth. It stayed on for literally days. I finally cancelled it.

What next?

Linda

and see if you have the Dell All-In-One Center. If it get to the point that it's looking for list of applications to send scans to, open the task manager, (Shift, Ctrl and ESC) and wait. Before you hit anything, it usually stops.


Rick

I spent a couple hours yesterday trying to get my 966 to communicate with my laptop - after downloading what I thought I needed - and trying over and again - I found your instructional post... It worked great! Thank you for the tips!
Todd

Do you happen to have a tip for Linda about any finding that you had?


Rick

i have done all you said. the AIO centre will not work it freezes just as Linda found. I have done all you suggest. Is drop kicking the printer the only thing left to do. I have almost the same laptop as Linda. Gosh, I wish could print and scan!