Conference noted::windows95

2917.0. "Can't install HP870 printer software" by POBOXA::BAUST () Thu May 01 1997 17:08

I entered this note in the IBMPC-95 note on HP Printers
but maybe it is more appropriate in the WINDOWS95 notes file. 
I also checked the other notes on printer installation problems
    but didn't see anything similar - my apologies if I missed
    something.


    I am having a problem installing the printer software for my
    new HP 870CSE under Windows95.  I'm wondering if anyone has 
    seen a problem like this or has any ideas.
    
    A little background - I recently bought a new Gateway system 200MHZ
    Pentium Pro, (I think the model is G6-200) and I first installed
    my HP Laserjet printer that I have had for 4 or 5 years.  I then
    wanted to added the Deskjet to get color.  After a great deal of
    difficulty installing a second parallel port (IRQ and DMA problems)
    I finally got on to installing the printer software. from
    the disks that came with the printer.  The first problem I ran
    into was deemed to be a corrupted disk by HP so they sent me the
    800 series printer software.  When I try to load that through th
    Print Wizard, I get a message that says "Specificed location does
    not contain software appropriate for your hardware" (those may
    not be the exact words).  But no indication of what it thinks it's
    looking for.
    
    HP said that was a Microsoft problem - call the vendor. HP did suggest
    installing the HP550 software from the WIndows 95 disk to get going.
    My Gateway information says call Gateway abouta Microsoft problems. 
     
    Gateway's only suggestion was to RELOAD everything on to my PC - yuck!
    This was in response to my question regarding how do I figure out
    what hardware the Print Wizard thinks I have and what software it
    thinks it's looking at.
    
    I have tried installing the software with the printer on  LPT1 and then
    on LPT2, with the other port empty; with no printers attached to the
    system at all; I removed all printers from the print window.  I took my
    Laserjet
    printer offline.  And I probably tried some other things.
    
    Other people can install the printer software on their WIN95 systems
    no problem, so it is clearly something with my system but I am at
    a loss as to how to diagnose the problem - WIN95 seems to have hidden
    everything.  In particular, is there a way for me to find out what
    the PrintWizard thinks is the hardware and software that it is looking
    at
    
    Thank you for any help.  
      
	Sue
              

    
    
    With help from someone in this notes file and one of our systems
    people, I have been able to load the printer software.
    The only way to be able to load the software was to pull the
    2nd parallel port card out of the system, load the software, then
    reinstall the parallel port card and everyone was happy.
    
    Until I tried to load a driver for my new ZIP drive - to do that
    I had to again pull the parallel port card.
    
    Strange behavior that I thought at first was an HP software problme
    but now looks more like a WIndows95 problem - anyone seen anything 
    like this?
    
    Thanks,
    Sue