Is there an answer to W8 RT printer issues??

[joddle]

Having been given a neat little Microsoft Surface as a birthday resent I was pretty happy until I discovered I can't connect to any of the printers on my home workgroup which runs from a number of PCs both XP and Windows7. Normally connecting a PC to the workgroup has been no problem and all the connected devices funcion fine (HP LJ 1300 and Lexmark X4650) - but not with W8.1 it seems!!! In fact the help pages all say my devices are not compatible with this OS - what a stupid thing to do ! ! ! ! ! Make a new OS which cant acess or use normal and traditional printers!

 

Anyway this has got me thinking. Has no one come up with a software solution to allow you to port pages to one of the workgroup PCs and print from there using its own printer driver? it cant be beyond the wit of someone out there surely. I for one a not going to invest in new printers just because W8 cant access them and I suppose many others won't either. In fact its simply made my decision to upgrade my XP machines all that simpler - I will be going for W7 not W8! and much cheaper too!

[KenB]

Hi joddle

 

Has no one come up with a software solution to allow you to port pages to one of the workgroup PCs and print from there

I am in the same boat as you with regards to "old" printer.

I have an old Epson that I can print wirelessly to from my vista laptop via my XP computer ...... but NOT from my Win8 laptop !

( No Win 8 drivers )

 

The fault lies with the printer manufacturers.

In my case Epson could not be bothered to upgrade the software.

[joddle]

Yss its a real B-----r . But also there should be some pressure put on manufactuers to keep their products usable for a certain persiod of time after introduction. We only got the Lexmark just over 2 years ago and already it can't cope! Admittedly the Laserjet is a bit older but these machnes are designed to go on and on so we might reasonably expect a driver for any OS that is current to be available. Is there no body which monitors this!!!! At least Mictosoft ought to be putting pressure on the big printer firms to come up with solutions - or ensure their OSs are capable of running older drivers. At the end of the day its only a software issue so should not be impossible to overcome - it just needs the will!!!!! A marketnig opportunity for someone perhaps if the printer firms don't do something!! Edited December 3, 2013 by joddle

[KenB]

We only got the Lexmark just over 2 years ago

That doesn't seem very old !

What is the model number of your printer ?

[joddle]

I think its a X4650 - we got it in Oct 2011 from our local IT superstore.

[KenB]

Hi

 

Try this link - click here

Put X4650 into the search box.

You need to click on "Windows 7 and Windows 8 Information" if the listed drivers do not work for you.

 

If you have Lexmark drivers installed already then these will need to be removed.

[RandyL]

The HP LaserJet 1300 and 1300n show drivers on the U.S.A. site. Have you tried those?

 

http://h20565.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/psi/swdHome/?cc=us&cc=us&lang=en&lang=en&sp4ts.oid=238322&ac.admitted=1386142761136.876444892.492883150

 

http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Nav?h_pagetype=s-002&h_lang=en&h_cc=us&h_client=S-A-R163-1&h_page=hpcom&lang=en&cc=us&h_product=238328

 

http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/psi/swdHome/?cc=us&cc=us&lang=en&lang=en&sp4ts.oid=238328&ac.admitted=1386143197528.876444892.199480143

 

Make sure the printer is not connected when you start the installation.

[joddle]

Thanks for all the suggestions - have tried the links and frustratingly it all seemed there would be an answer but in the end it came to nothing. It seems W8.1 and especially RT are just not supported for my printers - criminal I think - or someone's ideas of an easy way to make people buy new equipment they really don't need....

[KenB]

Hi joddle

 

Try this "universal" driver - click here

It is supposed to be compatible with Win 8 :)

 

It may not have full functionality - but hopefully you should be able to print.

[RandyL]

Not looking good. The windows Compatibilty Center says the HP Laserjet 13900 is not compatible with Windows 8.1 RT.

 

The same goes for the Lexmark X4650.

[joddle]

Not looking good. The windows Compatibilty Center says the HP Laserjet 13900 is not compatible with Windows 8.1 RT.

 

The same goes for the Lexmark X4650.[/quote

 

no go with any of the suggestions so a real bu******

[KenB]

no go with any of the suggestions so a real bu******

It looks as if HP and Lexmark have defeated us :(

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, not familiar with any of these portable devices, especially W8.1 and certainly not the RT. However, can it connect at all with the network, and if so transfer files?

If yes to that, is it not possible to transfer an Office document to one of the computers, then print from that?

Or even take screen shot and transfer as a JPG picture or photo file?

 

Just suggestions is all.

 

Nev.