Driven to distraction by HP printer software?

[Terencek]

I wonder if anyone else is driven to screaming distraction by buggy HP printer software? For the second time in less than a year I'm floundering trying to rescue what was a virtually bulletproof XP installation after installing a (huge!) HP software package for a new all-in-one unit (Deskjet F2280).

My formerly stable computer has now gone nuts, choking on itself at bootup time, and although the HP support department is helpful, prompt and apologetic, their suggestions just become ever-more irrelevant. Thank heavens for (Acronis/Ghost-type) imaging software, enabling me to roll back the damage countless times.

Can you return a new printer to the dealer because the software doesn't work and the manufacturer's support cannot get it to work, even though the printer itself is perfectly good? And the cartridges have already been loaded and used etc. (through the bare-bones XP New Hardware wizard, if you were wondering -- the only way I can use the damn thing but without functionality like checking the ink status or forcing a head cleaning). Guess who won't be buying HP again!

 

[Grouter]

I know what you mean - installing hp's drivers and software for these 3-in-one beasts takes longer than installing the OS.

I have an old HP 6L laserjet - now 12 years old. Going like a bomb. Plug in the parallel cable on a virgin pc that's never seen the printer before, wait 15 secs, hit the print button. Perfect black and white page. All you get in XP is the little balloon tip in the tray: "Software for the HP 6L printer was successfully installed". I've never had to look for drivers for the thing. They must have originally been on a stiffy.

Why, if they could make it so simple 12 years ago, do they have to make it all so complex now???!!!

 

[CriticalConsumer]

To use a tractor beam on you to draw you into things that you do not need!

I agree tho, I recently purchased an HP colour laserjet AIO and had to wait for about 20min if not more to start using the thing!

 

[daveza]

It's the same with Acrobat reader - coming in at over 35 meg when Foxit is under 5 meg to do the same thing.

Why does HP not offer to just install the driver ?

Canon, Lexmark and Epson installations are miniscule by comparison.

 

[CriticalConsumer]

Bloatware - pretty much like their laptops!

 

[Grouter]

Bloatware - pretty much like their laptops!

Acer and Toshiba are competing hard for that laptop bloatware crown too.

 

[dj_jyno]

HP printers aren't what they used to be. Using a 10 year old Deskjet 690C for black and white printing and it's still going strong. My photo printer's a Canon, though. Print servers FTW!

 

[Terencek]

Follow-up to the original posting which launched this thread: a dozen increasingly-irrelevant 'solutions' from HP's e-mail support later and I have finally thrown in the towel. I'm now running the unit on the bare-bones drivers installed through XP's New Hardware wizard, off the bloated HP software disc.

Only problem I am left with (unless being able to return the printer to the dealer, which is unlikely because there's not actually anything wrong with it, only buggy software) is that I now have no way to check my ink status or force a head-clean. Any ideas out there?

 

[Grouter]

Follow-up to the original posting which launched this thread: a dozen increasingly-irrelevant 'solutions' from HP's e-mail support later and I have finally thrown in the towel. I'm now running the unit on the bare-bones drivers installed through XP's New Hardware wizard, off the bloated HP software disc.

Only problem I am left with (unless being able to return the printer to the dealer, which is unlikely because there's not actually anything wrong with it, only buggy software) is that I now have no way to check my ink status or force a head-clean. Any ideas out there?

Ink status - keep spares handy.
Head-clean - use printer regularly.

Still better than HP's software.

 

[medicnick83]

HP have millions to WASTE on stupid software that they think helps.

I do my level best to only get the drivers and not the software - why, I'll never use it.

I use logic with regards to printers, if it starts fading, I know to change the toner (after a shake or 2)

 

[Keeper]

well, when inserting the driver cd for the samsung printer on the pc next to me, it gives a blue screen and never boots up into windows again. winxp re-install time. after the 2nd blue screen we gave up. now I need to print everything off a usb stick for the guy next to me.

 

[Terencek]

Ink status - keep spares handy.
Head-clean - use printer regularly.

Still better than HP's software.

Forgive the silly question -- but will I get any warning that my ink cartridge is nearly empty, without the software? I know there are black and colour ink control lights on the unit itself, but do they come on ahead of fully empty, or only when all the ink is exhausted? If they are advance warnings, how much more printing might I still expect to get before needing to change?

 

[Grouter]

Forgive the silly question -- but will I get any warning that my ink cartridge is nearly empty, without the software? I know there are black and colour ink control lights on the unit itself, but do they come on ahead of fully empty, or only when all the ink is exhausted? If they are advance warnings, how much more printing might I still expect to get before needing to change?

Can't say I can answer that directly 'cos I've used a laser for so long. Don't you just notice the print jobs starting to look a little poor when the ink's running low? You should always have spares handy anyway.