966 AOI and Windows 7.... can't connect wirelessly to functioning wireless network

Terry,

You want to be able to print wirelessly to the 966 printer, correct?

If so, please tell me the make and model of your wireless router and the type of security youre using. We'll work on this one step at a time.

Rick

Hi Rick, Yes, I do want to be able to print wirelesslu to the 966 printer.

The wireless router is from a company called Actiontec (came with my Verizon FIOS installation).  It's model # is M1424-WR  (Rev. D)

I'm currently using McAfee, the security suite that came with my Dell free for 30 days.  Ironically, my subscription is up today, so I'm about to uninstall McAfee and install Avira free.  I know it's difficult to remove all of McAfee....should I do that first, put on Avira and then try again?

Thanks for your help, Rick!

Terry

Terry,

Log into the wireless router. How to login to your wireless router When I had Verizon, I had a Westell modem/router and I used my own Linksys wireless router arter the Westell. Your setup should look like...

wall > ISP Modem/router > Wireless router (if any) > wired/wireless

Remember with Verizon DSL, you'll need DSL Filters on all devces, phones, answering machines, faxes, etc..., everything except the DSL modem. 

You can share a DSL filter.

Wall > DSL Filter > splitter > mulitple devices

Change the SSIS, this will make conecting easier.

Use WPA-PSK(TKIP) Security (Personal)

Use mixed mode

Use channels 1, 6 or 11. I use channel 11.

Save and exit. Power off everything. Turn on the ISP modem/router. Wait 30 seconds, then turn on your wireless router(if any). Restart your computer, then connect the the new network.

Now go to start, control panel, programs and features and remove everything that has McAffee in it. Restart your computer, when prompted. Use the McAffee  Removal tool to make sure it's gone. Do NOT install Avira at this time. Your computer should be ok for a few minutes without protection. If you're concerned, then download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware update it and do a quick scan. This will remove all types of viruses and trojans that get in to your computer. Now let's steup the printer next..

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.

If using Windows 7 also try...Manual Printer Driver Removal

Restart your computer.

Download the proper drivers.

64-bit Drivers Vista drivers 

Right click on the setup.exe file, left click properties, left click compatibility. Change the compatibility to Vista(Try Vista SP2). Then install the proper drivers. You'll be prompted when to connect the printer(powered on)

***To install drivers, sometimes the file unzips and does nothing. You have to look for the setup.exe file, right click on it, then left click run as administrator***

When installing the drivers, choose network and follow the instructions.

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.

Now install Avira on your computer. The problems with printers installing are usually virus programs and firewalls. If the printer works before you install Avira and then does not work, then you'll need to check for a way to allow the Printer past Avira.

Let me know what happens.

Rick

Forgot to add one other thing....there's something in Windows 7 about sharing devices on a network...under the printer properties, I've enabled sharing on my "home network", which consists of my laptop and wireless connection to the router.  The router also directly connects to a PC in our basement that doesn't have wireless capabilities.  Not sure if this sharing feature figures into this at all, since I know you said it's likely to be a firewall issue....but thought I'd mention this...

Hi Rick, thanks for the detailed directions...not able to complete them all.  Here's what I've got:

1)  I actually have FIOS, not DSL....not sure if that changes the directions.

2)  I got into msconfig, but under Default Gateway there was no data;  It looked like this   Default Gateway:      : :     

3)  From my installation materials from Verizon, I do know that the Router IP is 192.168.1.1, so I tried to access that directly from IE.  Unfortunately, I didn't know my username and passoword, so after trying all the usual ones I have, I tried to get into the wireless network properties from control panel.  When there, I did find a drop down menu for Security type.  (Mine showed no authentication (open)).  I can change it to one of the following, none of which were on your directions above, so I stopped here:  Shared, WPA2-Personal, WPA-Personal, WPA2-Enterprise, WPA-Enterprise, 802.1X or CCKM.  I'm guessing I should use on of the WPA personal choices, but wasn't sure....

4)  Other info that might be helpful....I do not have the drivers/utilities disk for the printer, but can I get the OCR/Abbyy setup.exe from the dell drivers site?

THANKS!

mccull61,

You'll need to get into the router. You said...

From my installation materials from Verizon, I do know that the Router IP is 192.168.1.1, so I tried to access that directly from IE

Username = admin

Password = password

You need to be using WPA-Personal, which is the same as WPA-PSK(TKIP)

The settings can only be changed in the router.

As for an OCR Program, if you need to scan to Microsoft Word, Etc..., then you can try using Simple OCR it should work nicely with your printer.

Rick

Hi Rick, sorry, I missed that info in your earlier instructions. I am still having trouble but I'll tell you what has worked so far. (Went through the entire process 3 times...still no luck.)

So I did get into the router....I changed to channel 6, WPA, mixed mode.  Turned everything off and back on again, and sucessfully connected to the new network.

I sucessfully removed the McAfee probram, with the removal tool.  Couldn't run the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware since it didn't have a file for Windows7.

I sucessfully ran clean up utility program (R166245.zip) and removed all Dell 966 files (weren't visible in either menu from Start/Programs or Printers/Devices)

I restarted the computer and downloaded  the drivers for Vista SP2 (R165704.zip).  Set to run in Visa compatibility mode, SP 2, ran as administrator.  First I chose to print using a wireless network.  In previous tries, the system still saw other drivers, but this time it didn't say that.  I chose to "modify wireless settings", connected the USB cable.  There was a message saying "installing device driver software", immediately upon plugging in.

The install program found the K1YLO network correctly, WPA security, channel 6....wireless configuration sucessful, with the port name of Dell_966_035058_P1.

Removed USB cable from laptop and printer....next message I see is "wireless printer not detected".  It went on to instruct: Ensure printer is powerd on - yes.  Disconnect and re-connect the printer's power cable -- did that (waited 1 min before re-connecting).  Finally, "Veryify the printer and computer are within range of the wireless network -- I had been working with the printer in my kitchen (router in basement) so I moved the printer into the basement.

Still says "wireless printer not detected".

I decided to go back to previous section in installation. changed my choice to "keep current wireless setings", found the right network....Now the install process screen comes on showing progress (that was at 2:08 PM).  It got almost done, and finally at 3:30. I hit ctrl-alt-delete and shut it down from task mgr. 

Then I saw an error msg. saying "Install GUI is not working".

A few thoughts....All this happened while McAfee was removed, so if it's a firewall issue, it's coming from the Windows 7 firewall settings. (After being without security all day I did finally install Avira)

Also, wondering if when I plug the USB in and it says its updating drivers, is it overwriting the new ones I'm trying to install? 

Lastly, the number 035058 in the port name....does this maybe relate to an older driver number?

Thanks so much for your help....if you've got other ideas, I'll try them out later tonight....have to go out now (6:22 PM EST)

Best,

Terry

Terry,

Sorry got a little busy today. Channel 6 is ok but I feel that channel 11 works a little better. Basement is really not a good place for a router. Think of it as trying to hear the radio station on your radio. The radio waves get trapped in the basement with the wood and steel. I have my router on the second floor behind the dresser.

WPA, I hope that it is WPA-PSK(TKIP Security (Personal)

Try setting up the printer using the instructions below. It has a walk through process so you know what to do and what is next. Printer needs to be setup and connected to the network before installing the drivers on each computer.

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.

Rick

Hi Rick, thanks for all your help...any time you're free I appreciate it!

I'm going to take a break from this process this AM....My frustration is probably clouding my thinking.   Before I posted, I had found and used the directions you noted abov and had begun this process by going through those steps you noted above one at a time.  In the past 18 months,  I've actually suceeded wirelessly connecting two different laptops on XP with this same printer (had to download drivers then too since I had lost the installation CD). When both laptops died, we purchased this new Dell with Windows 7.  I'll go through and start again either later today or tomorrow, and I'll let you know what happens.....Again THANKS!

Terry

Terry,

I understand fully. Trying to do everything at one clip can get very frustrating. After the printer is setup, then you'll need to download the drivers to each computer. Install the drivers in the compatibility mode. More instructions can be found at...

966 Photo All-In-One Printer owners thread (W7)

I'll keep checking back. I have to go and use the snow blower later this evening, as I volunteered to work this evening.

Rick