Dell 968w AIO and Windows 8

melrose15,

Did your computer come with Windows 8 or did you recently install/reinstall the operating system?

Try this procedure, it may or may not work...

First run Delete Print Jobs to remove any stuck print job in the queue.

Disconnect the printer.

Download and run the patch(printer cleanup utility) until it prompts you to restart your computer.

Restart your computer. Make sure the printer is removed. Manual Printer Driver Removal

Download the Vista 32-bit drivers for Windows 8 32-bit or the Vista 64-bit drivers for Windows 8 64-bit. Install the Vista drivers in the Vista Compatibility mode You'll get a message, the printer is not connected. Connect the printer at this time(powered on).

Links to the patch/drivers can be found at...

Dell 968 & 968w All-In-One Printer owners thread (W7)

Remember virus programs and firewalls will block communications. If you did not install any virus program, then Windows Defender is the default virus program. Try reading...

Allow Printer past Microsoft Essentials/Windows Defender

Rick

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Rick -

Hi. You helped me 2 years ago (5/2/11) with my post "Assistance with 'Printer Status Window Interface' ", which we concluded via email. I still have the Dell AIO 968 printer. I recently bought a new desktop which runs the Windows 7 Professional 64-bit OS. My old desktop (a Vostro 420) ran Vista Ultimate 32-bit.

When I connected this printer to my new desktop, I seem to recall that I was prompted to download the latest printer driver, which I did. That didn't work, so I hacked my way around with uninstalling, re-installing, etc. until the printer responded - and printed. However, there remains a compatibility issue, as the text in any PRINTED output looks fuzzy. Even stranger, often some of the text looks good and some not. As such, the printer output is barely useable.

As a test, I made a photocopy of a page with all manner of text & color images - and that came out just fine.

Reading your post from 10/03/13 above, I see that it MAY be possible to get my new desktop and old printer compatible, but all is not crystal.

Can I ask you either here or via email for a step-by-step process to accomplish this compatibility with my devices, as some of your posts speak simultaneously of more than one OS (Windows 7 & 8)?

There are no print jobs in queue, I've checked. Do I: 1) uninstall the printer 2) uninstall the driver(s) 3) re-install the printer 4) download a driver (but which one specifically?) - and then?

Please don't assume that I've even half a geek. If you can provide guidance, I may get back to you with a few more questions.

Thanks in advance (again) for your help.

Jim Caffrey

Jim,

Copies coming out fine, tells me this is a driver issue.

You tried the full procedure in the thread above? Virus program is Windows Defender, unless you have another virus program.

Allow Printer past Microsoft Essentials/Windows Defender

Using the Vista drivers in the Vista SP2 Compatibility mode works for most systems.

In the last batch of Windows Updates, Microsoft installed Internet Explorer 11. IE11 had been causing printer problems.

Open Internet Explorer, click on Help, then click on About Internet Explorer. It should show the version there. If you have IE11, then go to control panel, Windows Update, Installed Updates, look for Internet Explorer 11. Click on Internet Explorer 11, uninstall.

Restart the computer, when prompted. Then see if your printer works.

Rick

Jim, (RICK - FORGIVE, BUT MY RESPONSES ARE IN CAPS - TO BE DISTINGUISHED FROM YOUR TEXT. THIS IS A LONG REPLY.)

Copies coming out fine, tells me this is a driver issue. (YES, I AGREE)

You tried the full procedure in the thread above? (NOT YET – BUT I HAVE COMMENTS ON YOUR RESPONSE BEFORE WE GET BACK TO THE PROCEDURE) Virus program is Windows Defender (CURRENTLY YES – THOUGH I JUST RENEWED MY NORTON 360 SUBSCRIPTION – AND HAVE YET TO DOWNLOAD IT ONTO MY NEW DESKTOP), unless you have another virus program.

Allow Printer past Microsoft Essentials/Windows Defender (THE INFO AT THIS LINK DOES NOT APPEAR APPLICABLE TO EITHER WINDOWS DEFENDER – OR MY SITUATION)

Using the Vista drivers in the Vista SP2 Compatibility mode works for most systems. (I JUST SURFED THROUGH ALL[?] OF MY DELL DRIVER FILES AND DID NOT SEE ANY .exe FILES. YOUR SCREEN SHOT AT THIS LINK IS FOR R146813.exe. HOW DO I FIND THE GOVERNING .exe FILE TO CHECK ITS CURRENT COMPATIBILITY?)

In the last batch of Windows Updates, Microsoft installed Internet Explorer 11. IE11 had been causing printer problems. (I RECEIVED MY NEW DESKTOP ON 11/01/13, PROBABLY, WITH IE11 LOADED. I JUST TRIED UNINSTALLING IE11 NOW BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE, BUT IT SEEMED TO GET CAUGHT IN A HOT LOOP DURING THE RESTART [FOR 10-15 MINUTES!], SO I SHUT THE PC OFF. ON THE STARTUP, I GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE THAT THERE WAS A “FAILURE TO UNINSTALL PROPERLY. REVERTING TO PREVIOUS FILES.” SO NOW I STILL HAVE IE11.)

Open Internet Explorer, click on Help, then click on About Internet Explorer. It should show the version there. (AFTER THE UNSUCCESSFUL RESTART, I HAVE IE11, AS FOLLOWS:

Version: 11.0.9600.16476

Update Version: 11.0.2 (KB2898785)

Product ID: 00150-20000-00003-AA459

If you have IE11, then go to control panel, Windows Update, Installed Updates, look for Internet Explorer 11. Click on Internet Explorer 11, uninstall. (SHOULD THE ‘RESTART’ PHASE OF THE UNINSTALL TAKE 10-15 MINUTES? AT WORK, ON A 3RD PARTY PC, WITH THE HELP OF MY CO. IT TECH, I UNINSTALLED IE11 ALL THE WAY BACK TO IE8. TO UNINSTALL EACH VERSION ONLY TOOK ABOUT 8 MIN. +/-)

Restart the computer, when prompted. Then see if your printer works.

BACK TO YOUR PROCEDURE: You tried the full procedure in the thread above? (NOT YET)

(MY COMMENTS/QUESTIONS RE: YOUR PROCEDURE ARE BELOW. I NUMBERED THE STEPS FOR MY OWN CLARITY. # 1 IS N/A. CAN I SKIP # 3?)

[1] First run Delete Print Jobs to remove any stuck print job in the queue. (NOTHING IN QUEUE)

[2] Disconnect the printer. (USB CABLE ONLY - OR POWER & USB?)

[3] Download and run the patch (printer cleanup utility) until it prompts you to restart your computer. (YOU’VE COMMENTED IN OTHER RELATED POSTS THAT THIS PATCH CAN CAUSE HAVOC IN WINDOWS 7 – SO CAN THIS STEP BE SKIPPED?)

[4] Make sure the printer is removed. Manual Printer Driver Removal (THE PATH ON MY DESKTOP APPEARS TO BE: START MENU; DEVICES & PRINTERS; PRINTERS & FAXES; DELL 968 AIO PRINTER; REMOVE DEVICE)

[5] Restart your computer.

:emotion-14: Download the Vista 32-bit drivers for Windows 8 32-bit or the Vista 64-bit drivers for Windows 8 64-bit. Install the Vista drivers in the Vista Compatibility mode . (A NET SEARCH FOR DELL DRIVERS BROUGHT ME TO: ftp://ftp.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/dell-968-all.html

Historical Printer Drivers – Driver (I HIGHLIGHTED MY BEST GUESS. SHOULD I USE ANOTHER?)

[7] You'll get a message, the printer is not connected.

:emotion-29: Connect the printer at this time (powered on). (IS THIS THE LAST & FINAL STEP?)

Links to the patch/drivers can be found at... (LINKS HERE DON’T SEEM TO WORK)

Dell 968 & 968w All-In-One Printer owners thread (W7)

Remember virus programs and firewalls will block communications. If you did not install any virus program, then Windows Defender is the default virus program. Try reading...

Allow Printer past Microsoft Essentials/Windows Defender (AGAIN, CAN’T MAKE SENSE OF INFO AT THIS LINK)

jfcaffrey,

Virus program is Windows Defender (CURRENTLY YES – THOUGH I JUST RENEWED MY NORTON 360 SUBSCRIPTION – AND HAVE YET TO DOWNLOAD IT ONTO MY NEW DESKTOP), unless you have another virus program. I have posted the answers below in red. People use the virus program of their choice. Norton is a resource hog, so I try not to use this product. I use Avast Free Edition. It has a great real-time scanner.

[1] First run Delete Print Jobs to remove any stuck print job in the queue. (NOTHING IN QUEUE)

[2] Disconnect the printer. (USB CABLE ONLY - OR POWER & USB?) USB Cable ONLY.

[3] Download and run the patch (printer cleanup utility) until it prompts you to restart your computer. (YOU’VE COMMENTED IN OTHER RELATED POSTS THAT THIS PATCH CAN CAUSE HAVOC IN WINDOWS 7 – SO CAN THIS STEP BE SKIPPED?) There is no patch for this model, my error, sorry

[3] Revised...

Start, control panel, programs and features, your printer, uninstall. Restart your computer.

[4] Make sure the printer is removed. Manual Printer Driver Removal (THE PATH ON MY DESKTOP APPEARS TO BE: START MENU; DEVICES & PRINTERS; PRINTERS & FAXES; DELL 968 AIO PRINTER; REMOVE DEVICE)

[5] Restart your computer.

:emotion-14: Download the Vista 32-bit drivers for Windows 8 32-bit or the Vista 64-bit drivers for Windows 8 64-bit. Install the Vista drivers in the Vista Compatibility mode .

[7] You'll get a message, the printer is not connected.

:emotion-29: Connect the printer at this time (powered on). (IS THIS THE LAST & FINAL STEP?)

Links to the patch/drivers can be found at... (LINKS HERE DON’T SEEM TO WORK) LINKS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED. Hopefully the drivers work as good as the older drivers.

Dell 968 & 968w All-In-One Printer owners thread (W7)

Remember virus programs and firewalls will block communications. If you did not install any virus program, then Windows Defender is the default virus program. Try reading...

Allow Printer past Microsoft Essentials/Windows Defender (AGAIN, CAN’T MAKE SENSE OF INFO AT THIS LINK) Open MSE>Settings>Excluded Files and Locations> Add.

Allow a printer past Norton for when you install Norton.

Rick