Dell A960 Setup Problem

dusty44,

Follow the instructions below and the printer should install for you. Please make sure to use Dell Series 2 ink cartridges in the A960.

First, let's make sure your computer has the latest Windows Updates, especially.net framework, needed to run many applications and the latest Java.

Disconnect your printer. Download and run this patch to completely remove the printer from your computer. Let the patch run, a MUST on Vista Machines, until it prompts you to restart your computer.

Restart your computer.

Download the proper drivers. Only download the drivers you need.

XP Drivers

Vista 32-bit Drivers

Vista 64-bit Drivers

All other drivers

Install the proper drivers. You'll be prompted when to connect your printer(powered on) Please use a 5ft or smaller USB Cable.

Scanning

Scanning using USB connection, open the Dell All-In-One Center, click on scanning and copying and scan from there.

Scanning wirelessly, use the scan buttons on the printer.

If scanning does NOT work, please post back and we'll see if we can install the scan program another way.

Let me know what happens.

Rick

dusty,

Also, what are the problems with the A940?

Rick

Hi again! After following the directions provided, I have the same problem – it gets so far into the installation process and unzips the file, then says the installation fails because there are not INF files. I have Windows XP for Home, I disconnected the USB from computer. I downloaded the drivers for XP. I am rather lost on this. Thank you again for your ideas.

The problem with the A940. When you print, it will print a partial page and then stop and has a message that there is a hardware error. I wish I could remember the number on that error, but printer is disconnected from computer and software uninstalled now. I do have it plugged in and it has not been giving the error number so far when I have made several copies using the copy function, but it was doing it all the time when it was hooked up to the computer. I would shut off the power and re-start. It would sometimes make a partial page, sometimes an entire page, but the error would always resurface.

dusty44,

The error messgae is bacause the printer drivers did not install correctly. Disconnect the printer, run the patch, restart your computer. Install the XP drivers(these are 32-bit) (You do have XP 32-bit, correct?) If they do not want to install, then try a different USB Port.

Computer have any kind of virus, malware, etc...? Did you at any time, re-install the operating system? Do you have the Operating system disks that came with the computer?

Rick

As for the A940, here is what you need to do. It was error 502.

» Reposition the Encoder Strip on the A940 All-In-One Printer

To reposition the encoder strip, perform the following steps: Remove the power cord from the unit. Lift the lid of the unit, just below the scanner portion of the All-In-One, to expose the inside of the unit where the printer cartridges are located. Gently slide the ink cartridge carrier to the middle of the printer. Figure 1: Out-of-position encoder strip   Gently move the top part of the printer belt to the right. Using your index finger, gently push encoder strip down and then back up to get it back into the slot located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier. Note:     There is a small slot that the encoder strip fits into, which is located on the back of the ink cartridge carrier. While working with the encoder strip, check it for dust or any unclean spots. If any detected, try to clean the strip by wiping it gently with clean cloth.   Gently press the strip first to the rear and then forward to ensure that it is seated correctly. Manually move the ink cartridge carrier to the left, then to the right to check the positioning of the encoder strip. Figure 2: Correctly seated encoder strip   Note:     If the encoder strip moves at all, it has NOT been repositioned correctly.   Once the encoder strip has been re-seated, close the lid to the unit. Re-connect the power supply to the All-In-One. Press the Power button. If the encoder strip was re-seated correctly, the Hardware Error: 502 code will not appear.

Hi again, Rick! Well, this is how far I have gotten. The printer is disconnected from the computer; I downloaded and ran the patch you showed (again.) Then I downloaded the XP drivers for A960 printer (again.) This is what happens: it gets to unzip it, then gets to the install shield - then it gives a message. "There are no valid INF files for this operating system. Unable to continue with installation."

If there is something I can check to see if I have the right driver for my system - it is a Dimension 8300 with XP for Home. I don't remember ever uninstalling the operating system. I do have the original reinstallation CD Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Including Service Pack 1a (I know we are beyond that now.) At any rate, I don't know what to do right now. Thank you for your ideas.

By the way, this installation did not get far enough to ask me to reconnect the printer - so it is still disconnected.

dusty44,

We can spend many hours and possibably still not solve this. My suggestion is to do a repair install of your Operating system, takes about 35 minutes but you'll need to get all the Windows Updates, again.(This is the longer time consuming process)

Insert the Operating system disk.

Restart your computer.

Press any key to boot from cd

Choose install

Do the agreement

Now choose repair. Leave the disk in until you see the Welcome Screen.

Get all the Windows Updates again.

After you get the last Windows Update and restart your computer, the run the patch, one more time, restart your computer, then install the proper drivers.

Let me know what happens,

Rick

Ok, here is the progress so far. I inserted operating disk and then restarted - tried several dfferent times holding down a key once or tapping one and it did not boot from the CD. However, I hit "run" and got to the disk that way.

Chose install, but there is no repair option; so I hit setup.exe - when you try to install from that it tells me it can't because the current version on the computer is newer than the one on the CD and it would need to be removed first. Is that what I should do? What is the correct way to do that?

Thanks again!

dusty44,

Restart your computer. Press F2 when you see the Dell Screen. This will take you into the Bios. Look for Boot sequence and move the CD Rom above the Hard Drive(HDD). Save changes and exit.

Now try it and it should work.

Rick

Here I am again. This does not seem to be working the way I am hearing it described. I made the last changes, but it still opens to a screen that has each of the four users of the computer - I go to mine (not sure what you call each of these setups.) The only way I can open the XP cd is to go to run - and then find the cd on Disk D. When I choose install, it tells me that it can't be installed because there is a more recent version of XP on the computer and to go and boot from the cd if I want to install this (which I believe is what you are trying to help me do, but I can't figure out how to get that to work so far even though I did change the CD Rom to go above the Hard Drive.) There is no repair option that I can find when I choose install. It simply won't proceed any further.

dusty44,

I don't understand this. D: is usually the recovery partition that Dell puts on your computer when it comes from the factory. Do you have many files and folders? If you can copy any files and folders to disks, then you can try this. (An XP repair would be much easier but you have to thee the computer in the Bios to boot from cd rom before the Hard Drive.)

Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings

or this

How To Restore or Reinstall Microsoft® Windows® on a Dell™ Computer

Rick