Chad,

 

First try running Delete Print Jobs to remove any stuck print jobs in the queue.

 

On the Windows 7 64-bit computer, when you upgraded, did you install the desktop/notebook utility and the chipset drivers first? If not the rest of the drivers will fail to install. How to Install Drivers in Microsoft® Windows® on Dell Systems If you canot find the Windows 7 drivers, try using the Vista(or XP) drivers and install them in the Compatibility mode

 

Does your Dell 968 Printer have the wireless adapter?

 

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

 

If you want to try the wireless adapter, then use these Recommended Wireless Router Settings in your wireless router, I use channel 11. If you changed the type of security, you may want to change the SSID name to make connecting to the new network easier.

 

Install the proper drivers for the computer you're using, choose network, then follow the instructions. At some point, it will ask you to connect the printer, then follow the instructions. It will ask for the network, type of security and password.

 

On the Windows 7 64-bit computer, download and install the Vista 64-bit drivers in the Vista SP2 Compatibility mode

 

Also try reading...

 

Sharing a printer through a wireless network

 

Share Files and Printers between Windows 7 and XP (This works both ways)

 

At some point, you'll need to allow the printer past McAfee

 

Allowing Printer past McAfee

1. Open the McAfee Security Center and then click on the ‘Internet and Network’

2. To the right of ‘Internet and Network’ you would see all the services that are present under it, just below that you would have a button ‘Configure’ please click on that.

3. Now you would have the Internet and Network Configuration, in this window you would have an option ‘Firewall Protection in Enabled’ to the right of that you would have a downward arrow, click on that.

4. Then click on the ‘Advanced’ button which would have a new screen up.

5. To the left of that window you would have ‘System Services’ click on it and to the right pane of the window you would have the ports listed.

6. Please check the option which is for ‘Windows File Sharing’ then click on ‘Apply’ and then ‘Ok’

7. Restart the computer

 

Any questions, feeel free to ask.

 

Rick

Thanks for the reply, Rick.

There are no stuck print jobs in the queue.  I am able to delete them right away when the printer doesn't print.

I upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit from Vista Home Premium 64-bit, so I did not remove the OS before the upgrade.  I let the disk do the upgrade for me, and I followed ALL steps it told me to do, which included removing some drivers and re-installing or upgrading them later. Which drivers, and in which order, I do not remember.  I just remember a certain list of incompatible drivers that I had to remove before the upgrade, then went online to each individual website to download the correct drivers to replace the ones that were removed.  As far as the desktop/notebook utility and chipset drivers, I cannot answer that question.  How do I go about making sure they are installed correctly?  Do I have remove a bunch of drivers, install these first, then re-install the others?  All I know, is when I was done upgrading the drivers that needed upgrading after the OS change, everything worked just fine for 6-10 months, until now.

What is the printer cleanup utility patch and what does it do?

My printer does have the wireless adapter, but for now, I prefer to leave it connected with the ethernet.  Is it possible to install the printer driver without installing the printer itself?  When I installed the printer/driver, I did download the Vista 64-bit driver and DID install it in compatibility mode and as administrator.  The printer was installed and computer restarted before doing this.

Why am I not able to add this printer as a network printer in "devices and printers"?

My McAfee firewall and port settings are as you noted.

Thanks in advance for any additional help/tips.

 craigcls,

 

I upgraded my system at one point and I still had to install the desktop/notebook utility and the chipset drivers first, or the rest of the drivers fail to install. I'm almost certain that these install usb devices and the software that's attached to the computer.

What is the printer cleanup utility patch and what does it do?

The patch(printer cleanup utility) is a program that removes the printer from the computer. This was first introduced with Vista bacaues Vista could not remove the printer completely. With Windows 7, you may also need to manually remove the printer. Manual Printer Driver Removal

 

Also try reading

 

Sharing a printer through a wireless network

 

Share Files and Printers between Windows 7 and XP This shows about the networking.

 

How to Network with HomeGroup in Windows 7 This may be even better to explain how to network with Windows 7.

 

 

Rick

I have followed all your suggestions and so far, nothing has worked.  I removed the printer, restarted, installed the utility and chipset drivers, restarted, then re-downloaded and installed the printer/driver using Vista 64-bit compatibility mode and ran as administrator.  I even switched my printer connection from ethernet to wireless.  I keep ending up with the same result -- printing job freezes.  It tries to print, but freezes part way thru.  Same as trying to print a test page.  I can delete the frozen print job fine.

Can you explain to me what exactly is possibly happening here?  I still don't understand why this is happening all of a sudden when I had no problems before.

 craigcls,

 

Run Delete Print Jobs, this will remove any print jobs stuck in the queue.

 

What are you trying to print from? If from Microsoft Word, etc..., the first time click file, print and make sure the proper printer is selected. These programs sometimes default to Microsofts programs to print.

 

 

Rick 

There are no stuck print jobs in the queue.  I can't even print a test page.  The printer loads the paper, then the status bar will freeze at either 10% or 64% EVERY TIME, and nothing prints.  I can cancel the print job, the printer ejects the blank paper, and the queue empties.  I have run the delete print jobs just to make sure and I have followed all of your other suggestions.

I have now disconnected the ethernet from the printer and it is connected to the router via wireless.  I can still print just fine from the desktop, but not from my laptop.  I CAN scan from the printer to the laptop, however.

One other thing, just in case there might be something related, I tried setting up file and printer sharing over the network.  I can see the shared items from the laptop on my desktop (running XP), but I cannot see any of the shared items from the desktop on the laptop. I haven't put too much effort into this, however, because I'm just trying to get the printing to work from one computer before working on connecting everything else together.

I have removed and installed this printer/driver multiple times with the same results and am getting REAL FRUSTRATED at it.

 

 craigcls,

 

You said...

I CAN scan from the printer to the laptop, however

but cannot print.

 

This sounds like it's not communication in both directions. Try looking at Enable Bidirectional Support/Enable Biodirectional Support and make sure it's checked on the laptop.

 

What about firewalls?

 

 

Rick

Bidirectional support is enabled.

I know this can be difficult over a chat forum, but I'm even more lost now.  I have trying different settings, and when something doesn't work, I put it back where it was, but now, I can't get ANY kind of communication.  Now, I either get "No Communication" or "Printer is Busy", even though both printer queues on both computers are empty (other than the test page I just tried to print).  I've never had this much problem with this printer (or computer), especially when it had been working just fine before.  Like I said, I'm no expert, but I can find my way around a computer quite well and am competent enough to check, and change if necessary, various settings.

Anyway, can you enlighten me a bit more about firewall ports?  Right now, under printer properties, it shows it is using port "Dell_968_2912FF_P1", IP address "192.168.0.197", Mac address "0020002912FF".  As far as the McAfee firewall, the port opened for this printer is "Local TCP/IP Ports: 9100" and is labeled "Dell 968 AIO Printer via Network" .  Is this the proper port?.  If I remember correctly, this hasn't changed since the printer was first installed and working.  Now back to the printer properties, there is another port listed as "192.168.0.197 Standard TCP/IP Port".  If I try using this port, usually nothing happens other than maybe "No Communication".  Why can't I use this port since it looks like the address of the printer?  I'm not sure how to add this port into McAfee since it'll only allow me to enter a specific ports number, or range of ports, not an IP address.  Would trying to send the printer thru a different port help maybe, and how would I do that?  What other ports should I make sure are open?  What about Port 135 (RPC) or Ports 20-21 (FTP)?  Ports 137-139 (Windows File Sharing) IS open.

Is it possible to install the printer driver WITHOUT installing the printer?  My thinking here is that maybe I can install the network printer thru "Devices and Printers" if I had the driver installed already.  I've tried installing the network printer using its IP address after installing the printer, but there is no communication with it, even though I can "see" the printer in "Devices and Printers".  Do I need the driver installed to utilize a shared network printer on my desktop computer? (That's a whole new problem though because I can't "see" that printer even though it is shared......).

Sorry if this long winded, but I'm almost losing my mind trying to figured this out.

EDIT: I CAN still scan from printer to computer.

craigcls,

 

I have a Dell V715w Wireless Printer. I use Avast as my virus protection and I use Windows Firewall. The Dell inkjet printers are made for Dell by Lexmark.

 

start, control panel, windows firewall, allow program through Windows Firewall

 

My printer's ip address is 192.168.7.145 I gave it a static ip address to keep the router from giving it a different ip address.

 

I see..

 

and

 

I cannot tell you about the settings with McAfee.

Under printers, properties I see...

 

Rick

 

Well, my problem is fixed, although I still don't know exactly what caused it in the first place.  Even though I did a system restore earlier, to a point I knew the printer worked, I went ahead and tried it again.  I uninstalled the printer beforehand, and deleted everything I could find related to the printer.  I then did the system restore, allowed Windows and McAfee to automatically install the updates that were un-done, then made sure EVERY driver was up to date, and re-installed any driver that wasn't (paying close attention to the software utility, chipset, and wireless/network connection drivers).  Last, I re-installed the printer.  After 1 failed printer driver install, un-install, the re-install again, the printer began printing!  It about blew my mind!!  I have to think one of the recent updates wrecked havoc with the computer's ability to communicate with the printer and I finally found the right sequence to get things working again.  In the end, no changes were needed to the router or firewall settings.

Thanks for the help and tips.  Now, onto the next issue, I can't "see" the other computer's shared files and devices on my network.......

craigcls,

 

Try some of the links in the PREVIOUS THREAD.

 

If thing don't work, then try posting in the Dell Networking, Internet, Wireless Forum

 

 

Rick