All in One 920 and Vista

Question

Still can't get new A920 drivers to work. I have a new Inspiron Notebooke with Vista Home premium pre-installed. Stupidly tried to get A920 working back in Feb by installing the drivers from the CD I had for my XP machine. Been waiting for the new drivers, since then. So today I uninstalled XP drivers from the CD installation. Moved and cleared the contents of w32x86 directory. Installed R153047.exe - it asked for a reboot - installed 2 Dell A920 Printer Drivers after rebooting. Asked for another reboot. I Then installed R153716.exe, seemed to hang, Dell PC Fax seems to be installed but there is no Dell PC FAX printer (fax) driver installed. All-in-one works except I can't fax. Scan works. Printer doesn't work. Stays offline or hangs with a document as with other posts. I Do not have the time or inclination to reinstall my whole machine after using it for 2 months, purely for a print driver. Dell are living in fantasyland and totally lacking in any professional attitude to suggest this is as a solution. Can we please have a definative set of instructions. The Dell Testing scenario only works for an install on a clean machine, it doesn't take account that the uninstall of the XP version does not clean things up correctly. Can Dell please sort this out. Also how about posting installation instruction on the Driver download page. The fact that there aren't any implies that it is a straightforward install that will have no problems, and as we all know, that is not the case.

Tracey24 · Answer

I have a problem with A920 and Vista Home Edition too.  As soon as the print option is selected from any program, the printer goes offline.  Document showing in files as waiting to print, but nothing comes out!!  I've tried uninstalling, reinstalling etc.  Have downloaded the updated drivers for Vista, but no joy.  Can someone at Dell look into this.........please!!

stujoy · Answer

I have a new Dell E520 with Vista Business installed.  After waiting 2 months for the AIO920 Vista driver I was relieved when it finally appeared at the beginning of the month.  All I have been able to achieve so far however is the ability to use the printer.  I think the fax driver has installed but I never use this anyway.  The scanner does not work and the All In One Centre is unavailable.  I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling more times than I can remember, sometimes with partial success and sometimes with none at all (i.e. nothing will install).   It is a sad state of affairs that Dell cannot produce a Vista driver for one of its own AIO printers on one of its own latest Vista capable computers.  Come on Dell - do something about it - for me and all the other frustrated (non) users.

Gina Q · Answer

Again the drivers do work. If you have upgraded from XP to Vista with out removing the driver first or have tried to load you XP drivers on you Vista system this is what has caused the communication error. There are instructions at the top of this board that will correct this problem but you must follow the directions exactly. If you have already installed the driver for XP or did not remove the driver before you upgraded to Vista you must follow the instructions in this link COMMUNICATION ERROR received after installing Vista Printer Driver. If you have uninstalled and reinstall then go to the bottom and click on the link to Erick Rendel's post that has instructions on how to remove the folder where XP driver files are located. These instructions are given so that you can completely remove the XP driver. Then once the XP driver has been removed then you should disconnect your system from the Internet. It seems that Vista tries to find the driver for you before you have a chance to load the correct driver and this may also cause some problems. Then you can reinstall the driver using the following instructions HOW TO INSTALL MY PRINTER ON VISTA. Also as with all USB devices be sure the printer is not attached until the software asks for it to be attached.

Again the instructions must be followed exactly.

Message Edited by DELL-Gina on 04-23-2007 01:36 PM

bluesparx · Answer

Hello,
I am also having problems with the printer drivers for the Dell A920
printer. I have found that "a picture is worth 1000 words" so I have
put a page on my Web site with screen shots that show the problems I
am having. The Web page I have made is generic and I use it for any
tech support problems I am having. Here is the address for the page:

http://2dudes.net/computer_stuff/Dell_Printer.html

Maybe you can help me to fix this problem.

Regards,
Scott

Gina Q · Answer

Obviously this seems to be different than the communication error many have been getting. I have seen this and another thread each saying that the driver shows it is offline. I'll need further details of what you all have done so that I can have some specific data about what you all are experiencing. I will use this data to escalate this too. So here are some questions to answer: What operating system? I figure most of you have Vista but I'd like to confirm. Did you upgrade from XP to Vista? Did you have a communication problem initially? Then after doing all the steps as described you  now have this? Has it ever worked? In XP? In Vista Where are you seeing this offline message? Is the message on the printer screen or have you checked inside the printer queue? If you have not checked the printer queue please check and make sure that the printer is not set to off line here too. Is there any other error message? Does the driver seem to load and then it just does not work? Does it work until you reboot then it does not work? If you have a desktop is the printer plugged in the front or the back?  These are just for a start so we can begin to figure out any patterns. Also, if you noticed something else that you think may be part of the problem please add that to these questions.

bluesparx · Answer

What operating system? I figure most of you have Vista but I'd like to confirm I'm using Vista Home Premium (I purchased it from BestBuy). Did you upgrade from XP to Vista? Yes I had to install it as an OEM because when I tried to validate it with Microsoft and they said I would have to do a clean install even though I bought the Upgrade. After I did that I was able to have it validated with no problem. Did you have a communication problem initially? Then after doing all the steps as described you now have this? Yes to both questions. Has it ever worked? o In XP? o In Vista It worked when I first bought it from Dell. The Dell had XP Pro pre-installed. Then I was beta testing Vista and it didn't work. When the beta was done I re-installed XP Pro SP2 and when Vista came out I installed that. It will print sporadically with the new Vista driver but I have to re-install the drivers. Something I really don't want to do. It seems that I have spent too much time on this printer as it is. It was a good deal when I bought it. My father also bought one at the same time. He has never had a problem printing but he is using XP Pro also. Where are you seeing this off line message? o Is the message on the printer screen or have you checked inside the printer queue? Print que o If you have not checked the printer queue please check and make sure that the printer is not set to off line here too. The print job is from the test page. I have to reboot the computer to flush the que. * Is there any other error message? there is only the no communication message * Does the driver seem to load and then it just does not work? I can get it to print the diagnostics, clean print heads and align print heads. But when I click print a test page it says 'offline'. * Does it work until you reboot then it does not work? Only if there is a print job in the que * If you have a desktop is the printer plugged in the front or the back? I have tried several different USB Ports and all with the same results.

Gina Q · Answer

When you reinstalled Vista did you delete the partitions first or just use the partition that was already there?   Did you do a quick format?   Have you followed the instructions for removing/renaming and deleting the contents of the w32x86 folder as described in this thread?   If not, please do the following: Run the uninstall from the Vista driver web pack Unplug the printer and reboot Re-run the install of the Vista drivers If this does not work do the following: Make a copy of the w32x86 directory (w32x86_old) to avoid data lost as described in this thread. Delete the files under the w32x86 directory Reboot Reinstall the Vista driver

Tracey24 · Answer

Hello, Gina   I have done everything!!  Uninstalled the printer, completed the delete of System 32\spool\drivers\w32x86, downloaded the Vista driver, installed it (following all instructions including plugging in and turning on at the right point).  The printer shows as default printer, and ready until I try to print something.  Then the printer goes offline and document to be printed remains in print queue.  To delete the print queue, I have to restart the computer.   The printer was previously used on an XP computer with no problems.  I can still use it on another computer in XP.  So, there are no problems with the printer.   Obviously, I'm not the only person encountering this problem.  My Inspiron 1501 with Vista is useless if I can't use the printer.  I'm not prepared to buy another printer - I'd rather send the computer back.  PLEEEEEEEEEASE HELP.  Thanks.  Tracey.

Angry-Angry-Ang · Answer

Tracy24, I had the same problem with my 720 which would not communicate, and after working on the problem for 3 days I finally got a tech smart enough to check the printer port in McAffee and now it prints fine.  This is a new e521 i just recieved and was very upset when things didn't work.  I still have programs I used in XP that will not work with vista.  People this wide screen monitors are not what they are cracked up to be either, I am very dissapointed with my purchase.  I called about them sending a XP OS and they wanted to charge me for it, after all the monies spent on this machine. Ha!!

chas_b · Answer

Same problem even with a new install of Vista, (no upgrade from XP).  Printer will work when bidirectional support is disabled but the print queue will not purge the printed document.  When support is enabled have the same problem as all the others, printer goes offline and hangs.  I have tried all 'work arounds' previously posted in the forum.  No success.  Sounds like the driver for the A920 needs more work.

kit9216 · Answer

* What operating system? I figure most of you have Vista but I'd like to confirm. Vista * Did you upgrade from XP to Vista? No, purchase of new computer with Vista pre-installed. * Did you have a communication problem initially? Then after doing all the steps as described you now have this? Initial communication problem, followed all instructions for successful driver installation and now the hanging documents. * Has it ever worked? o In XP Yes o In Vista No--the printer has only printed the test page with alignment guides on the successful driver install. Sometimes it even makes a noise as though about to print. . .sadly, no. * Where are you seeing this offline message? The message comes up that the print job is spooling, then goes away but no print begins. Opening up the print queue manually reveals that the printer is offline and the job is left hanging. o Is the message on the printer screen or have you checked inside the printer queue? Interestingly, trying to print a test page through the windows queue produces this 'hanging' error, but going into the Dell software and printing a test page there to re-align the printer equals success. This is the only way it seems possible to print--through the Dell software. o If you have not checked the printer queue please check and make sure that the printer is not set to off line here too. * Is there any other error message? * Does the driver seem to load and then it just does not work? Yes. * Does it work until you reboot then it does not work? It never works, except through the Dell software print alignment test page. * If you have a desktop is the printer plugged in the front or the back? N/A, I use a laptop. Please hurry. . .I've been waiting 2 months to print!

chas_b · Answer

Ditto everything kit9216 said.  I am experiencing ALL the same problems except with a desktop with the printer plugged into a USB port on the rear.

TomL_12953 · Answer

When you look at the installed printers do you see a Dell FAX printer installed?  If so, how did you do it?  I've been trying to get that installed in Vista evere sionce the Vista RTM came out!

Gina Q · Answer

chase_b, Tracy24, TomL_12953,   Thank you all for double checking. If you all can make sure the service tag of your printer is in your profile so I can do some further checking. I have already escalated this to my imaging group and they have already started working on it. I'll update when I know more.

Gina Q · Answer

If you have Vista Home or Vista Home Premium there is not a fax program. Microsoft for some reason did not include the Fax program in these versions. Dell has developed a Fax program that will work with your printer. This thread ( FAXING Software for Vista Home and Home Premium) will give you the instructions for how to get the software.

Printers

All in One 920 and Vista

Was this post helpful?