ok, so nevermind....I just figured that part out. Probably a dumb question---what's the difference between the application download and the driver download? Which one do I need? or do I need both? I'm a little nervous about downloading this based on all the complaints on other AIO Vista Drivers.
I have a new Dimension E521 which came with Vista Home Premium. After a frustrating six days of various Dell Techs trying to get the OS to accept the printer driver but with no luck, on the 7th day I reached a smart Tech who knew what he was doing! I used Dell Support, and the Tech took over my computer remotely. (I don't know that much about computers & didn't want to be responsible for messing things up!). There is the printer driver, Fax application, and firmware (printer updates) available for this printer.
This is the ONLY way he got the printer working (although the Fax isn't, yet):
(1) He used "PC Restore" to start with a "clean" OS.
(2) He downloaded/installed the 10 Vista updates.
(3) He downloaded/installed the printer driver, application, and firmware.
Following his precise instructions, I connected/disconnected the USB cable when ordered, etc.
There is a certain sequence that has to be followed. All I know is that I can finally print!!
Someone else mentioned something really extensive like this. I don't use the fax part of my AIO, so I won't worry about that. I finally got the driver downloaded and I printed a couple of things last night without any problems.
Gina - You need to get the issue of the a940 driver escalated to the highest levels. I have tried EVERYTHING - I mean EVERYTHING - EVERYTHING EVERYTHING t0 the 5th power - suggested on these boards, and NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING HAS WORKED!!!! I have worked on this for over 16 hours total, and I am %^&^% well disgusted. Now what gives with this piece of junk hardware and software ? When are you going to come out with a driver that works comprehensively without having to have a degree in computer technology to install a printer. I want a solution now. I am sick of this, and many of your other customers are sick of this as well - get moving and get a comprehensive solution for vista.
I agree. I have wasted a lot of time trying to get my A940 working on my Vista system.
I have been waiting for a Vista driver for this printer since February. When it was available I downloaded the driver and have since installed and uninstalled it countless times. Almost every time I try to print, I'm told the printer is "offline" (even though the scan funtions work without problem). Once I got a message saying the computer couldn't communicate with the printer.
This is rediculous. I use this system for work and after being without a printer for two months, I now have some kind of driver that from reading these forums only works if you restore back to the factory settings. That is unacceptable. I have too much data and too many installed programs on this system to take even more time out of my life to back up and reinstall over a simple printer installation.
A reasonable solution that does not require the deletion of my data needs to be offered now.
I have to laugh because I'm having the same problem with my AIO926 printer. And I say laugh because I think this is just so funny that Dell wants us to do this and that and it still doesn't work. Yes, I was foolish enough to listen to the tech and reinstall my laptop...new laptop, one month old, to factory settings. Thank goodness it was new & I did not have a lot of data to save but it was a pain reinstalling internet connections and other stuff.
Sometimes the new driver works and sometimes it doesn't, not sure why?? I know with mine it's because I also have the Dell wireless 3300 adapter which also requires that I download a new driver. But now Gina from Dell is saying that we need to change the compatibility to XP instead of Vista.
I still want to know why Dell didn't tell me this when I bought, in Feb 07, my Dell AIO 926, Dell Inspiron E1505, and Dell 3300 Adapter that the printer and adapter were not vista compatible. There are Dell AIO printers that are Vista compatible, if I had known, I would have bought one.
I've spent days on the printer and adapter problems.
...to change the compatibility to XP instead of Vista.
Like I explained earlier you are not changing to XP, but you are telling Vista to run an XP program. This is only a work around for now until the driver can be fixed. Again they are working on it and as soon as I have an update I'll pass it on.
For those of you who would like to get the adapter working in compatibility mode here is the
link with the instructions.
I understand Gina that it is a work around only and I'm not changing my system to XP only the software program. But why is a new driver that dell already tested and put out there as a fix not working properly??
I have gone 5 weeks without being able to print to me Dell A940 from my new Vista-preinstalled XPS 410. Now I installed the printer driver to no avail. I've tried all the reasonable tips in this forum multiple times and in careful documented sequences: uninstall driver, disconnect printer, stay off Internet, delete the w32x86 directory, reinstall new driver, and only plug in the USB cable when prompted. In the process, I've probably rebooted now 20+ times.
Yes, Dell tested the driver, I'm sure. The new driver just wasn't written or tested for common Dell customer configurations like mine.
I cannot reinstall Vista as a potential solution since the advice for this comes from the same source as the untested and non-working solutions mentioned in the forum. I'm very glad that some people have happened upon a working sequence or scenario.
Next, I'm calling the XPS rapid-response support team. If that fails, Dell will miss the revenue stream from my regular A940 cartridge purchases. I'll post my solution in the coming hours or days.
Message Edited by KenWithXPS410 on 04-22-2007 02:03 PM
!UPDATE! I spent two hours on the phone with a wonderful XPS tech support person who walked me through the disabling of the LexBce Service and its dependency in the printer spooler. Then, and only then, did the installation of the new A940 driver work as originally intended. An unintended side benefit is that while we were waiting for many reboots to occur during the process, he helped diagnose and fix a video card driver problem and a sound configuration issue. Vista is just plain too new.
Message Edited by KenWithXPS410 on 04-22-2007 08:38 PM
I agree. Not having a printer since February has been a big problem, and after trying the same solutions to get this driver working I still don't have one. I think the solution would be to buy a new non-Dell printer, though after all of this I don't think I will be buying any more Dell products period (and I will make sure none of our technology buyers at work do either).
Im having the same problem with my A940 all in one. I just bought a ACER laptop with the new Windows Vista, I did have a Dell laptop with XP. I tried to download the new driver for the A940 and its doing the same thing, says its offline and will not go online. My printer will scan, but will not print out anything, not even a test page. hopefully this problem get fixed ASAP, because I really need my printer, and im about ready to sell my printer to buy an HP thats vista capable. Please let me know when the update is avalible. Thank you
Have you tried this solution from Gina--posted last month?
If you have followed the instructions on how to uninstall the XP driver and reinstall the Vista drivers and the driver now seems to be loaded but the printer shows offline the problem here is that the LEXBCE service has not been removed. So here are the instructions on how to remove the LEXBCE.This is a service that will cause the spoller to crash. This procedure will also help in ridding the sysetm of any lingering XP drivers.
Removing XP drivers and LEXBCE from Vista (for the 720, A920, 922, A940, 942, A960, 962 and 966 printers)
Ensure there are no documents in queue.
Disconnect printer’s USB cable.
Stop lexbce from services.msc.
From the Start menu click “All Programs”, then “Accessories”. Right-click “Command Prompt” and choose “Run as Administrator” from the context menu.
This opens a black command prompt window.
Enter the following commands and press the “Enter” key after each command: (note resulting messages, if any)
“cd %systemroot%\system32”
“sc config spooler depend= rpcss“
“lexbces –u”
“del lexbces.exe”
“net start spooler”
“exit”
From the Start menu click “All programs”, “Printers”, “Dell ***” and then “Uninstall” where “***” is your printer model number. Complete the uninstall utility.
From the start search box type “spool” and hit enter.
This will open the spool folder at “c:\windows\system32\spool”.
Rename the following folders “c:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32X86” and “c:\windows\system32\spool\prtprocs\W32X86” to “backup”
Rename the folder “C:\windows\Twain_32” to “backup_twain_32”
From the start search box type “regedt32”. Locate and delete the following registry entry: “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LEXMARK” PLEASE BE SURE TO MAKE A BACK UP OF THE REGISTRY BEFORE DOING THIS STEP.
Restart the computer.
Reconnect the printer to the computer and choose “Ask me later” every time the “Found New Hardware” wizard pops up (it usually pops up twice).
Reinstall the latest Vista printer driver.
You can also find this procedure if you go to www.support.dell.com Troubleshooting Guide and search for 110210.
Message Edited by DELL-Gina on
04-30-2007
10:46 AM
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Yes, Dell tested the driver, I'm sure. The new driver just wasn't written or tested for common Dell customer configurations like mine.
I cannot reinstall Vista as a potential solution since the advice for this comes from the same source as the untested and non-working solutions mentioned in the forum. I'm very glad that some people have happened upon a working sequence or scenario.
Next, I'm calling the XPS rapid-response support team. If that fails, Dell will miss the revenue stream from my regular A940 cartridge purchases. I'll post my solution in the coming hours or days.
Message Edited by KenWithXPS410 on 04-22-2007 02:03 PM
!UPDATE! I spent two hours on the phone with a wonderful XPS tech support person who walked me through the disabling of the LexBce Service and its dependency in the printer spooler. Then, and only then, did the installation of the new A940 driver work as originally intended. An unintended side benefit is that while we were waiting for many reboots to occur during the process, he helped diagnose and fix a video card driver problem and a sound configuration issue. Vista is just plain too new.
Message Edited by KenWithXPS410 on 04-22-2007 08:38 PM
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Removing XP drivers and LEXBCE from Vista (for the 720, A920, 922, A940, 942, A960, 962 and 966 printers)
You can also find this procedure if you go to www.support.dell.com Troubleshooting Guide and search for 110210.
Message Edited by DELL-Gina on 04-30-2007 10:46 AM