Disconnect your printer. Download and run this patch to completely remove the printer from your computer.

Restart your computer.

Download the proper drivers.

XP Drivers

Vista 32-bit Drivers

All other drivers

Install the proper drivers. You'll be prompted when to connect your printer(powered on)

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.

How would I go about this? I assume I should disable automatic updates and get them myself. Would I be prompted when updates are available or do I check myself periodically? Can I have Microsoft automatically update Windows without updating drivers at the same time? What are custom updates? Sorry to be a pain; I'm rather green at all this.

Thanks for your help. Sure nice to have my printer behaving again.

Donna

I don't own a Vista machine, so you'll have to bear with me. The settings to change are similar but may look a little different.

Go to start, control panel. If possible, switch to classic view.

Click on Windows Updates(Security Center, if you cannot switch) How to change Vista Windows Updates.

Make sure the settings are set to get Windows Updates automatically. Check the box about recommended updates. While yu here, check for Windows Updates. It should ask or tell you about recommended Updates.

Now read this article. It tells you how to set your computer to automatically look for drivers. Yo DON'T want this, so just make sure it's disabled.

And I also wanted to say, you're NOT a pain, Donna. You only learn things from asking questions. When I first got my computer(2001) I asked many questions and between a few forums and asking questions, I learned a lot. It NEVER hurts to ask questions when you're NOT sure. I have all FREE programs on my computer, that I use and my virus protection is also FREE.

Remember 'Don't be afraid to ask questions, when you're not sure."

Thanks Rick for your help and kind words. I've changed my Windows Update settings so that Windows will automatically download updates but will let me choose whether to install them. There does not seem to be any separate setting for driver updates, so I assume they are lumped in with other Windows updates. How do I decide whether to install them or not; if no, where do I go for driver updates?

Thanks again, much appreciated.

Rick -

I am having the printer system communications problem (you replied to two of my posts on 9/25/08); after reviewing many posts I have decided to re-install my printer. My environment is:

Computer: Inspiron 1501

OS: Microsoft Windows VISTA Home Edition SP1

Printer: Dell Photo AIO Printer 926

Connection: Wireless Network using Dell Wireless Print Adapter 3300

Should I uninstall the wireless print adaptor or should I begin with the step titles "install the printer on the wireless network" using the 3300 print adaptor as currently installed. My computer was received new with Vista installed in Sept 2007. Should I use the CD I received with the printer or do the downloads you describe in your post replace the CD step? Should I install using the CD and then update the drivers from your download?

As you can probably see, I am a newbie - new to Dell and new to this forum so I appreciate your advice.

Thanks

Harry

Harry,

Your problem will take a little time to do, but the end results will make your wireless network secure and work better. The reason for these settings, WPS-PSK(TKIP) works best with most wireless cards and adapter, but some only work on channels 1, 6 or 11(I use 11). Mixed mode because some devices still use B and some use G(some even use n)

Disconnect your printer. Download and run this patch to completely remove the printer from your computer.

Restart your computer.

Download the proper drivers, in you case it's the Vista 32-bit(most likely)

XP Drivers

Vista 32-bit Drivers

All other drivers

Before you do anything else, let's fix the wireless router settings. These settings will make everything communicate the best it can.

Update the firmware in your wireless router. Manufacturer's website, make & Model needed. If you have trouble logging into the wireless router, Make and Model and I can usually get you in.

Broadcast SSID(You may want to change this to make it easier to connect)

Use WPA-PSK(TKIP) Security. Most wireless devices work best with this type of security.

Mixed b and g mode(n if available)

Use channels 1, 6 or 11. Most devices work better on these channels.(I use channel 11)

Save and exit. Power everything off for 30 seconds. Power everything back on, wait 30 seconds, now try to connect.

After router is done, now setup your wireless print server/printer.

3300 Utility

3300 Firmware

Attach the 3300 to your computer using the USB Cable and insert the 3300 disk. Follow the instructions. It should ask you for the network ID, type of security and password.

Install the drivers, choose network, choose I'm using a wireless print server(if you do not see this, then choose add printer and you should see it then) and follow the instructions.

After you take your time and do all of this, you'll have everything working. Now if you have more than one computer, all you have to do is run the patch, restart your computer, install the proper drivers, choose network, using wireless print server and follow the instructions.

Rick -

While going through your suggested procedure, a problem developed when I attempted to download the print drivers (module R146832); the download seemed to go as expected but after I unzipped (decompressed) the module nothing happened so the driver didn't get loaded (this was confirmed when I completed the printer installation). When I do a restart I get messages stating that Windows Installer is trying to configure QuickSet and wants me to insert a CD for the feature that I am trying to use. I have no such CD so I downloaded QuickSet from Dell but, again, nothing happened after I decompressed the module (R97345).

I did a restart at the beginning of this task and it seemed normal. After I downloaded and ran the patch (R166248) to remove the printer definition, it seemed to run normally (printer definition removed) but the problem discussed above (nothing happens after decompression step) began occurring.

I am totally stumped at this point and could really use some help.

Thanks,

Harry

Harry,

With Vista 32-bit systems, you have to run the patch to completely remove the printer from the computer, You MUST then restart the computer to finalize the removal.

If your computer will not unzip the file, the try using 7zip to unzip it(download the .exe file).