Curious, but how long has it been since you've printed a color pic or document? What does the color ink level show? It could be that the color print head is clogged. Try performing cleaning the print heads a couple times via the Maintenance section using the printer's OP panel Menu button...

See if this helps.

And no, you do not need a photo cartridge to print photos. You just have access to more colors when you use a photo cartridge.

Since you re-installed the printer drivers, with Vista, it's possible the drivers didn't install correctly. Try doing it this way. The patch MUST be run on Vista machines.

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. Do NOT join the printer (ink)improvement program, or whatever it is. It doesn't install correctly.

Please remember to install the latest firmware for the 948 Printer.

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 Do I Connect a Dell™ Wireless Printer to a Wireless Network

Choose your printer. Beneath your printer, select your operating system. You'll be redirected to another page. Then click on show all steps. It will walk you through the installation process.

Ann, Did you follow these instructions to remove the printer. The patch MUST be used and restarting the computer. Follow these instructions

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

Go to device manager(right click my computer, left click properties, left click hardware, left click device manager)

Go to the USB Controller section and click the + sign.

Starting at the bottom, USB Root Hubs, and working your way to the top, USB Universal Controllers, un-install everything in that section.

Restart your computer. Windows will find everything again and correct the problem one. Please be patient. The new hardware wizard may work 3-5 minutes before it's done.

Install the proper drivers. You'll be prompted when to connect your printer. Do NOT join the printer (ink)improvement program, or whatever it is. It doesn't install correctly.

Make sure to use a 4ft or less USB Cable.

Thank you for your last advice. When I go into USB controller section and attempt to unstall everything I get the message that the pc requires to be shut down to complete the uninstall, when I carry this out the pc then finds what I have uninstalled and reinstalls it. When I try to unisnstall the 2nd one up ""USB Root Hub" the pc freezes up and the only thing I can do is switch off and start again. I have noticed however carrying out the uninstall of the printer and reinstall of the drivers including the "firmware" update the the printer will print out a perfect Test Page, but still will not print photo's.

Thanks for all your help.

Ann

 Can you copy a picture with the scanner?

1. Turn on the printer.

2. Load photo paper. (not necessary unless you want a keeper)

3. Load your original document.

4. From the Copy mode menu, use the left and right Arrow buttons to scroll to Quality, and then press the Select button.

5. From the Quality submenu, Use the left and right Arrow buttons to scroll to Photo, and then press the Select button.

6. Press the Start button.

If that works the printer is OK and we can go from there.