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Article Number: 000133495

Installing Printer Drivers From a Previous Version of Windows

Summary: When printer drivers are not available for your current Operating System, use the steps that are outlined to use a previous version of Windows printer drivers instead.

This article may have been automatically translated. If you have any feedback regarding its quality, please let us know using the form at the bottom of this page.

Article Content

Symptoms

Dell is aware that not every printer has drivers on the Dell Product Support site for the version of Windows that is installed on your computer. The drivers are posted on the Dell Product Support site should they become available. Reference Microsoft Windows 10 Compatibility with Dell Printers for a list of which printers do have drivers for Windows 11 and Windows 10.

As an alternative, installing drivers from a previous version of Windows in compatibility mode may work in the meantime. Some or all the printer functionality may still work with the version of Windows that is installed on your computer. Follow the instructions in the Remove any Existing Software and Drivers for Your Printer First section. Afterwards, follow the instructions in the Installing Drivers for Inkjets or Installing Drivers for Laser Printers section, depending on your printer.

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This section provides instructions on how to remove the software and drivers for your printer that may be installed on your computer. This is needed as any remaining software and drivers may prevent the compatibility mode installation from working correctly.

NOTE: When having difficulty removing the printer, ensure that there is nothing in the print queue and that the printer spooler is working correctly.

See the Dell Knowledge Base articles for more information:
How to Cancel a Print Job in the Queue
How to Resolve Printer Spooler Errors.

 

  1. Press and hold the Windows (SLN297759_en_US__2iC_Windows_Key_BD_v4) key, and then press the r key.
     
  2. In the Run box type appwiz.cpl, and then press Enter.
     
  3. Touch or click the Printer listing that you want to remove, and then touch or click Uninstall.
    NOTE: When your printer is not listed, go to step 7.
     
  4. Confirm removing the printer.
    NOTE: When you have a multifunction printer, there can be more than one listing. Repeat the process to remove any remaining listings of your printer.
     
  5. Bookmark this article, as a restart is needed now and there are more steps to follow.
     
  6. Restart the computer and return to this article.
     
  7. Press and hold the Windows (SLN297759_en_US__2iC_Windows_Key_BD_v4) key, and then press the r key.
     
  8. In the Run box type control panel, and then press Enter.
     
  9. Touch or click View devices and printers.
     
  10. Touch and hold or right-click the wanted printer.
    NOTE: When your printer is not listed, go to step 14.
     
  11. Touch or click Remove device.
     
  12. The User Account Control window may appear, if so touch or click Yes.
     
  13. Touch or click Yes to remove the Printer.
     
  14. Select any other printing device left in the list, and then touch or click Print server properties.
     
  15. Touch or click the Drivers tab.
     
  16. Touch or click your printer.
    NOTE: When your printer is not listed, browse the Installing Drivers for Laser Printers or Installing Drivers for Inkjet Printers Sections.
     
  17. Touch or click Remove to remove the Printer.
    NOTE: When you have a multifunction printer, there can be more than one listing. Repeat the process to remove any remaining listings of your printer.
     
  18. Bookmark this article as a restart of the computer is needed now.
     
  19. Restart the computer, and then return to this article. Then follow the instructions on how to install drivers from a previous version of Windows in compatibility mode for your printer.

This section provides information about how to install drivers from a previous version Windows on your computer.

NOTE: Before installing any printer drivers, it is best to remove any drivers for your printer that were previously installed. Failing to do so can cause problems that prevent the computer from communicating with the printer. Reference the Remove any Existing Software and Drivers for Your Printer First section for more information.
  1. Open a browser to the Dell Drivers & Downloads site.
     
  2. Enter your printer's Service Tag to get a concise list of drivers for your specific product model, and then click Submit to continue. For information about how to locate your printer Service Tag, reference How to Find the Service Tag on a Dell Printer.
    NOTE: When the Service Tag is not available:
    1. Touch or click Browse all products.
    2. Touch or click Electronics & Accessories.
    3. Touch or click Printers & Accessories.
    4. Touch or click Dell Printers, MultiFunction Printers, Smart Printers, or Legacy Printers.
    5. Select your printer model (the model number of your printer is shown on the front of the printer).
     
  3. Using the drop-down menu under Operating System, select the Operating System that is the most recent listed.
    NOTE: The order of Windows Operating Systems from newest to oldest is: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows ME and Windows 2000.
     
  4. Look in the Category column for one or more files that are listed as Application or Drivers for OS Deployment. When none are shown, move to the next oldest Operating System.
    NOTES:
    • Dell mostly installs 64-bit versions of Windows, when selecting drivers from a previous version of Windows, look for a 64-bit version that is the closest to what is installed on your computer.
    • When a 64-bit version is not available, a 32-bit version may work, but there is no guarantee.
     
  5. Make note of one or more File Names: listed as Application or Drivers for OS Deployment, you must know it after the file finishes downloading.
     
  6. One at a time touch or click the icon to the right of the wanted file in the Download column.
    NOTES:
    • The Application download contains a toner reorder application and utilities, some also include the printer driver. It does not include the extra software that was included on the CDs that came with the printer such as Optical Character Reader (OCR) software due to copyright restrictions.
    • Some Laser printers have both an Application and a Driver file that must be downloaded and installed, some only have one. If in doubt, download and install all files that are listed in the Application and Drivers for OS Deployment sections.
    • When an Application download does not appear, then only printer drivers are available for download.
     
  7. You may be asked to Save, Save file, or the download process may start automatically, depending on your browser.
     
  8. Your browser gives you the option to open the downloads folder, once the file is downloaded.
     
  9. Touch and hold or right-click the file that is downloaded, and then click Properties.
     
  10. Touch or click the Compatibility tab.
     
  11. Touch or click Change Settings for All Users.
     
  12. Touch or click the box next to Run this program in compatibility mode for:
     
  13. Using the drop-down menu, select the Operating System that matches the Operating System of the driver downloaded.
     
  14. Touch or click Apply, and then touch or click OK.
     
  15. Touch or click OK.
     
  16. Touch and hold or right-click the driver file, then touch or click Run as Administrator.
     
  17. The User Account Control window may appear. If so, touch or click Yes to start the installation and then follow the prompts that appear to install the printer software or driver.

This section provides information about how to install drivers from a previous version Windows on your computer.

NOTE: Before installing any printer drivers, it is best to remove any drivers for your printer that were previously installed. Failing to do so can cause problems that prevent the computer from communicating with the printer. Reference the Remove any Existing Software and Drivers for Your Printer First section for more information.
  1. Open a browser to the Dell Drivers & Downloads site.
     
  2. Enter your printer's Service Tag to get a concise list of drivers for your specific product model, and then click Submit to continue. For information about how to locate your printer Service Tag refer to Dell Knowledge Base article How to Find the Service Tag on a Dell Printer.
    NOTE: When the Service Tag is not available:
    1. Touch or click Browse all products.
    2. Touch or click Electronics & Accessories.
    3. Touch or click Printers & Accessories.
    4. Touch or click Dell Printers, MultiFunction Printers, Smart Printers, or Legacy Printers.
    5. Select your printer model (the model number of your printer is shown on the front of the printer).
     
  3. Using the drop-down menu under Operating System, select the Operating System that is the most recent listed.
    NOTE: The order of Windows Operating System from newest to oldest is: Windows 11 Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows ME and Windows 2000.
     
  4. Look in the Category column for one or more files that are listed as Application or Drivers for OS Deployment. When none are shown, move to the next oldest Operating System.
    NOTES:
    • Dell mostly installs 64-bit versions of Windows, when selecting drivers from a previous version of Windows, look for a 64-bit version that is the closest to what is installed on your computer.
    • When a 64-bit version is not available, a 32-bit version may work, but there is no guarantee.
     
  5. Make note of one or more File Names: listed as Application or Drivers for OS Deployment, you must know it after the file finishes downloading.
     
  6. One at a time touch or click the icon to the right of the wanted file in the Download column.
    NOTES:
    • The Application download contains a cartridge reorder application and utilities, some also include the printer driver. It does not include the extra software that was included on the CDs that came with the printer such as Optical Character Reader (OCR) software due to copyright restrictions.
    • Some Laser printers have both an Application and a Driver file that must be downloaded and installed, some only have one. If in doubt, download and install all files that are listed in the Application and Drivers for OS Deployment sections.
    • When an Application download does not appear, then only printer drivers are available for download.
     
  7. You may be asked to Save, Save file, or the download process may start automatically, depending on your browser.
     
  8. Your browser gives you the option to open the downloads folder, once the file is downloaded.
     
  9. Touch and hold or right-click the file that is downloaded, and then click Properties.
     
  10. Touch or click the Compatibility tab.
     
  11. Touch or click Change Settings for All Users.
     
  12. Touch or click the box next to Run this program in compatibility mode for:
     
  13. Using the drop-down menu select the Operating System that matches the Operating System of the driver downloaded.
     
  14. Touch or click Apply, and then touch or click OK.
     
  15. Touch or click OK.
     
  16. Touch and hold or right-click the driver file, then touch or click Run as Administrator.
     
  17. The User Account Control window may appear. If so, touch or click Yes to start the installation and follow the prompts that appear to install the printer software or driver.
Cause
  N/A
Resolution

Out of Warranty support Out of warranty? No problem. Browse to the Dell.com/support website and enter your Dell Service Tag and view our offers.

NOTE: Offers are only available for US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, and China, personal computer customers. Server and Storage not applicable.

Article Properties

Affected Product

Alienware, Inspiron, Retired Models, OptiPlex, Vostro, G Series, G Series, Alienware, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Retired Models, Fixed Workstations, Mobile Workstations

Last Published Date

22 Nov 2021

Version

9

Article Type

Solution

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