Installing Printer Drivers From a Previous Version of Windows

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, make sure there is nothing in the print queue and that the printer spooler is working correctly.

Refer to 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 () key, and then press the r key.
    

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2. In the Run box type appwiz.cpl, and then press Enter.
    

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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, proceed to step 7.
    

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4. Confirm removing the printer.
   Note: When you have a multifunction printer, there may be more than one listing, repeat the process to remove any remaining listings of your printer.
    

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5. Bookmark this article, as a restart is needed at this time and there are more steps to follow.
    

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6. Restart the computer and return to this article.
    

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7. Press and hold the Windows () key, and then press the r key.
    

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8. In the Run box type control panel, and then press Enter.
    

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9. Touch or click View devices and printers.
    

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10. Touch and hold or right-click the desired printer.
    Note: When your printer is not listed, proceed to step 14.
     

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11. Touch or click Remove device.
     

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12. The User Account Control window may appear, if so touch or click Yes.
     

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13. Touch or click Yes to remove the Printer.
     

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14. Select any other printing device left in the list, and then touch or click Print server properties.
     

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15. Touch or click the Drivers tab.
     

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16. Touch or click your printer.
    Note: When your printer is not listed, proceed to the Laser or Inkjet Sections).
     

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17. Touch or click Remove to remove the Printer.
    Note: When you have a multifunction printer, there may be more than one listing, repeat the process to remove any remaining listings of your printer.
     

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18. Bookmark this article as a restart of the computer is needed at this time.
     

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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 on 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, not doing so can cause problems that prevent the computer from communicating with the printer. Refer to 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.
    

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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 on 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 View products.
   2. Touch or click Printers.
   3. Touch or click Mono Laser Printers or Color Laser Printers.
   4. Select your printer model (the model number of your printer is shown on the front of the printer).

      Since you did not use your printer's Service Tag, drivers may not automatically be shown, in that case, use the drop down menu to select Application under Category and then choose Not specified to get a complete list.

    

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3. Using the drop down menu under Operation System, select the Operation System that is the most recent listed.
   Note: The order of Windows Operating System from newest to oldest is: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows ME and Windows 2000.
    

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4. Look in the Category column for the file(s) 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 32bit version may work, but there is no guarantee.
    

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5. Make note of the File Name(s): listed as Application or Drivers for OS Deployment, you will need to know it after the file finishes downloading.
    

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6. One at a time touch or click the icon to the right of the desired file in the Download column.
   Notes:

   • The Application download contains a toner re-order application and utilities, some also include the printer driver. It does not include the extra software that was included on the CD's 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 needs to be downloaded and installed, some only have one. If in doubt download and install all the file(s) 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.
   • By downloading, you accept the terms of the Dell Software License Agreement.
    

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7. You may be asked to Save, Save file or the download process may start automatically, depending on your browser.
    

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8. Your browser will give you the option to open the downloads folder, once the file is downloaded.
    

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9. Touch and hold or right-click the file downloaded, and then click Properties.
    

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10. Touch or click the Compatibility tab.
     

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11. Touch or click Change Settings for All Users.
     

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12. Touch or click the box next to Run this program in compatibility mode for:
     

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13. Using the drop-down menu select the Operating System that matches the Operating System of the driver downloaded.
     

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14. Touch or click Apply, and then touch or click OK.
     

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15. Touch or click OK.
     

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16. Touch and hold or right-click the driver file, then touch or click Run as Administrator.
     

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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.

This section provides information on 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, not doing so can cause problems that prevent the computer from communicating with the printer. Refer to 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.
    

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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 on 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 View products.
   2. Touch or click Printers.
   3. Touch or click All-In-One Inkjet Printers.
   4. Select your printer model (the model number of your printer is shown on the front of the printer).

      Since you did not use your printer's Service Tag, drivers may not automatically be shown, in that case, use the drop down menu to select Application under Category and then choose Not specified to get a complete list.

    

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3. Using the drop down menu under Operation System, select the Operation System that is the most recent listed.
   Note: The order of Windows Operating System from newest to oldest is: Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows ME and Windows 2000.
    

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4. Look in the Category column for the file(s) 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 32bit version may work, but there is no guarantee.
    

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5. Make note of the File Name(s): listed as Application or Drivers for OS Deployment, you will need to know it after the file finishes downloading.
    

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6. One at a time touch or click the icon to the right of the desired file in the Download column.
   Notes:

   • The Application download contains a cartridge re-order application and utilities, some also include the printer driver. It does not include the extra software that was included on the CD's 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 needs to be downloaded and installed, some only have one. If in doubt download and install all the file(s) 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.
   • By downloading, you accept the terms of the Dell Software License Agreement.
    

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7. You may be asked to Save, Save file or the download process may start automatically, depending on your browser.
    

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8. Your browser will give you the option to open the downloads folder, once the file is downloaded.
    

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9. Touch and hold or right-click the file downloaded, and then click Properties.
    

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10. Touch or click the Compatibility tab.
     

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11. Touch or click Change Settings for All Users.
     

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12. Touch or click the box next to Run this program in compatibility mode for:
     

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13. Using the drop-down menu select the Operating System that matches the Operating System of the driver downloaded.
     

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14. Touch or click Apply, and then touch or click OK.
     

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15. Touch or click OK.
     

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16. Touch and hold or right-click the driver file, then touch or click Run as Administrator.
     

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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.