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Post by laverne on Oct 5, 2019 9:00:05 GMT -5
I have an HP officejet printer installed on my computer. It has died. Question: If I buy the identical model printer, will I have to install the new printer or will the installed printer driver work by just plugging in my new printer?
Thank you.
Laverne
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Post by Jack Teems on Oct 5, 2019 10:44:57 GMT -5
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Post by laverne on Oct 5, 2019 12:48:32 GMT -5
Thanks, Jack. But after 20 minutes of signing up with HP, setting up a password, and trying to get that question answered, I gave up. Maybe someone on the forum knows the answer.
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Post by Jack Teems on Oct 5, 2019 13:08:51 GMT -5
Must be peak times with HP. I've had excellent responses but usually call during off times.
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Post by laverne on Oct 5, 2019 19:16:56 GMT -5
Oh, so you talked to HP on the phone. I was trying to get the answer online.
At any rate, now I don't need the answer because I discovered that the printer I was about to buy does is not compatible with Windows 10 but would run fine on my Windows 7. That's not what I want. I'll have to look for another printer.
Thanks, Jack, for your replies.
Laverne
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drcard
Software Review Panel
Posts: 580 
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Post by drcard on Oct 7, 2019 6:55:02 GMT -5
Hi laverne,
Sorry for delay in answering...been away from PCs on a trip.
To answer your question:
You will have to install the new printer even if it is the same model number and plugged into the same port. Each piece of hardware connected to a PC running Windows is assigned a unique Hardware ID. It is the Hardware ID that tells Windows which driver was installed for this device and thus which diver should be used for this device.
In the situation where you want to use the same model printer and thus, keep the same drivers; you can first look at the driver files the old printer is using (location and name) and direct Windows to those files when installing the newer printer.
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Post by laverne on Oct 7, 2019 10:45:42 GMT -5
Thanks, Dana. I suspected that an install would be necessary but didn't know the reason. So, whether one gets the driver from the manufacturer or from one's own computer, it still is necessary to install the software.
You got it exactly right; I was going to buy the new printer and use the old cables to plug into the new printer -- so easy -- and then I thought maybe even the driver would work right off.
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