PrinterHelp

Do I need a printer driver?

The short answer is “yes” (For the non-expert, a driver is a piece of software that connects together your computer’s programs and your printer.)

Bubblejet printers are particularly fussy, as they won’t work at all without a driver, and they won’t work properly (or at all) without the driver for the exact printer model.

Printers with parallel ports may work using a driver for a slightly different model in the manufacturer’s range – but you may get strange looking print.

USB printers should not be expected to work at all unless the correct driver is installed. They are also known to refuse to work if the logic board is set for the wrong “region” - this requires a different region’s driver!

Drivers can in general be downloaded from the download section of the manufacturer’s website – easy if you have broadband, a problem if you don’t! Make sure you get the right one for your operating system. Windows drivers should not be a problem, but Linux or Mac drivers may be non-existent.

Installing a driver on Windows XP is really easy - not so on Windows 98 where some persistence and attention to the user instructions is/was often required. Unsurprisingly, some newer models of printer won’t install on Windows 98 at all, so if your venerable printer packs up it may force a general upgrade.

We found in the repair workshop that multiple installations one one PC of multi-part machines such as printer/faxes could be a severe source of grief… best avoid.