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November 4, 2009

HP says Windows 7 printer drivers coming soon

Many printers currently don't work with new OS

Jeremy Kirk

HP has revealed it expects to release Windows 7 drivers for its printers soon, as there are currently no compatible drivers.

HP is recommending that some of its newer products should be used with Windows 7, which was released on October 22. Unfortunately, for some people that will mean buying a new printer.

"Older products may have limited driver support, limited features or both," said HP's website that provides a list of products that either do have drivers available or will soon.

"If your legacy product is not listed, no support is offered for Windows 7."

Users have been griping on HP forums about the driver situation for months. In some cases, HP is not developing drivers for products that did have drivers for Windows Vista, Windows 7's predecessor.

"According to HP's compatibility lists, there will be no support for HP Laserjet Color 3600n under Windows 7," wrote user FastasFlash200 in September.

"Is this really true and if so, for heaven's sake why? We bought this device not so long ago for our small business office and waited desperately for upgrading computers and devices to Windows 7, but it seems HP won't support this."

Another user wrote that his LaserJet 3600 has a manufacture date of June 2008. "I'm going to make a big stink to everyone," said another forum user early last month.

The delay with the drivers HP is building "really has to do with making sure that all the drivers work smoothly for the customers who make the Windows 7 change", according to a spokeswoman on behalf of the company.

"HP worked with Microsoft to make sure that the majority of current/recently launched products supported Windows 7 at launch and continues to work with them to ensure the smooth transition moving forward. "

HP isn't saying which of the absent drivers may be released first. The best advice is for consumers is to click through to the actual product page and see if one is available. At least some of the drivers should be available within a couple of weeks if not sooner, the spokeswoman said.

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Comments

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Comments received

jtt said on Wednesday, 04 November 2009

I notice that there's a driver for the HP laserjet II. That printer must have been available in the late 1980s - very impressive that HP have a Windows 7 driver for it.

KGP said on Wednesday, 04 November 2009

I should jollywell expect it to include the Laserjet II driver. And III, and IV. As these are generic emulation drivers for the corresponding versions of PCL. Thus if your printer isn't in the list then at least you can still print by using the appropriate generic emulation PCL driver.

jeldonh said on Thursday, 12 November 2009

I own several newer HP printers. Lasers and All-in-ones. I also have several HP Desktops in my small home business. HP is negligent and proves it cares nothing about users. Windows 7 launch was known months ago and HP needed to have drivers ready. What is going on? I also have a full time Systems Administrator job and buy hundreds of printers each year. I have always bought HPs...no more...I am buying printers from manufacturers who had drivers ready. My home business is suffering from no support from HP. They will not get the chance to support me in the future. HP products are off my list. I could understand if my printers were out of date, they are not, all are less than a year old. HP took a giant dump on it's customers. Users should think twice before buying HP again.

G M DOODY said on Thursday, 12 November 2009

I wasted at least 8 hours yesterday (including two lengthy visits to the HP Help Chat Line plus emails [unanswered] to HP customer services) trying to download a Windows 7 driver for a Deskjet F2180 but I had no success. I went through the download process several times and was informed that it had been successfully installed. A no time was I told that it did not exist (Does it exist?) and the time was completely wasted when I had better things to do. I still don't know if there is, or is not, a driver available or likely to become available soon.

Notrozer said on Friday, 13 November 2009

Host Based Printer Drivers such as 3600n according to my letter from hp are not supported and they have no plans to support them. If you use the vista driver it ques print jobs and they never happen. Thanks a Lot Hp For being a A$$Hole.

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