Solved printer won't work

I just got a new computer with windows 11. I was told all I had to do was connect my older printer and it would work. It won't print and I get the notice not the right driver. I did not know that W 11 was a work in progress and does not recognize my printer. I need it but now I don't know what to do. If i buy a new printer would it work on W 11?

You were told wrong. No OS has all drivers for all printers. If you would tell us what printer you bought I can direct you to its driver package.

Welcome to Elevenforum @carhar . For someone to offer help could you post your PC/laptop spec and what printer you have?

I've never used a version of Windows that came with drivers ready installed for every printer. Sometimes I've had to install them, sometimes Windows Update would do it. I've found Windows 10 and 11 to be friendlier in that regard than older versions.

Something that may work for you:

Open Settings.

Click on Bluetooth and Devices (upper left)

Click on Printers and Scanners.

Click on Add a printer or scanner.

Drivers for your printer may be found and installed.

It's an old HP printer 2009 HP DeskJet F4180 with usb connection only. You can try Windows Update or @bobkn 's great suggestion. Failing that try an older driver from HP's site and try and run it in compatibility mode.

Looked on the HP site and the nearest was for Vista 64-bit. In the link select Vista 64-bit on the 'choose a different OS'. Download the driver and patches and run in compatibility mode for Vista 64-bit. It's worth a try.

P.S. I f I remember correctly you might need to connect the usb cable during the driver install and not before? Not sure though.

Fabler2 said:

It's an old HP printer 2009 HP DeskJet F4180 with usb connection only. You can try Windows Update or @bobkn 's great suggestion. Failing that try an older driver from HP's site and try and run it in compatibility mode.

Click to expand...

Maybe my cognition is off today, but I don't see the printer identification in this thread.

HP offers advice on getting drivers, but it's pretty generic: HP

bobkn said:

Maybe my cognition is off today, but I don't see the printer identification in this thread.

HP offers advice on getting drivers, but it's pretty generic: HP

Click to expand...

Had message on profile, https://www.elevenforum.com/members/fabler2.18/#profile-post-263

mblack said:

https://support.hp.com/gb-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-deskjet-f4100-all...

Click to expand...

The link doesn't work for me.

carhar said:

I just got a new computer with windows 11. I was told all I had to do was connect my older printer and it would work. It won't print and I get the notice not the right driver. I did not know that W 11 was a work in progress and does not recognize my printer. I need it but now I don't know what to do. If i buy a new printer would it work on W 11?

Click to expand...

I had a similar issue with my Epson WorkForce Pro WF-3720 when I was running Windows 11 Build(22000.xxx) last October.

Eventually, by prodding Epson into action, they released a driver that made my printer work OK; however, it took them 9 months to iron-out all the wrinkles & get it working as it should. You need to keep pushing HP to get a solution for you.

Buying a new printer will not necessarily resolve your issue - you'll probably have a similar experience with other manufacturers.

Fabler2 said:

It's an old HP printer 2009 HP DeskJet F4180 with usb connection only. You can try Windows Update or @bobkn 's great suggestion. Failing that try an older driver from HP's site and try and run it in compatibility mode.

Click to expand...

Up until Windows 10, HP was notorious for refusing to update drivers for older printers when a new operating system came out. I'm guessing that most likely there are no HP drivers for this printer that will work in Windows 11.

I bought a new HP color laserjet printer just before Windows 8 came out and HP would not update the drivers to work in windows 8. I either had to stick with Windows 7 or buy a new printer for Windows 8.

Wynona said:

Up until Windows 10, HP was notorious for refusing to update drivers for older printers when a new operating system came out. I'm guessing that most likely there are no HP drivers for this printer that will work in Windows 11.

I bought a new HP color laserjet printer just before Windows 8 came out and HP would not update the drivers to work in windows 8. I either had to stick with Windows 7 or buy a new printer for Windows 8.

Click to expand...

That sort of thing inspired me to stick with Brother printers/MFDs.

So far, they seem to maintain support for their laser printers and MFDs.

My Dell XPS 9510 came with Windows 11 Pro and recognized my legacy Canon MF733Cdw color laser printer with no problem.

bobkn said:

That sort of thing inspired me to stick with Brother printers/MFDs.

So far, they seem to maintain support for their laser printers and MFDs.

Click to expand...

same here! I have both a brother J 5855 inkjet and a brother L 2710 laser. The laser in several years old but still works just fine.

Couple weeks ago was given an HP LaserJet 1022 build in 2006, installed on Win11 Home without needing to get the drivers which actually are still available.