HP5850 wireless inkjet under w2k

[HG]

Just finished install after 2 maddening sessions with HP tech support over
live chat and one successful session over phone.

The upshot is the the install software, which is supposed to work under
W2000 Professional, does not. I had to install via the "add printer" route.
The 2 tech support chats just ran me through menus, with no knowledge of how
this printer works. The second had the decency to admit she was stumped;
the first gave me a vague "check with system admin for the correct
configuration settings" without having any idea of what configuration
settings she was talking about.

The phone session tech was not more knowledgeable on this printer, since he
clearly had to go look everything up. But he at least was able to navigate
and understand their documentation and apparently reached out to 2nd level
support. Finally got it up with his help.

Bottom line (other than the poor tech support), was that the install
software cannot be used under w2k. You must take the "add printer; create a
new port; std tcp/ip port" route. When asked, specify "have disk" and use
the drivers on install cd under the "enu" directory. Hope this helps
someone else.

As to support, its a conundrum. A company can only afford to provide
limited support for a $80 printer, but less support would be needed if the
install process and tools were of better quality.

And not to get into an offshore rant; I'm pretty sure ALL 3 techs were
offshore. Certainly the one on the phone, who finally got me up and
running, was offshore.

[HG]

As a follow-up, I installed on a second PC yesterday. This one was running
W98.
Again, the install program "encountered a severe error" with no further info
except to restart the computer and retry (which does not work). Again,
installing manually was successfull.

We have 2 b/w laser printers at home with limited need for color. This is a
really nice little printer that can serve as the occasional color printer on
a network without the need for a cable (assuming you have wireless). Speed
is acceptable and print quality is fine. It's a shame HP released it with
such poor install software; compounded with poor (1 for 3) support.
Although I should mention that there was little wait time on both support
options.


"HG" <t296********@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:Meudnd4YLYU37c3cRVn-uA@comcast.com... Just finished install after 2 maddening sessions with HP tech support over live chat and one successful session over phone. The upshot is the the install software, which is supposed to work under W2000 Professional, does not. I had to install via the "add printer"
route. The 2 tech support chats just ran me through menus, with no knowledge of
how this printer works. The second had the decency to admit she was stumped; the first gave me a vague "check with system admin for the correct configuration settings" without having any idea of what configuration settings she was talking about. The phone session tech was not more knowledgeable on this printer, since
he clearly had to go look everything up. But he at least was able to
navigate and understand their documentation and apparently reached out to 2nd level support. Finally got it up with his help. Bottom line (other than the poor tech support), was that the install software cannot be used under w2k. You must take the "add printer; create
a new port; std tcp/ip port" route. When asked, specify "have disk" and use the drivers on install cd under the "enu" directory. Hope this helps someone else. As to support, its a conundrum. A company can only afford to provide limited support for a $80 printer, but less support would be needed if the install process and tools were of better quality. And not to get into an offshore rant; I'm pretty sure ALL 3 techs were offshore. Certainly the one on the phone, who finally got me up and running, was offshore.

[Guest]

I have a similar tale of woe with my HP DJ6840 wireless printer I just
bought. Setup installed just fine on 2 of my networked pc's but
refuses to install on my laptop (XP home SP-2) I was wondering if
your printer installed with the driver from enu on the disk (I have
done the same workaround) is fully functional with bidirectional
communication? If you click on service printer and then on ink levels
does it show you the ink levels or just say bidirectional
communication is not working? I have spent 80 minutes on the phone
and 3 very long chat sessions with HP tech and gotten nowhere beyond
the partial functionality with none of the extra features of bi-dir
comm and addl. software that comes with the printer. It is a pain to
not be able to install the software separately. The setup disk
uninstalls everything including the windows setup port when it hits
the "Severe error" dialog box and uninstalls.
Thanks in advance
John



On Wed, 22 Sep 2004 16:47:09 -0500, "HG" <t296********@comcast.net>
wrote:
As a follow-up, I installed on a second PC yesterday. This one was runningW98.Again, the install program "encountered a severe error" with no further infoexcept to restart the computer and retry (which does not work). Again,installing manually was successfull.We have 2 b/w laser printers at home with limited need for color. This is areally nice little printer that can serve as the occasional color printer ona network without the need for a cable (assuming you have wireless). Speedis acceptable and print quality is fine. It's a shame HP released it withsuch poor install software; compounded with poor (1 for 3) support.Although I should mention that there was little wait time on both supportoptions."HG" <t296********@comcast.net> wrote in messagenews:Meudnd4YLYU37c3cRVn-uA@comcast.com... Just finished install after 2 maddening sessions with HP tech support over live chat and one successful session over phone. The upshot is the the install software, which is supposed to work under W2000 Professional, does not. I had to install via the "add printer"route. The 2 tech support chats just ran me through menus, with no knowledge ofhow this printer works. The second had the decency to admit she was stumped; the first gave me a vague "check with system admin for the correct configuration settings" without having any idea of what configuration settings she was talking about. The phone session tech was not more knowledgeable on this printer, sincehe clearly had to go look everything up. But he at least was able tonavigate and understand their documentation and apparently reached out to 2nd level support. Finally got it up with his help. Bottom line (other than the poor tech support), was that the install software cannot be used under w2k. You must take the "add printer; createa new port; std tcp/ip port" route. When asked, specify "have disk" and use the drivers on install cd under the "enu" directory. Hope this helps someone else. As to support, its a conundrum. A company can only afford to provide limited support for a $80 printer, but less support would be needed if the install process and tools were of better quality. And not to get into an offshore rant; I'm pretty sure ALL 3 techs were offshore. Certainly the one on the phone, who finally got me up and running, was offshore.