Inkjet970Cse driver conflict

[John Eppley]

I really hope there is someone out there that can provide some insight.

I am running XP Home edition, and upgraded from ME about 10 months ago.
Everything appeared to work fine, including the HP printer. Somewhere along
the line during a MS "fix" session, I noticed some small problems with the
printer. I downloaded the recommended drivers for the "970Cse" and installed
per instructions. Now here is the PROBLEM.

Two separate printers are listed in the "Installed Printers" listing. One is
the "970 Series", the other is "970Cse/Csi". Hmmmm. So I then re-checked the
"Add Remove programs" and only ONE is listed. Strangely, it is the "970
Series" driver. My next logical step was to completely un-install all
printer drivers. When completed, the printer still operates and there is
still a driver for the "970 series" listed. Nothing appears in the "Add
Remove Programs" listing. I do not know how to remove all traces of the
OLD 970Series drivers. Clearly, the Cse drivers are not being installed
correctly.

Any ideas.??

John

[Ben Myers]

Unlike some other DeskJets, the 970 is apparently new enough that HP has TWO
downloads available for XP: "home users" and "corporate users". Go figure why
two are necessary. These are the "recommended" ones?

Usually, when you download something from Micro$oft, you get a dialog box with a
checkbox saying that you trust Microsoft with downloaded content. We've all had
our butts burned by Microsoft numerous times. DO NOT, REPEAT DO NOT, trust
Microsoft. Download only the drivers from the HP web site. Which ones, home or
corporate? I dunno. But the original poster needs to do one or the other,
maybe after deleting the still present 970 printer driver from the printers
group in control panel... Ben Myers

On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 20:21:22 -0400, "chuckie®" <chuckie@email.com> wrote:
Well, the 970 only has one driver, the CSE/CXI designation only refers to the software packageincluded with the printer. Hopefully, HP has set forth an XP driver for the 900 series printers, ifnot, you will be 'stuck' with Micro$oft's version of the driver. While functional, they lack thefeatures (toolbox and such) that come with the OEM version of the drivers...luck..."John Eppley" <jeppley@cfl.rr.com> wrote in messagenews:QGq1b.76310$qg3.3872951@twister.tampabay.rr.com... I really hope there is someone out there that can provide some insight. I am running XP Home edition, and upgraded from ME about 10 months ago. Everything appeared to work fine, including the HP printer. Somewhere along the line during a MS "fix" session, I noticed some small problems with the printer. I downloaded the recommended drivers for the "970Cse" and installed per instructions. Now here is the PROBLEM. Two separate printers are listed in the "Installed Printers" listing. One is the "970 Series", the other is "970Cse/Csi". Hmmmm. So I then re-checked the "Add Remove programs" and only ONE is listed. Strangely, it is the "970 Series" driver. My next logical step was to completely un-install all printer drivers. When completed, the printer still operates and there is still a driver for the "970 series" listed. Nothing appears in the "Add Remove Programs" listing. I do not know how to remove all traces of the OLD 970Series drivers. Clearly, the Cse drivers are not being installed correctly. Any ideas.?? John

[John Eppley]

To Chuckie, and Ben....thanks for your replies. Much appreciated.

The downloads in question came directly from HP. I seriously question their
accuracy. I now believe that the original "970 Series" drivers were
installed automatically when XP was initially installed. Therefore, there is
no driver listed under the "Add or Remove...." menu. When I employ the HP
diagnostic service which examines existing files, it tells me that I require
an updated driver. The driver is for the 970Cse/Csi and does not seem to
contribute very much to the party.

I think I will live with the 970series until the printer dies. Then bye-bye
HP.

Regards, John

[Ben Myers]

John,

It's not just HP who produce screwed up printer drivers. I've run into similar
problems with high-end printers from Oki, Canon, Sharp and others costing
thousands of dollars. For the printers, that is. I've seen baffled service
techs for companies that are independent resellers of the high end printers.
I've also managed to install drivers for the baffled service techs. It seems
that every company with a printer product spends millions on hardware research
and development, then treats the software like a cheap throwaway item written by
novice programmers. None of them understand that the first impressions of a
product are the lasting ones, and part of the initial impression is the ease of
software installation and setup.

At least the high-end printers end up with updated drivers when the next release
of the operating system ships. HP's less expensive inkjets and the inkjets from
others are typically less fortunate. A great many of them refused to work
properly or with all features when Windows XPee was released. Why? Because
Microsoft arbitrarily changes the software driver interfaces with most every
software release, and HP (and others) use this as an excuse to obsolete its
products thru drivers, or lack thereof.

The not so hidden warning in all this? When the successor to Windows XPee
comes out, you can count on lots more products obsoleted by poor or non-existing
drivers... Ben Myers

On Sun, 24 Aug 2003 16:10:00 GMT, "John Eppley" <jeppley@cfl.rr.com> wrote:
To Chuckie, and Ben....thanks for your replies. Much appreciated.The downloads in question came directly from HP. I seriously question theiraccuracy. I now believe that the original "970 Series" drivers wereinstalled automatically when XP was initially installed. Therefore, there isno driver listed under the "Add or Remove...." menu. When I employ the HPdiagnostic service which examines existing files, it tells me that I requirean updated driver. The driver is for the 970Cse/Csi and does not seem tocontribute very much to the party.I think I will live with the 970series until the printer dies. Then bye-byeHP.Regards, John