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Printer Driver Questions

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What is the function of the printer driver?

Without a driver to translate, manage and execute your commands, a printer can't do anything. It needs guidance. The printer driver acts as a manager or translator and it's designed to help the printer understand the commands you are sending to it and it helps your computer to identify and run your printer. Print drivers vary greatly, for example; printers that are connected with a USB connection require different features than an ethernet or wireless network; features on the printer such as scanning and copying all have their own sections within the driver, and the print mechanism (comprising different ink cartridges, nozzles and printheads) of many printers are unique, which require unique printer drivers too. Choosing and installing the correct drivers for your printer is key.

Where do I get the printer driver from?

The printer driver will be sent in the same box as your newly purchased Designjet printer. HP also list all of the drivers for download on their website - which is ideal if you've purchased a second hand printer and don't have access to the original drivers supplied with the machine.  Alternatively navigate our main menu bar, click on Resources, and under Quick Help click on Drivers (or click here).

Help - my operating system isn't listed when I click on Driver links?!

When HP introduce a new printer to the marketplace they have to make different drivers to accommodate all of the different operating systems people are using at the time.  So for example, with printers introduced at the end of 2012, many people were still running Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 - while some had the latest Windows 8 operating system.  As time moves forward, HP continue to develop the latest drivers.  At the point that HP stop manufacturing the printer, HP begin to invest in new technology for the new printers and start to build the latest drivers for the newest models.  This means when you have an old printer you may find that the drivers available relate to old operating systems. 

There are ways around this - so please contact us for additional help and advice.