I need a driver for an HP Scanjet 4600. I failed to find anything by searching the web. I hope you can help?

Generally, HP is good about offering drivers for their devices. Exceptions are usually products that have been discontinued or are too old to continue to update. In your case, however, I think we are okay. Click to follow this link to the HP Support and Drivers webpage. On this page you can enter the product number of your unit, in your case: Scanjet 4600.

This will redirect you to a page listing the different models that fall within your description. Choose the exact model you have to go to the next step.

On the next page, you will see a list titled: Tasks for HP Scanjet 4600 Scanner series. The first item on the list reads “Download drivers and software.” Click this to get to the next step.

You then choose your product again, and then are re-directed to a page that lists different computer operating systems. It is important that you choose the operating system version that is running on your computer because the drivers are written to create compatibility between specific programs and devices.

On the next page you will see different support options. A useful one to note is the offer to sign up to receive customized drivers, patches, security and email alerts about new developments. Choosing this option might save you time in the future, rather than repeating this procedure. You can also click the Useful Link to Automatically check to see if the latest driver is installed correctly. This option might be your simplest best, especially if you aren’t exactly sure what you need. You can click this link and let the system figure it out for you. These applications will allow the HP system to analyze your computer’s programs and make sure it is running optimally. If there is missing software, the HP system will flag it, let you know and suggest you download what you need.

Under these offers is an option to order a CD-ROM or directly download your missing driver. You can check out the latest software offered for your system and either download or order what you are missing.

Continue to follow the directions offered on the HP website until you get a page letting you know that you are successfully updated. That should do it! Good luck.

There are a number of things that you can try to re-charge the power to your printer and get it up and running again. There could be a malfunction in the device, or it could be as simple as a loose cable connection. Work through these steps to troubleshoot the issue.

Test the Power Button

• 1. Press and release the Power button - instead of holding down or repeatedly tapping the power button, which could cause the printer to turn on and then off again - press and quickly let go. Now wait a moment and see if the unit starts to power up. In case it is slow to start, make sure you wait a minute before trying again.

Check the Power Cable and Wall Outlet

• 2. Check the electrical cable and outlet - to troubleshoot the power supply unplug the cord from both the wall outlet and the printer. Try plugging a lamp or other device into the same socket to test the power supply. Make sure there is no damage to the cable. Wait 60 seconds then reconnect the cable to the wall only. Bypass any powerbars or other intermediaries. If the green light on the power supply (cord and module) fails to light, contact HP directly to replace the power cord. If the power supply shows green, connect to the printer then quickly press and release the power button.

Test the USB Cable

• 3. Next, try disconnecting the UBS cable from the printer. Try powering up without the USB attached. If this works, replace the USB cable

Test the Battery

• 4. Check the battery light on the back of the printer. If red, recharge or replace the battery then power up.

Replace the Power Cord or have the Printer Serviced

• 5. If none of these steps solve the issue, you can try one of two things. Either contact HP to replace the power cord and module to make sure that isn’t the issue, or take the printer in for servicing. You can likely ask a local shop to let you try swapping the power cord to remove that possibility before agreeing to service. If the cord is not the problem, then your printer likely needs some repair.

I hope this helps!!

Hmmn. It sounds as if something’s going on with the ink cartridge. The heads may be clogged or dirty which could be leaving a trail of ink down the page. If you’re using an off-brand ink cartridge, that could be part of the problem as well. HP printers are especially persnickety when it comes to generic ink cartridges. Let’s look at some possibilities.

Clogged or Dirty Print Heads

Ink cartridges dispense ink through a print head found on the bottom of the ink cartridge. This print head can become clogged, partially clogged, or contaminated with debris. The preferred cleaning technique is to use the printer’s built-in cleaning routine rather than wiping the print head with a cloth. For example, when wiping the cartridge, say with a Q-tip, fibers can be left behind, further adding to the problem. If you must wipe the cartridge or the print contacts, use lens cleaning tissue. Debris actually makes sense in your case as the debris would redirect ink and leave a trail.

To clean the print heads, press the menu/setup button followed by the right arrow. You’re looking for either Tools or Maintenance (the wording varies depending on the exact model you have). Click OK or Enter and then look for the Clean Print Cartridges message. Once you see it, click OK or Enter to start the procedure. This uses ink and you may need to perform it several times before you see an improvement in ink quality.

Defective Ink Cartridge

It’s also possible that the ink cartridge is bad. If it’s brand new, and the cleaning procedure doesn’t work, then this could be the problem. Cheap ink refills and generic brands of cartridges use different formulas than original HP inks, so if you’re using an off-brand, the ink itself may be causing problems.

Other Issues

Remove the ink cartridge and feel the heft of it in your hand. Does it feel full? Does it feel about the same weight as an empty one? It’s possible that the software that “measures” ink levels is wrong and the cartridge may in fact be nearly empty.

The cartridge might not be aligned properly. Print a test page and see what the alignment tests say. To do this, press the menu/setup button and use the right arrow to find Print Reports. Confirm your choice by pressing Enter or OK. Use the right arrow to find Self-Test Report. Press Enter or OK and the printer will print a test page. Analyze the results, looking specifically for alignment or ink issues.

HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer Error: Printing Blank Pages

It can be annoying when a printer suddenly strays from its intended purpose and begins to spit out blank pages before every print job. In some cases, this problem can be easily solved simply by remembering to turn the printer on before selecting a print job. In other cases, blank pages could be the result of ink that has either dried up or been used up. Obviously, this is not related to your problem, but it is something to keep in mind when nothing at all prints.

HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer Error: Clean the Printer

It is important to clean the printer occasionally to ensure that it works properly. If you have never done so, try cleaning the printer now. At the very least, you will have a clean printer while minimizing the possibility of future problems due to a dirty machine.

HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer Solution for Printing Blank Pages

Complete the steps listed here to try and resolve the problem with your printer and the blank pages that appear with each new printing task.

1. Open up Printers and Faxes. For Windows Vista, click on the Start Icon, select Control Panel, and double click on Printers and Faxes. For Windows 2000, click on Start, select Control Panel, and double click on Printers and Faxes. For Windows XP, click on Start and select Printers and Faxes in the menu list.
2. Select HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer by right clicking on it.
3. Select Properties.
4. Once the dialog box opens, select the Advanced tab along the top of the dialog box.
5. Once the Advanced tab is open, look for the tab for Separator Page in the lower right-hand corner and click it. Separator pages are blank pages that are designed to make it easy for people using the HP Photosmart C6380 All-in-One Printer to distinguish one print job from the next one without the necessity of reading the pages that have been printed.
6. Once the dialog box opens, delete each of the templates that are listed in the box.
7. Click Apply and then click OK.

It is important for anyone who is on a network to have their administrator take care of this problem at their end.

HP Printers and Ink Cartridges

HP printers come in several different configurations as far as ink cartridges go. At one end of the scale, you have printers requiring just two cartridges: a black ink cartridge and a tri-color ink cartridge. In the middle are printers with four cartridges: black, cyan, yellow, and magenta. At the other end are printers like your HP PhotoSmart printer with five ink cartridges: black, cyan, yellow, magenta, and “photo black.” HP also offers extremely high-end printers with eight ink cartridges.

The Difference between Black and Photo Black Inks

Before getting into the difference between the two types of inks, it’s important to note that these two ink cartridges are not interchangeable. You can’t use one in place of the other. The ink in each of these cartridges is different. With a black ink cartridge, the ink is black whereas the ink in a Photo Black cartridge is actually gray. If your printer uses HP Vivera

Which HP Black Ink Cartridge is used for what Purpose?

HP and other manufacturers offer printers with various print cartridge setups to address different printing needs. For users who primarily print documents that are heavy on text with the occasional need for photo and color printing, a printer with a black cartridge and a tri-color cartridge is fine. A tri-color cartridge has three chambers containing cyan, yellow, and magenta. When one of those colors is empty, the entire cartridge needs to be replaced, even if the other two chambers are full. The four cartridge printers allow users to replace individual colors as needed, thus eliminating waste. For example, if you tend to use yellow ink more than the other two colors, you can replace just the yellow cartridge.

Printers that include the Photo Black cartridge are ideal for users who want exceptional photographs. Photo Black ink, which is really gray, allows for deeper blacks in the shadows and better tonal balances overall in your photographs.

HP PhotoSmart C6350 Printer Updates

When you say you’ve done everything, does that mean that the printer has all of the latest device driver updates specific to the 64-bit version of Windows Vista? HP lists a printer driver update dated May 2009, version 12.0.1 on the C6350 Support Page as well as a firmware update and several critical updates

HP PhotoSmart C6350 Error Messages

HP’s C6350 Support Page also features a huge list of known error codes here. Scroll through this list to see if your particular error code is addressed. If so, click on the link for it and read HP’s official solution. If the error message is not listed, let us know the exact error message displayed. We may be able to decipher the meaning of the message or find out additional information about how to solve it.

Vista 64-bit Compatible Printers

If you decide you’d rather just invest in another printer, we can recommend a number of excellent printers. However, what’s right for you depends on how you plan on using the printer. What do you print most, text or photos? Do you want an all-in-one like you have now? Do you want a wireless connection? Do you want an inkjet or laser printer? What features are important to you? Do you need the printer to have a card reader and photo editing capabilities? Is ink consumption a concern? Will you be upgrading to Windows 7?

With so many variables, it’s tough to recommend the best printer for your system. The most important consideration is compatibility. Because you have the 64-bit version of Windows Vista and may eventually upgrade to Windows 7, you need to focus on printers that are compatible with Vista 64-bit. If the printer also is Windows 7 (64-bit) ready, that’s a plus if you anticipate upgrading operating systems.

Once you’ve narrowed down the printers that are compatible, you can then focus on the features that you want as well as the brands that offer the best value for your money. Many electronics stores allow you to print out samples from their printers on display so that you can see the print quality. Pay attention to how many pages each ink cartridge is supposed to print and find out how much replacement cartridges will cost you in the future. In addition, find out if your printer will stop printing if it runs out of one color or if you can continue using it until you’ve had a chance to replace the low ink cartridge. For example, the HP 6980 is a nice printer that works well with Windows Vista 64-bit. However, if the color cartridge is empty, you cannot print a black and white page until you’ve replaced the color cartridge.

HP makes great all-in-one printers, so you made a good choice for your home or small business. There are a few things that may be causing your scanning problem, and we need to do a little bit of troubleshooting to try to fix the issue.

Cropping Feature

The automatic cropping feature may be selected and that can cause a cropping problem.  Follow these steps to check and/or correct it:

• 1. Close the scan window if it is open.
• 2. Go to the HP Director that is on your desktop. You can find this by going to All Programs, HP and then HP Director.
• 3. Click Settings and then choose Scan Settings.
• 4. Click on the Scanning tab.
• 5. Make sure there is no check mark next to Automatically Crop Image.
• 6. Click OK and try the scan again.

Print Settings

You might want to get into your computer and check your print settings. If you have options such as “Fit to Page” or “Borderless Printing” selected, this may crop part of the image in order to fulfill these printing preferences.

Mac Problems

Are you using a Mac with this printer/scanner? If so, using the automatic document feeder can cause the image to be cropped on the bottom. The first thing to try is to put the document directly on the glass and see if it changes the way the printer scans.

You may also want to make sure it is set to scan in color.

• 1. Start the HP Device Manager which is in the dock.
• 2. Click the down arrow that is located next to Information and Settings.
• 3. Choose Scan Preferences from the drop down list.
• 4. Click the arrow next to Image Type and then select color.

You can also try to change the scan resolution.

• 1. Start the HP Device Manager.
• 2. Click the arrow next to Information and Settings.
• 3. Choose Scan Preferences.
• 4. Click the arrow next to Resolution.
• 5. Select a higher resolution from the available options and then close the window.

If you are still having problems, you can try to contact HP Support. I really think that this is a setting problem and not a flaw in the printer itself.

Epson LQ 1050+ Printer and Windows XP Compatibility

The most likely situation is that you are missing the appropriate drivers for the printer to be compatible with the newer operating system. Before we talk more about drivers, the first thing you might consider is updating to the Windows XP Service Pack 3. The more up-to-date you keep your computer’s software, the more compatible it will be with other devices and applications - and there is a more recent software release than Service Pack 2. You can get the most recent software from Windows Updates and you might also consider setting Windows Updates to run automatically to keep up with the latest releases.

About External Device Drivers

Drivers are small programs that allow your computer to communicate properly with external devices like printers. Without the right drivers for your operating system the computer isn’t able to recognize or talk to the printer. Unfortunately, due to the age of your Epson printer, the company hasn’t issued any drivers for Windows systems later than Windows 98 and there haven’t been any new releases since 2003.

Replace your Printer, Reinstall Windows 98, or Live without a Printer

You basically have three options. Depending on how important the printer is to you - you can keep Windows XP, which will really improve the functioning of your computer over Windows 98 and replace the printer with a newer model. Or, you can uninstall Windows XP and reinstall Windows 98 so that you can continue to use your printer. This option will work if the printer is vital, but is obviously not the best choice since the software is so outdated. Your third option is to keep XP and not worry about the printer right now, if you aren’t very reliant on it.

In the long run it makes the most sense to upgrade your printer, although now might not be the time when you want to invest in a new device. In any case, as you upgrade and update one component of your computer system you will have to do the same to others to maintain compatibility. Good luck!

Printing from a laptop isn’t much different from printing from a desktop. The main difference is that the laptop is frequently set up for using multiple networks and printers. For example, if you use the laptop at work and at home, it would be set up to use the work network and printers as well as your home network and printer. In any case, getting printers to cooperate with computers can be a challenge. Below are a few common troubleshooting steps that you can try.

Check the Installed Printers

First, let’s make sure that the printer that you want to use is installed on your laptop. Go to the Control Panel and click the Printers icon. You will see a list of installed printers. Is the printer you are trying to use listed? If not, you will need to install it. If it is, is the printer you want to use the default printer? To make a printer the default printer, right-click its icon and choose Set as Default Printer.

Install New Printer Drivers

If you are using a shared printer, such as one that is attached to the network or to another computer, you may need to install printer drivers on your computer. Right-click the printer icon and choose Properties. Click the Advanced tab and click New Driver. Install the new driver by following the prompts.

Network Printers

Another question comes to mind. Are you connecting directly to the printer or is the printer a network computer that’s attached to another computer? If the printer is connected to the network, is it properly shared on the network? Are all involved computers properly set up for file and printer sharing (this is done in the Networking section of the Control Panel).

Wireless Printers 

Many new printers now have wireless capabilities. While these wireless printers are convenient, if they aren’t properly networked, printing becomes a challenge. Have you set up the wireless printer within your home network’s router? Is your laptop’s wireless card turned on?

If these basic steps don’t get you far, let us know the details surrounding your printer installation and any error messages so that we can provide a more detailed solution.

Without more details, I am going to assume that you only have one printer installed on your computer, which should lead to an easy solution.

Printer Queue

The printer queue is the temporary place where all of the documents that are selected for printing go prior to actually being printed. The printer queue can become bogged down and create a problem such as you are suggesting. Fortunately, this has an easy fix. Perhaps you noticed jobs in the print queue taking forever to complete or refusing to stop printing when you clicked cancel. Whatever the reason behind your error, I think that it would be nice to avoid having to reboot each time you want to print something.

Stopping the Print Spooler

The term print spooler refers to the process of transferring the data from its present location to a temporary area where it can wait to be printed. If the print spooler service gets jammed up for whatever reason, the best way to deal with it is to stop it. These directions should solve the problem.

To stop the print spooler, follow these directions:

Open the Control Panel and select Administrative Tools. Next, select Services. You will need to look through the list of services in order to locate the one for print spooler.

Troubleshooting Print Spooler: Restart the Service for a Lexmark Printer

On the chance that the above solution did not work and you have a Lexmark printer, you can try the following directions to fix the problem.
Click the Start button. Click Run. Type services.msc and click OK. Locate Print Spooler in the list of services, right-click the service, and then left-click start. Locate Lexbce Server in the list of services, right-click the service, and left-click start. Locate RPC services in the list of services, right-click the service, and then left-click start
If you get an error while doing this, you should follow these steps:
Right-click Print Spooler. Select Properties. Click on the Recovery. Change all 3 drop-down boxes to indicate “Restart the Service.” Make sure the two text boxes underneath have a “1″ in them. Click OK until you are back at the Services window. Close that window. Perform the same for Lexbce Server and for RPC services. Restart RPC services and Lexbce Server. The final step is to restart the Print Spooler service. Print a test page first and look to make sure that it prints.