Please Help A Numpty in distress?! :-)

[Allan]

You know what - let's try one more thing before I give up. Open the printer options in the HP software. Go through all the options and change some things (for example, if it's set to print in full color change it to greyscale or vice versa). Look at ALL of the options and make sure they appear the be set correctly. Then try to print a test page. Anything?

[gossip28]

ok, this might take me a while to find the HP software!!     I will come back..

[gossip28]

Right, I have found a tab saying printing shortcuts.  It is set to letter, I try to change to A4 but then the 'apply' button is greyed out - dont know if this would make a difference?

J

[Allan]

No. There should be an HP folder in START - PROGRAMS that was created during the driver installation. If you don't see that, right-click on the printer (in Printers & Faxes) and choose Properties. But you said you were able to print a test page - where did you do that from? That should have been from within the HP driver software.

[gossip28]

I have looked & there is no HP file in File / Start.  menu.  I was in the properties window from the printers/faxes a minute ago. 

The machine did its own test page when I first connected it all up, I didn't ask it to.

Does it mean there is a problem if there is no HP file in the Start menu?

J

[Allan]

Sit tight. I have to boot up a computer that has an HP printer attached to confirm how to get to the HP software.

[gossip28]

Thank you 

I am going back to pen & paper.  Quills & an ink well!!!   Its soooo much easier 

[Allan]

This was on a Windows 7 system but it should be similar. In Printers & Faxes right-click on the printer icon. Is one of the choices in the context menu "printer preferences"? If so, click on that.

[gossip28]

hia yep, done that, I now have three choices of tab; printing shortcuts, features & advanced...

[Allan]

Start clicking and look for the options. Probably "advanced"

[gossip28]

under 'device settings' there is an 'installed options' under 'advanced features', I clicked on this and an egg timer came up but then nothing happened - twice!  are they the options I should be looking for? or are there other options?

J

[Allan]

Okay. I suggest you reinstall the printer Driver. Follow the instructions that came with the printer.

[gossip28]

Will do my best to do that.  Thank you again for all your help & patience.  Unfortunately you are dealing with somebody with little/no knowledge of how printers work.

Thank you again.   

Jo

[Allan]

That's okay. That's what we're here for.

[gossip28]

I will let you know if I ever get it working - mind you ... it might end up out the window first!