Uninstalling and Reinstalling Printer Driver
1. Preparing to Uninstall:
Before uninstalling the printer driver, it is important to ensure that all applications related to the printer are closed. To do this, double click on the “My Computer” icon on the Desktop, click on the “File” option and then select “Exit”. Now open the Windows “Control Panel” by selecting the “Start” button and then selecting “Settings”, followed by the “Control Panel”.
2. Uninstalling the Printer Driver:
Once the Control Panel window is open, double-click on the “Add/Remove Programs” icon. A list of all installed programs will appear, find the printer software in the list and double-click on it to start its uninstallation process. When prompted, click “Yes” to remove the printer software and then follow the prompts of the Uninstall wizard until its completion.
3. Restarting the Computer:
Once the printer software has been removed, restart the computer. This will ensure that the driver and all other related components have been completely removed from the system.
4. Installing the Printer Driver:
After restarting the computer, make sure the printer is connected to the computer and turn it on. Also make sure that the USB cable connecting the printer to the computer is properly connected and there are no loose wires. Open the Control Panel window again and double-click on the “Printers and Faxes” icon. This will open the Printers and Faxes dialog box. Click on the ‘New Printer’ option and select the first option called ‘Local Printer’. The ‘Choose a Printer Port’ window will open. Select the USB port associated with the printer and click ‘Next’.
The ‘Install Printer Software’ window will now open up. If the printer already has the software installed from the manufacturer, click on the ‘Have Disk’ option and insert the CD or DVD into the drive. When prompted, choose the recommended settings for the print driver. Otherwise, click on the ‘Windows Update’ option in this window and wait for the Windows Update window to open. Click on the ‘Product List’ tab and select the printer from the list. Click ‘OK’ and install all recommended updates for the printer. Wait for the installation process to finish and click ‘Finish’. The printer software is now successfully installed.
5. Testing the Printer Driver
To test the newly installed printer driver, print a test page. To do this, open the Printers and Faxes window again and right-click on the printer icon. From the drop-down menu, select ‘Print Test Page’ option. This will print a test page showing the various details of the printer’s configuration. If the test page is correctly printed, the printer driver is correctly installed.
If you encounter any problems while installing or uninstalling the printer driver, contact the printer manufacturer for support. Be prepared to provide the model and serial number of the printer to the customer service representative, as well as the operating system of the computer.