My new HP laptop won't recognize my older HP printer.

[Grasswire2]

I understand this is a problem because of windows 10. I have given up trying to make them communicate, and plan to buy a new printer.

HOWEVER.

How can I know in advance if a new printer is going to communicate with my HP windows 10?

And why in hell am I forced to buy ink in advance? I don't use much.

[Grasswire2]

1. thanks in advance -- really appreciate your help in this group. nt

[msongs]

2. try this hp support website...

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04658195

[hlthe2b]

12. Yes.. HP should be able to provide you the drivers that Windows 10 is not finding

and if not HP support is your best bet

ON EDIT: I see downstream you've already done this. Sorry!

[CentralMass]

3. Do you have the printer model number and name ?

[Grasswire2]

4. yep, and it's not on the list at the HP help site.

HP Officejet 6500A

We downloaded the driver, but it never would recognize the wireless connection. It's above my pay grade, but I had someone here who knows what to do, and couldn't make them communicate.

I'm not opposed to buying a new printer, but I see many complaints on the Internet about the same problem that others have had.

[LuvLoogie]

6. Is the printer already connected to your wireless signal?

Is your laptop connected to the same wireless signal?

[Grasswire2]

10. yes

But the laptop does not recognize the printer as connected. Or something. There's just a glitch between them.

[CentralMass]

7. Have you looked at howto videos like the one below.

Sorry, wrong link.
Try this one.

All this print service does look good.
https://www.supportvideos.ext.hp.com/detail/video/2662631891001/setting-up-hp-connected-%E2%80%93-hp-officejet-6500a-e-all-in-one-printer

This

[Grasswire2]

11. all done

but it still doesn't work.

And someone much smarter than I am tried.

[CentralMass]

15. Ok. These things can be a real pain

[Dan]

8. Go to HP site

and see if your printer has new drivers that work with Windows 10. Download and install per instructions if they do.

[cayugafalls]

9. Printer appears to be over 5 years old.

They really don't make printers to last that long. Especially since you can buy a printer for less than the cost of the ink cartridges. As operating systems evolve obsolescence is built in for some printers and devices.

I think getting a new printer is the way to go. I have old printers connected to older PC's running Windows 7 Pro and they still work fine, and we connect via the network to print, but not everyone is a computer geek that has multiple PC's running or a server and all that other stuff.

[Ron Obvious]

14. You consider a 5 year old printer to be old, seriously?

I have an HP laserjet 4p from the early 90s that still works great. Sometimes you have to manually install a driver.

The printers from that era rarely need to change cartridges as well.

[cayugafalls]

16. Seriously. I too have hp laserjet printers from that era and agree they are made well.

Unfortunately, the all in one printer mentioned is prone to problems even when it was new. All in one printers were made very cheaply to satisfy a niche in the home consumer market that wanted a cheap printer that did everything. Hence the quality of the components suffered, including, but not limited to the wireless module installed in the printer. Newer wireless routers may have issues with the cheap modules installed, heck, the routers of the time had problems with that module.

Thanks for your comment.

[Ron Obvious]

17. We're in agreement.

Planned obsolescence is the enemy for all sorts of reasons. I've never seen a company go downhill faster in that regard than HP.

My HP OfficeJet 95 (fax, printer, scanner, copier) still works great too, but the colour cartridges in particular do need to be changed from time to time, and they're difficult to find. My source for having them refilled has sadly gone out of business a few years ago. I might have to try filling them myself in future once my one remaining spare runs out.

I really detest planned obsolescence. My phone is from 2008, my microwave from 1988 (repaired once), washer and dryer from 1993 (still work great), my TV from 2011 (had the infamous capacitor problem which I fixed myself for ~$12, disregarding the admonishment to "just buy a new one" from the dealer).

Hell, my Kaypro II from 1982 still works and more than 90% of the 5.25" floppies are still perfectly readable.

We need stronger regulations and "right to repair" laws in this country for starters.

[cayugafalls]

18. That Kaypro II tickles me. I have lots of old tech as well!

My Sinclair ZX81 still has a working thermal printer, I'm kind of dating myself...lol.

That OfficeJet 95 is a beast and was a great small business unit back in the day. Built really well and meant to last. It is the main reason why HP discontinued support of that model, to increase sales of newer units as people who had the 95 were reluctant to upgrade.

The main problem with repairs is that most times the skill required to desolder a capacitor from a board and install a new one is beyond the skills of most "repair" techs. Heck most techs can't even identify which capacitor needs replacing.