HP has revealed it expects to release Windows 7 drivers for its printers soon, as there are currently no compatible drivers.
HP is recommending that some of its newer products should be used with Windows 7, which was released on October 22. Unfortunately, for some people that will mean buying a new printer.
"Older products may have limited driver support, limited features or both," said HP's website that provides a list of products that either do have drivers available or will soon.
"If your legacy product is not listed, no support is offered for Windows 7."
Users have been griping on HP forums about the driver situation for months. In some cases, HP is not developing drivers for products that did have drivers for Windows Vista, Windows 7's predecessor.
"According to HP's compatibility lists, there will be no support for HP Laserjet Color 3600n under Windows 7," wrote user FastasFlash200 in September.
"Is this really true and if so, for heaven's sake why? We bought this device not so long ago for our small business office and waited desperately for upgrading computers and devices to Windows 7, but it seems HP won't support this."
Another user wrote that his LaserJet 3600 has a manufacture date of June 2008. "I'm going to make a big stink to everyone," said another forum user early last month.
The delay with the drivers HP is building "really has to do with making sure that all the drivers work smoothly for the customers who make the Windows 7 change", according to a spokeswoman on behalf of the company.
"HP worked with Microsoft to make sure that the majority of current/recently launched products supported Windows 7 at launch and continues to work with them to ensure the smooth transition moving forward. "
HP isn't saying which of the absent drivers may be released first. The best advice is for consumers is to click through to the actual product page and see if one is available. At least some of the drivers should be available within a couple of weeks if not sooner, the spokeswoman said.
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See also: HP launches new print-on-demand service
Comments
raj said: i instaled windows 7 and my HP M 1522nf is not compatible how can i get the drivers for this operating system
Notrozer said: Host Based Printer Drivers such as 3600n according to my letter from hp are not supported and they have no plans to support them If you use the vista driver it ques print jobs and they never happen Thanks a Lot Hp For being a AHole
G M DOODY said: I wasted at least 8 hours yesterday including two lengthy visits to the HP Help Chat Line plus emails unanswered to HP customer services trying to download a Windows 7 driver for a Deskjet F2180 but I had no success I went through the download process several times and was informed that it had been successfully installed A no time was I told that it did not exist Does it exist and the time was completely wasted when I had better things to do I still dont know if there is or is not a driver available or likely to become available soon
jeldonh said: I own several newer HP printers Lasers and All-in-ones I also have several HP Desktops in my small home business HP is negligent and proves it cares nothing about users Windows 7 launch was known months ago and HP needed to have drivers ready What is going on I also have a full time Systems Administrator job and buy hundreds of printers each year I have always bought HPsno moreI am buying printers from manufacturers who had drivers ready My home business is suffering from no support from HP They will not get the chance to support me in the future HP products are off my list I could understand if my printers were out of date they are not all are less than a year old HP took a giant dump on its customers Users should think twice before buying HP again
KGP said: I should jollywell expect it to include the Laserjet II driver And III and IV As these are generic emulation drivers for the corresponding versions of PCL Thus if your printer isnt in the list then at least you can still print by using the appropriate generic emulation PCL driver
jtt said: I notice that theres a driver for the HP laserjet II That printer must have been available in the late 1980s - very impressive that HP have a Windows 7 driver for it