The Plotter Princess Blog -- All about the older HP Designjet plotter

Windows 7 - WIN7 - Yes You Can Use It with Your Old Designjet!

4/14/2013

One of the most common questions I'm asked is whether these old Designjets can be used with Windows 7. It seems that people can't find the driver and get all freaked out thinking that there is no driver. HP doesn't list a driver, so what should you do?
Good News - The driver already is loaded in Windows 7! But it is hidden, so you'll have to find it. On your computer go to START, DEVICES AND PRINTERS, ADD A PRINTER, ADD A LOCAL PRINTER, CHOOSE A PORT (LPT1 if you are connecting through a parallel printer cable and VIRTUAL USB if you are connecting through a USB to Parallel cable.)

Now you'll be presented with the list of printer companies, choose HP -- In the box to the right side is a list of all the HP printers...Here's the hitch...the Designjets are NOT listed in alphabetical order, instead they were added as an afterthought and are on the very bottom of the listings. So scroll to the bottom and you'll see the driver you need.

If you get a warning about the driver not being "digitally signed" ignore it and install the driver...it came from HP so it is ok!

TAA-DAA!!

13 Comments

Gord M

1/9/2014 05:22:25 am

No "designjet" selection appears in my drop-down menu

Plotter Princess link

1/9/2014 06:02:26 am

If it isn't there, you should go to www.microsoft.com and install all Win7 updates that are available...it is in one of the updates. After that restart your computer and it will show up.

Gord M

1/9/2014 08:13:09 am

Thanks.

Gord M

1/9/2014 10:25:54 am

I was successful in updated the printer list but keep getting the same error message "Printer driver was not installed. Operation could not be completed (error 0x00000057)

Gord M

1/9/2014 10:27:14 am

I was successful in updated the printer list but keep getting the same error message "Printer driver was not installed. Operation could not be completed (error 0x00000057)

Gord M

1/9/2014 10:27:26 am

I was successful in updated the printer list but keep getting the same error message "Printer driver was not installed. Operation could not be completed (error 0x00000057)

Gord M

1/9/2014 10:27:37 am

I was successful in updated the printer list but keep getting the same error message "Printer driver was not installed. Operation could not be completed (error 0x00000057)

Plotter Princess

1/9/2014 10:54:55 am

Delete the one that shows on your list of installed printers. (START>PRINTERS> then right click on any icon that names your plotter. Now turn OFF any anti virus or anti spyware programs in the lower right hand corner of your home screen (again, right click and exit the program or QUIT) -- Now with the plotter disconnected from the computer -- reinstall the plotter/printer/driver (START>PRINTERS>ADD A PRINTER) and when it warns you that the driver isn't signed ignore it and tell the computer to install it anyway.

niknsvilks

7/17/2014 05:39:33 am

I found Designjet 450c driver in windows drop-down menu as described above when installed Win 7 x64 and DesignJet 450c about a year ago. Today I tried to do it again on a fresh Win 7 but could not find it on the drop-menu even after starting the windows driver update. It is gone! What could be the problem?
Thanks!

Mike

12/14/2015 03:27:52 am

Driver signing is enforced on x64 Windows 7 from day one. Microsoft does not ship unsigned drivers in Windows 7 x64. In your screenshot you have a blank next to the printer names instead of a little certificate icon. I don't have any unsigned printer drivers on my Windows 7 x64, and no DesignJet models at all under HP.

Are you sure you didn't take that screenshot on a 32-bit version of Windows? There is no driver signature enforcement on 32-bit versions of Windows, though I'm skeptical that Microsoft would ship unsigned drivers anyway though.

Humphrey

12/28/2015 09:08:16 am

I was unable to get any driver for the DesignJet 350c, even after clicking on "windows update" (got a whole bunch of DesignJet drivers for W7, the 350c was just not one of them). How did you manage to get it on your sceen shot? Is there a way you could save it and post it somewhere? Many thanks in advance, Humphrey

Gord M

12/28/2015 10:09:19 am

I gave up and got a new Win 7 compatible model.
Sorry, can't remember any of the details.

Humphrey

12/28/2015 10:36:42 am

Thanks Gord for your answer... Hopefully the Plotter Princess will be able to clarify.

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Windows 7 - WIN7 - Yes You Can Use It with Your Old Designjet!

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Categories

Our Mission is to Help you continue to use your older HP Designjet Plotter!

please consider donating to help defray costs!

leave a review on the REVIEW page.

Thanks!

Contact the princess at
651-247-3022

Windows 7 - WIN7 - Yes You Can Use It with Your Old Designjet!

Leave a Reply.

Buy designjet Ink & supplies here!

Categories

Our Mission is to Help you continue to use your older HP Designjet Plotter!​please consider donating to help defray costs!leave a review on the REVIEW page.​Thanks!

Contact the princess at​651-247-3022

Our Mission is to Help you continue to use your older HP Designjet Plotter!

please consider donating to help defray costs!

leave a review on the REVIEW page.

Thanks!

Contact the princess at
651-247-3022