Windows 8.1 works very neatly with printers (and other network devices) in a way that no other version of Windows has done before. If these devices exist and Windows 8.1 sees them on the network, installation will occur automatically.
This means that the first time you try to print a document, you will most likely see that your network printer is already in the list. Windows 8.1 uses Windows Update to search for the necessary drivers and install devices in the background. Typically, you simply connect your printer, and Windows 8.1 itself takes care of the installation.
However, Windows 8.1 will not be able to install a printer if its drivers are not included in Windows 8.1 or are not available through Windows Update. In this case, you will need to uninstall and reinstall the printer. In Windows 8.1, there are two main ways to set up printers and other devices, the easiest of which is through PC Settings. Open PC Settings and go to PC and Devices, then Devices. Here you will see a list of all installed devices, but at the top of the window there is an “Add device” button. Clicking or tapping this button causes Windows 8.1 to automatically detect new hardware.
Installing new printers in PC settings.
If you want more control over your printer installation, or if your printer is not detected in PC Settings, you can open the Devices and Printers panel. Enter “devices” on the start screen and view all found devices and printers in the search results.
Devices and Printers window.
Attention. To remove a printer or other device from the Devices and Printers panel (possibly because the driver did not install properly), right-click the device and select the Remove Device option.
There are two ways to add printers in Windows 8.1, in the "Devices and Printers" panel. Click on the "Add device" link on the toolbar at the top of the window, or select "Add a printer", both methods work.
Initially, these options work the same, although they look slightly different. Both search options for network printers and other devices will show them. Their main difference is in installing the driver for the hardware.
Dialog box for adding devices and printers in Windows 8.1.
Add a printer using "Add Printer".
In the Add Devices dialog box, Windows 8.1 installs what it believes is the best driver available for that hardware.
Attention. If Windows 8.1 previously found your printer on its own and installed it with the wrong driver, it will reinstall the same wrong driver.
If the printer is not automatically found, click on the link “What to do if Windows does not detect the device”, a help window will open which will tell you how to solve this problem.
The second option, the Add Printer dialog box, is perhaps the most useful method for installing all but the most difficult printers.
If the printer is not automatically found, you can click on “My printer is not listed” and activate additional device installation options.
Add a printer manually.
The Add Printer window has the following options:
- You can add a printer by its network name (usually provided by the IT department).
- You can add a printer by its IP address (discovered in a minute).
- You can add a printer via Bluetooth.
- You can configure the printer manually, depending on the port location.
Attention. If you need to find the IP address of a wireless printer, this can be done in the settings of the printer itself, on its display. For the exact method of obtaining the IP address, refer to your printer's user manual.
All other things being equal, most likely you do not know the IP address or network name of the printer. The fastest way to solve this problem is to look at the printer configuration on another computer. This can be done in "Devices and Printers" (in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1). Right-click on the desired printer and select "Printer Properties". Under the "Ports" tab you will see the printer address.
Changing the printer address.
Attention. For example, you want to add an older device in parallel. By selecting "Adding a local printer or network printer with manual settings" you can select an LPT port for it.
On a home or small business network, finding the printer's IP is easier, although the actual method depends on your router. The following steps describe the general approach:
- Open Internet Explorer.
- Access your router's login by entering 192.168.0.1 (sometimes 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.2.1) and pressing "Enter".
- Log into your router with your username and password (if they are still the factory ones, they should be changed!).
- Find LAN settings.
- Open Ethernet settings.
- Find the name of your network printer; its IP address is displayed as shown in the figure.
View the printer's IP address on the network.
Attention. Let's say you need to reset your router. In this case, uninstall and reinstall the printer on all your computers again, since Windows binds the driver to a specific IP address. To get around this problem, you can set the printer with a static IP address in the router settings.
Even though support for Windows 8 has officially ended, many users of this operating system continue to encounter various problems. This article is intended to help find the answer to the question of why Windows 8 does not see the printer.
Setting details
As in any other business, the improvement of any software implies the presence of some advantages over previous versions. But optimizing the operating system is a rather troublesome and costly undertaking, both in terms of time, effort and financial component.
In any case, Microsoft is trying very hard to ensure that the final result of its work falls within the framework of the above-mentioned rule, but what it actually accomplished is worth considering in more detail.
So, most printers can be divided into two large groups, which differ only in the type of connection:
- Wired.
- Wireless.
Also, regardless of the connection method, there is another gradation of these devices. This gradation implies the method of their use:
- Local.
- Network.
Each of the two pairs of varieties can be used in any order, which means that, for example, a network printer can be configured both wired and wireless.
To fully understand why the printer does not install on Windows 8, each of the two possible types of local connection method mentioned will be described separately.
The network branch will not be considered here, since, firstly, its setup is the work of the system administrator, and, secondly, to explain the intricacies of this type of installation, a large amount of auxiliary information is required.
Local wired printer
The most commonly used option for operating equipment of this type. As the name implies, information is transferred between the device and the computer using a special cable that comes with the printing machine. Thanks to unification and standardization, the connection interface is represented by a USB bus, although there are also more specific and frankly proprietary options.
It is worth noting that when you first connect, the operating system will be busy automatically searching for drivers, but you should not rely on them too much. To set up the connection, you should use the CD that comes with your printing equipment. 
Often, so that the client does not have any problems during setup, the installer has both text and visual design, and therefore you just need to follow the prompts accurately and carefully. Even such a small thing as refusing to print a demo sheet can force Windows to refuse to “see” the printer, in which case you will have to start all over again.
The most common reason why users may have problems is inattention. An incorrect procedure for connecting or turning on the gadget during initial setup can significantly increase the time spent on adjustment, as well as effort and nerves. Therefore, be careful and take your time. If necessary, drivers can be downloaded from the official website of the device manufacturer.
Local wireless
Here, almost everything is the same, only without any material connections. The main difference is the use of components of a different type. Accordingly, the map of information movement between devices changes.
The smartest thing to do is to use the accompanying CD and follow the instructions of the assistant program, but there are alternative options, for example, you can use the operating system's feature, the Add New Hardware Wizard.
Windows 8 does not see the printer: Video
If you can't get your printer to work with the new Windows 8, there are a few things you can try. As with all new updates, printers and Windows 8 may have compatibility issues. You can resolve these issues by following the steps below.
Before you get too technical, I would recommend looking at your connections first. Every expert will tell you that the cords are secure and everything is plugged in correctly. If that's not the problem, I'd say you might have a driver issue.
Installing the Printer Driver
Many older printers and Windows 8 are not compatible at first. This is because the printer is using a driver that does not recognize the new operating system. A driver literally makes your printer work with your computer. It recognizes Windows commands to get the job done. You may have to look for updates before your printer works.
Check your printer manufacturer's website for updates. Even if your printer is an older version, the manufacturer may have an update for your printer and Windows 8. You will need your printer's model number visible on the front.
HP Printer Driver Location
You can also look at your computer manufacturer's website for drivers for various devices, including your printer. To do this, you'll need your PC's model number, which is usually located on the back or bottom. Finally, it will update your old, non-working printer driver to the latest possible version, which can often include Windows 8 compatibility.
Running in compatibility mode
Another problem I have found with printers and Windows 8 is that even with the correct driver, the driver refuses to install. To get it to work, you may need to convince it that it works with Windows 7. To do this, you will need to run in compatibility mode.
- Once you find the driver you need, you will need to right-click on the " Settings" for driver
- Click " Properties" .
- Go to the tab Compatibility
- In the second section, you will see a box that says “Run this program in compatibility mode for” with a drop-down list. Make sure the box says Windows 7 even if you have Windows 8
- Select field
- Click Apply
Runs on Windows 7 for compatibility
Connecting to a Windows 8 system
You may have more than one computer and need to connect them together. If your printer is already connected to an older machine, you will simply need to connect it to your new Windows 8 PC. To do this, go to the Control Panel on your Windows 8 computer to create a HomeGroup.
- Click " Settings"
- Click " Change PC settings."
- Click HomeGroup
- Click " Create"
- Select the devices you want to use in HomeGroup
If HomeGroup already exists, you can get the password and join it by clicking " Join" instead of "Create" from an older machine. You will then have access to the shared printer from Windows 8.
If you are still having problems with your printer after you have installed the latest driver and run it in compatibility mode, you may need more help from Windows support.
It happens more and more often that old, reliable and completely working equipment, such as a printer or scanner, can no longer be connected to a new computer due to the lack of drivers for it. What to do: throw it away, buy a new one (of unknown quality)? In this article we will tell you how you can connect any such “outdated” device to a computer running a new operating system (Windows 7, 8, 10).
In short, the situation is resolved as follows: a virtual computer is installed on our computer, with Windows XP (or another under which this equipment can work correctly), drivers are installed, and interaction is configured.
As an example, let's try to analyze step by step the connection of the Canon LBP-800 printer and the Genius ColorPage-HR6X scanner. The printer is connected to the computer using LPT, so it is advisable that the computer be equipped with the following port:
Motherboard with lpt port
If there is no such port, find out if it is possible to add it inside the system unit using a PCI-LPT card:
Let's add the missing LPT port to the computer using this board
Various USB-LPT adapters most likely will not work normally (therefore, laptop users in this case cannot count on success):
Connecting USB devices, such as the Genius ColorPage-HR6X scanner, to the virtual machine will not cause any problems.
1. Which virtual machine should I choose?
- Windows Virtual PC (XP Mode)- included in Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, does not work well with the LPT port. After updating to Windows 8 or 10, it stops working, all data from it is lost, because Microsoft decided so).
- VMware Player- free, no Russian interface, latest versions work only on 64-bit operating systems.
Oracle VM VirtualBox— free, has a Russian interface, does not support working with LPT, is a little buggy, and can sometimes freeze and turn off for unknown reasons.
2. Setting up a virtual machine
Of all the many programs, we chose VMware Player, so we will base our review on this example.
2.1. Download and install the virtual machine creation program.
2.2. We launch the program and create a virtual computer in it.
2.2.1. Create a New Virtual Machine.
2.2.2. We select the method of installing Windows: either from a disk drive, or from an image file, or later (for example, from a ready-made VMware disk image file).
2.2.3. Select the name and location of the system.
2.2.4. For the XP “virtual”, 10 GB of space is enough and, for convenience, it consists of one file.
2.2.5. Let's review the hardware of the virtual machine.
2.2.6. All the default values are fine for us, we just need to add an LPT port.
2.2.7. Select “Parallel Port” (LPT), click Next -> Next -> Finish.
2.2.8. In order to add a shared folder for exchanging information between computers, click the “Edit virtual machine settings” button:
2.2.9. Go to the Options tab, find the “Shared Folders” item, set the switch to the “Always enabled” position and check the “Map as a network drive in Windows guests” checkbox.
2.3. Install on a Windows XP virtual machine.
We launch the virtual machine, install Windows and the necessary software package.
We will most likely need only those with which we will print (or scan) here, for example: the Microsoft Office suite of office programs for recognizing scanned text, XnView to facilitate the process of scanning images.
3. Connecting an LPT device
In order to install an LPT device, like our Canon LBP-800 printer, you need to download its driver from the manufacturer's website, or insert the installation disk into the drive, and, following the manufacturer's recommendations, install it in our virtual machine.
9. Install the printer driver and check its functionality.
4. Connecting a USB device
In order to connect our Genius ColorPage-HR6X scanner (as well as any other USB device: printer, flash drive, webcam, etc.), you need to right-click on the icon of this device in the drop-down menu and click “ Connect (Diskonnect from host)"
After discovering a new device, install a driver for it, according to the recommendations of the manufacturer of this equipment.
5. Work
To print a file, you need to do the following: copy it to the exchange folder, launch a virtual computer, open this file in it, print it.
To scan something you need to: launch a virtual computer, launch a scanning program, scan (recognize text if necessary), copy the results of the work to the exchange folder. Now the results of the work can be used on the main computer.
6. Conclusions
Now old devices that are not supported by manufacturers are given a new life, and we save some money and nerves. After all, new equipment is not always better than old! True, all operations will now have to spend a little more time.
The Genius ColorPage-HR6X scanner driver for Windows 7 and older does not exist and, accordingly, it will not work on our main computer.
But for a VMware virtual machine, connecting and normal operation of outdated devices is a completely feasible task.
Wireless printing is, of course, a very convenient feature of modern printers, but, unfortunately, many have problems with the connection. How to make a printer accessible over a wireless network in? Use our tips to achieve this goal.
You are wrong to think that setting up wireless printing is just a matter of unpacking a new printer, connecting it and clicking the “Print” button in your application on your computer. Sometimes it's not as easy as it seems.
In Windows 8, you can install the printer automatically or manually. How to do this?
The first method is traditional. Open the “Control Panel”. We find there “Hardware and Sound” and select “Devices and Printers”. Click the “Add a printer” button. The “Printer Installation” window will open, in which an automatic search for connected printers will begin. Using this method, you can view the local network for the printer, connect by entering its device name, add the printer using a TCP/IP address, or connect to a network wireless printer.
Select the desired printer from the list (if there are several of them) and click the “Next” button. The printer will be installed in the system and ready for use.
The second method is very simple. Turn on the printer, open Windows Explorer and find devices that are connected to your network. Once you've selected the printer you want, you can right-click and select Connect to add it.
Method three, simple. Let's use the pop-up Charms Bar. It can be called up from any screen and at any time in Windows 8. Select “PC Settings” > “PC and devices” > “Devices” > “Add a device” ) and add a printer. To open the pop-up panel, place the cursor in the upper right or lower right corner of the screen, or press the Windows key and the C key at the same time.
All of these methods require a printer driver during installation, so it is advisable to install the drivers before connecting the printer to the computer or, depending on the instructions for the printer, after directly connecting it to the computer.
Connection problems: how to solve them
By default, the printer should appear in Windows Explorer even if you are not connected to it. If this does not happen, you can try other methods to resolve the problem. During installation, the device should display the IP address (almost all wireless printers have a small display). Use the command ping in the Windows command line (to open it, press the Windows key + R, then enter cmd and press Enter) to search for the device. You can create a static IP address. To do this, read the printer documentation on how to assign it a static IP address. If you cannot find the IP address, connect to the router (type ipconfig at the command prompt) and check the IP address for your printer. Did not help? Try rebooting or unplugging the printer for a few minutes and starting again. At the same time, you can restart Windows.
Still won't print? Place your computer and printer close to each other to ensure that the distance between them is not the problem when setting up a wireless connection. If everything works, take a few minutes to find the blind spots, i.e. places where the printer is “not visible”. If this location is critical to you and you want your printer there, consider installing a wireless repeater.
Still not working? Please use a different driver. Often printers are compatible with drivers from older models. Look for a driver for an older model with similar characteristics on the Internet, install it, and there is a high probability that your device will finally print a test page.
Is there an alternative to a wireless printer?
Not everyone has a wireless printer and not everyone feels the need to spend money on one if they already have a wired printer. Luckily, this doesn't mean you can't enjoy wireless printing. All you need is a device to act as a print server. This could be a website for
cloud printing, another computer, or even a USB network hub. You can also use an SD card as a disk, saving data on one device, and then print it directly from the memory card if the printer has a card reader. And finally, the printer that works on your home network under Windows 7 may also be suitable for Windows 8.
Based on materials from makeuseof.com