View Full Version : Computer guys Windows 8 help please
I have a Designjet 488ca plotter plugged in to a desktop on a shared network. I recently got a new laptop with Windows 8. HP does not have drivers for my plotter for 8. My computer can see the plotter, but cannot connect. I am not computer smart at all. Any way I can make it work?
wish i could help but windows 8 is kicking my ass as well
gnihcraes
01-12-2013, 09:37
I haven't experienced windows 8 yet, but possibly the windows 7 driver would still work on 8.
Look here it appears there is an 8 driver?
http://xpdrivers.com/printer/hewlett-packard/designjet/488ca/_5_447.cfm
I haven't experienced windows 8 yet, but possibly the windows 7 driver would still work on 8.
Look here it appears there is an 8 driver?
http://xpdrivers.com/printer/hewlett-packard/designjet/488ca/_5_447.cfm
That is misleading. That is not a driver, but a driver tool that wants you to pay $30 for. Not an actual driver. I already downloaded it thats how I know
KestrelBike
01-12-2013, 09:56
Have you tried just installing the win7 drivers from HP's website?
gnihcraes
01-12-2013, 10:02
Have you tried just installing the win7 drivers from HP's website?
and that was going to be my first suggestion, but I looked first and found the other thing which isn't any good it appears.
Holger Danske
01-12-2013, 10:09
try thr win7 driver and contact hp support about a win8 driver.
Have you tried just installing the win7 drivers from HP's website?
Only goes to Windows XP
KestrelBike
01-12-2013, 10:27
Only goes to Windows XP
And that's what you've tried but it doesn't connect? Have you tried HP software suite that should have come on a disk w the computer? How old is that printer, anyways?
And that's what you've tried but it doesn't connect? Have you tried HP software suite that should have come on a disk w the computer? How old is that printer, anyways?
Those plotters are older. It has to be connected via parallel port
KestrelBike
01-12-2013, 11:02
Go to control panel --> Devices and Printers --> Add a Printer --> Scroll down to HP --> hit the "Windows Update" button to let the list of HP drivers update/repopulate --> Obviously your Designjet 488CA is not on the list, however I'd try to install either the Designjet 500 drivers. If that doesn't work, you can try random DJ drivers to see if any of them work. Blame HP.
It is looking for an .INF file
I'm avoiding Vista II (Windows 8). I believe it's a huge mistake and I don't expect Windows 9 to be anything like it. Windows 7 is the new XP. ;)
HP ends support for products after a few years. Technology moves forward and it's difficult to find a computer that still has a parallel interface. Their answer would be to buy a new plotter.
You could try a Vista driver to see if Windows 8 can do anything with it; http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware/driver-for-hp-designjet-488ca/1abf6e67-5f69-4caa-97f3-8f4d3ca5acb5
KestrelBike
01-12-2013, 12:39
I'm avoiding Vista II (Windows 8). I believe it's a huge mistake and I don't expect Windows 9 to be anything like it. Windows 7 is the new XP. ;)
HP ends support for products after a few years. Technology moves forward and it's difficult to find a computer that still has a parallel interface. Their answer would be to buy a new plotter.
You could try a Vista driver to see if Windows 8 can do anything with it; http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-hardware/driver-for-hp-designjet-488ca/1abf6e67-5f69-4caa-97f3-8f4d3ca5acb5
This would be my second suggestion (finding/using a vista driver). When you said it's "looking for a .inf file", did you click "Have Disk"? Don't do that, after doing the "Windows Update" option, click on the driver you want to try, then "Next".
The drivers you get from Windows Update are provided by the OEMs. HP doesn't have one for the OS.
JohnnyEgo
01-12-2013, 13:26
If you have Win7 Pro, you can push a copy of XP mode on to Windows 8. As an alternative, you can run XP in virtual with something like VMWare. I was doing this to run an old NEC SS870 printer with a parallel port interface in Windows 7, and some older circuit simulation software. With the later, you can set it up so that it is seamless to the end-user. It's not necessarily complicated to do either, but if you are afraid to mess with your computer, I'd ask a niece/nephew/reasonably tech savvy friend to help you out.
Windows 8 sucks balls. That is all.
KestrelBike
01-12-2013, 21:09
Windows 8 sucks balls. That is all.
hahah pretty much end of thread right there. I'd pay the $120 or whatever for a win7 license and "downgrade".
Byte Stryke
01-12-2013, 21:14
you guys haven't learned the MS rule of Odd/even yet?
[facepalm]
95
98
2K
ME
XP
Vista
Win7
Win8
Green=Good
Red=Bad
You can either print from a WinXP/7 enviorment or the replace the printer. As good as it was, it is actually end of life end of service product.
ezgoinrob
01-12-2013, 23:26
Try running the install in compatability mode. I played with Win 8 and from my understanding it is 64bit.. most "normal" stuff out there is 32bit.. had ALOT of issues installing programs for work.. finally reverted back to Win7. Try compatability mode in XP SP3.
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