Faulty Printer? If you plug a USB printer in, will XP detect it without drivers?

NeilF · 14 Aug 2010 at 10:15

My mum's PC cannot see her printer, so I want to work out if the PC or printer is at fault.

If I take a laptop down to her house, and plug the printer in via USB, XP (on the laptop) should see the printer immediately shouldn't it? (If it's working of course?!)

So if it's not detected the printer is at fault? If it does see it, then my mother's PC is at fault?

MeatLoaf · 14 Aug 2010 at 10:18

It should do then it should pop the box up asking for drivers

Tealc · 14 Aug 2010 at 10:20

Your laptop will/should detect there's something on the end of the USB regardless of drivers. It may not work out what it is but it'll have some info from the printer along the USB lead.

NeilF · 14 Aug 2010 at 12:05

Tealc said:
Your laptop will/should detect there's something on the end of the USB regardless of drivers. It may not work out what it is but it'll have some info from the printer along the USB lead.

Cheers! There seems to be no coms at all between my mums machine and the printer (any more)...

beefybarn · 14 Aug 2010 at 12:26

Try using a different usb lead as well, have had a faulty one in the past.

NeilF · 14 Aug 2010 at 17:22

Will do... It was working though...

NeilF · 16 Aug 2010 at 10:46

Noticed in Device Manager a USB driver listed with a red cross! Uninstalled it... Rebooted, USB redetected and printer now works!