ARGH. so i just bought a new printer that only apparently works with os x 10.5 and up. the hp people said i won't find printers that work with 10.4 any more bc apple is not continuing with support for this os. can i update the os on skinny's laptop?
Did you try to just plug it in? Don't install any software, just plug it in. I'll bet it works. Often when they say "it doesn't work with" they just mean "we won't provide you phone tech support for that configuration". I would be very surprised if it didn't work. What's the model number?
i just tried that - with a plug from a different printer, it didn't even come with a plug, and every time i try to print one page with TEST on it it keeps printing old files and gibberish.
it's an hp officejet pro 8500A
Open system preferences and select Print & Fax. On that screen click 'Open Print Queue...' (hopefully that's how it is set up on 10.4, I have a slightly more recent OS.) This should open a window where queued up print jobs would be displayed. Since you say it's printing old files maybe there is a bunch of stuff stuck in the queue. If so you can select all those old print jobs and then click delete button at top left of window.
nothing there.
Also, some product pages for that printer say it is supported by 10.4.11 or greater. If this is actually true then that's good news as you can definitely easily upgrade to 10.4.11 for free. Just open System Preferences and choose 'Software Update'. Click 'Check now' and then click to install any 10.4 OS updates (it won't show you 10.5 or 10.6 since those you would have to buy.) Could be a big download if you are on a much earlier version of 10.4 but it's something you should probably do anyway.
No, I have 10.4.11 actually. Now it's not printing anything. Shouldn't the printer come with a cord to plug to the computer or do you have to buy everything separately these days?
I would think they would come with a cable but I admit to not buying many printers so what do I know. Does seem pretty cheap to not throw it in. Especially with that printer!
When you tell it to print something it finds the printer? No complaints from the computer? But then it just doesn't print?
well, the paper was out. but it's still printing gibberish and blank pages. no more old files though. every time skinny goes away and i try to fix things, this happens.
You probably checked already, but are there any other updates in Software Update? Sometimes print driver updates will come separately from the OS updates. For instance I have an "HP Printer Software Update" waiting for me when I check.
nope. 3 other updates, but none for printers. looks like i can get snow leopard for $130? but the likelihood of me wiping out all his files is pretty high. god i hope this stuff is easy for ryley ANY DAY NOW and he can just be my in-house tech kid.
NO BODY IS TOUCHING MY COMPUTER!!!!
or maybe i should just get a new one and give this one to ryley and than give ryley's to alice
what should i buy jim??:>)
We should first try a new os. I'll back it all up no worries ;-)
sorry linda, i told you to buy this piece of crap
Well it's not the one you said, I got a different one and I Love it. Keeping it, mike can upgrade or use the old one I guess. his won't work with my computer. Typical tech issues for our house.
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- linda 3-08-2011 6:47 pm
Did you try to just plug it in? Don't install any software, just plug it in. I'll bet it works. Often when they say "it doesn't work with" they just mean "we won't provide you phone tech support for that configuration". I would be very surprised if it didn't work. What's the model number?
- jim 3-08-2011 6:53 pm [add a comment]
i just tried that - with a plug from a different printer, it didn't even come with a plug, and every time i try to print one page with TEST on it it keeps printing old files and gibberish.
it's an hp officejet pro 8500A
- linda 3-08-2011 7:22 pm [add a comment]
Open system preferences and select Print & Fax. On that screen click 'Open Print Queue...' (hopefully that's how it is set up on 10.4, I have a slightly more recent OS.) This should open a window where queued up print jobs would be displayed. Since you say it's printing old files maybe there is a bunch of stuff stuck in the queue. If so you can select all those old print jobs and then click delete button at top left of window.
- jim 3-08-2011 7:57 pm [add a comment]
nothing there.
- linda 3-08-2011 8:00 pm [add a comment]
Also, some product pages for that printer say it is supported by 10.4.11 or greater. If this is actually true then that's good news as you can definitely easily upgrade to 10.4.11 for free. Just open System Preferences and choose 'Software Update'. Click 'Check now' and then click to install any 10.4 OS updates (it won't show you 10.5 or 10.6 since those you would have to buy.) Could be a big download if you are on a much earlier version of 10.4 but it's something you should probably do anyway.
- jim 3-08-2011 8:01 pm [add a comment]
No, I have 10.4.11 actually. Now it's not printing anything. Shouldn't the printer come with a cord to plug to the computer or do you have to buy everything separately these days?
- linda 3-08-2011 8:35 pm [add a comment]
I would think they would come with a cable but I admit to not buying many printers so what do I know. Does seem pretty cheap to not throw it in. Especially with that printer!
When you tell it to print something it finds the printer? No complaints from the computer? But then it just doesn't print?
- jim 3-08-2011 8:49 pm [add a comment]
well, the paper was out. but it's still printing gibberish and blank pages. no more old files though. every time skinny goes away and i try to fix things, this happens.
- linda 3-08-2011 9:04 pm [add a comment]
You probably checked already, but are there any other updates in Software Update? Sometimes print driver updates will come separately from the OS updates. For instance I have an "HP Printer Software Update" waiting for me when I check.
- jim 3-08-2011 9:08 pm [add a comment]
nope. 3 other updates, but none for printers. looks like i can get snow leopard for $130? but the likelihood of me wiping out all his files is pretty high. god i hope this stuff is easy for ryley ANY DAY NOW and he can just be my in-house tech kid.
- linda 3-08-2011 10:37 pm [add a comment]
NO BODY IS TOUCHING MY COMPUTER!!!!
- Skinny 3-09-2011 7:44 pm [add a comment]
or maybe i should just get a new one and give this one to ryley and than give ryley's to alice
what should i buy jim??:>)
- Skinny 3-09-2011 7:46 pm [add a comment]
We should first try a new os. I'll back it all up no worries ;-)
- linda 3-10-2011 2:06 am [add a comment]
sorry linda, i told you to buy this piece of crap
- loserlaurie (guest) 3-11-2011 1:31 am [add a comment] [edit]
Well it's not the one you said, I got a different one and I Love it. Keeping it, mike can upgrade or use the old one I guess. his won't work with my computer. Typical tech issues for our house.
- linda 3-11-2011 2:21 am [add a comment]