Printer Care
GeneralMost printers operate better if they are kept clean. Most user manuals have lists of regular maintenance tasks. On lasers this means vacuuming out the excess toner once in a while. On band printers, you need to keep the band clean and vacuum up the paper dust that accumulates.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Where can I get the Windows driver for my printer?
There are several places to look. The Microsoft web site, the printer manufacturer's web site or their bbs, some of the software archives have printer drivers for older machines.
What if they don't have driver for my specific model?
Try the driver for the previous model of your printer. Chances are your printer is backwards compatible and you'll be able to use most of the features of your printer.
What if there is no driver for my printer?
Most printers emulate some major manufacturer's printer. Try the driver for the printer that you're emulating.
Why do most printers emulate some major manufacturer's printer?
This is so their printer can be used by existing software without needing special drivers. You can use the driver for the printer that the printer emulates.
What's the best driver to use for my daisy wheel printer?
The generic/text only driver is usually the best choice since you can't change fonts on the fly and can't print graphics.
Is there a driver available to let me use my Windows-only printer under another operating system?
No. Windows-only printers only print under Windows. Instead of having a controller implemented in hardware like most printers, these printers have a software controller that only runs under Windows.
Why isn't my printer working under Win95 when it used to work under Win 3.x?
Check your parallel port settings. If they're set to EPP or ECP, change it to Standard. These modes weren't really supported under Win 3.x.
Other sources of information
Ask a tech.
Dataco DeRex Tech Support
Is there a printer question that is bothering you? Write us and we'll try to help you.