De- Crapify Your Windows Printer or Scanner Setup. Your printer's manufacturer doesn't want you to use your printer to just print and scan. They want to install bloated apps, eat memory, and to constantly nag you for more ink. Trim your printer setup to the minimum with this five- step guide. Image via Kevin Cortopassi. Mac owners and brave Linux adherents don't really need this guide.
Experts Exchange > Questions > Fujitsu 4120C not scanning in Color on. Fujitsu 4120C not scanning in Color on Windows 7.
Oversized, heavily branded printer software does exist for Mac platforms, but you can use most any printer by simply plugging it in and hitting Command- P in an app. Linux, for the most part, works the same way, with the essential driver bits baked into the core of the system.
That leaves Windows. A hardware driver is supposed to be a simple, mostly hidden interface, but the majority of printer installation packages. You'll likely find one or more apps running that do nothing more than wait for a printer or scanner to be connected, then somehow pop up and do, well, something. Some printer makers step a bit further, installing toolbars in your browser for supposed . You don't want remnants of other drivers and software hanging around when you start over. Hit your Start menu, select the Control Panel, then click .
- HP Scanjet - Scanner driver and software support for Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Windows 8 - HP Scanning software. HP Partner First program.
- In Windows 7, if the HP software. Scanning from an HP Printer in Windows with HP Scan.
- FreeOCR is an optical. FreeOCR is a free Optical Character Recognition Software for Windows and supports scanning from most.
For Seniors: Browse Windows 7 Help. Windows 7 Para Dummies. Windows 7 Just the Steps For Dummies. By letting the computer know what you’re scanning. How to open Windows 8.1 Fax and Scan, to scan and fax the documents (access, run, find)? Program on Windows 8.1 for scanning to scan a Windows 8.1 document? Windows Fax and Scan is an integrated faxing and scanning application included in some versions of the Windows. Faxing and Scanning Windows Vista Features. Problems with Scanning. Some application program does not display. The scanner may not be recognized when you have upgraded your Windows OS to Windows.
You might be surprised at all the stuff that's there. Click each item, starting with the most primary- sounding item, and hit . You may also have to restart your system once or twice, too, and maybe immediately. When I was cleaning up my system's printer setup, HP's software didn't really give me a choice.
Note: If you're using Windows XP or a similarly older version, I recommend using Revo Uninstaller, especially its portable (a. It's not quite as necessary with Windows Vista/7, but it's still a pretty good app, despite how buried the free version is on Revo's web site these days. Step Two: Try Windows Update First. Power up your printer and plug its USB cord into your computer while Windows is running. Microsoft has a pretty extensive library of printer drivers, especially for popular printers that aren't brand- new, and if your system is connected to the web, Windows might be able to automatically download and install a driver.
It could just be the same kind of plus- sized installation, too, but installing through Windows gives you access to regular, automatic updates. If you luck out with Windows' automatic installation, skip ahead to the Cleaning Out Auto- Starters section. Step Three: Grab the Latest from the Web. If Windows can't fix up your printer automatically, head to your manufacturer's web page, then look at the top of the page for the . You'll be asked to enter in your model number, then likely pick which version of Windows you're running (Unsure? Click the second question here).
More than anything, be on the lookout for a more stripped- down version of your printer driver. You may be out of luck, like me, and be stuck with a 2. MB download. Hold your nose, click to save it, and grab yourself a coffee while it downloads. Step Four: Cut Down the Cruft. That coffee wasn't a cheap transition. You'll want to be paying attention when you install your software. I've installed my own HP printer drivers at least a dozen times, and I just noticed for the first time that I could limit the software it installs.
It's a blue link that looks like part of a license agreement (see in the image above). Look for them and use them if you can, keeping only the most basic software.
Hopefully they're labeled as such. Now that we know it's installed and operational, let's scale things back. Head first to your Startup folder in your Start menu (Programs/All Programs- > Startup), which is the nicest way software can suggest you run something on your computer automatically.
In my case, my printer isn't always connected to my main laptop, and even if it was, I'm only scanning things occasionally. Right- click on the entry in the Startup folder and hit Delete. You didn't delete the program, just the shortcut, so you can always add it back if it's useful.
Now we're going to check out what other goodies our printer people asked our system to automatically start each time. Open your Start menu and enter msconfig and press Enter (on Windows XP, enter msconfig into the .
Click on over to the Startup tab. Look through this list for your printer's manufacturer. It's never good to make bold pronouncements about computer issues, but I can say that I've never encountered a situation where a computer needed some kind of auto- starting, printer- related app to print. When it's time to print, your app contacts the driver, which feeds the printer, and your paper comes off the roller. When you're done, hit ?
Note the name of the application, usually ending with . You'll likely find it there, along with a letter- coded recommendation on whether you need to keep it running or not: N, U, and X are safe to un- check in your msconfig window. Step Five: Install Great, Lightweight Alternatives for Scanning and Photo Editing. If you've installed the basic printer and scanner driver for your system, that's all you really need to actually print and scan. Printer makers offer you scanning apps, maybe the kind that auto- load when you lift your scanner cover, and image/photo editing tools, but you've probably never heard any tech blog rave about such an app's greatness. Scanning (and Faxing) /: 1. I asked on Twitter for recommendations on alternative apps for scanning, and got quite a few responses.
I'm also a little embarassed to admit that I didn't realize that Windows Fax and Scan was available in all versions of Windows 7, and the Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate editions of Windows Vista. It's a pretty straightforward tool for simply grabbing a document from your scanner, saving it to your hard drive, and getting on with your life. It can also handle faxes, if your system is set up with a phone connection. Twitter user hqraja suggested Free. Kapture, as well.
But the majority of respondents noted that their favorite image editing apps? We like Free. OCR for its serious simplicity (Direct download link here). Readers also responded with suggestions for Simple. OCR. Windows only: Your scanner probably came with OCR software.
Chances are, though, it's both. Picasa is a great tool for editing, red- eye- reducing, cropping, and emailing or backing up photos, as we suggested in a feature on setting up your folks.
If you wanted a more straight- ahead editing tool, Paint. Long gone are the days where snapshots came back from the photo lab and disappeared into albums and . If you've done your own printer purge and have further tips, we'll gladly hear them in the comments.