Share via

Laptop detects scanner but not printer

Anonymous
2021-12-11T16:18:07+00:00

I have an old Canon MP250 multifunction printer/scanner. I haven't used it in ages.... I wanted to scan something so I plugged it in and connected it up to my laptop (running Windows 10) via USB, and had no issues - I used Windows Fax/Scan to scan a document. But when I wanted to print something, the printer is not showing up in the list of printers from any piece of software. When I go to Control Panel, Devices and Printers, I have an MP250 series scanner listed under "Devices", but not under "Printers". If I choose to add a printer, no printer is found. I downloaded the latest drivers from the Canon website and went through the installation process - which stalled at the stage where it tries to find the connected printer. Any suggestions? The black ink indicator on the printer is flashing, but surely that shouldn't prevent the printer from being found?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Devices and drivers

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

3 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2021-12-11T18:27:17+00:00

    Thanks for the suggestions.

    In the end, I went to "Devices and Printers" in Control Panel and chose "Add Printer". When no printer was found, I chose "The printer that I want isn't listed", then "Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings", then chose as the port "USB001 (Virtual printer port)" and a box came up listing my printer. I selected it and was told there is an existing driver installed, so I chose to use that and Voila - printer is installed. I guess I should have tried this before.

    100+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2021-12-11T16:59:09+00:00

    Good Day Rbbjhb,

    My name is Carlo, I am also using Windows 10 pc and community member like you. Let us work together to sort this out.

    Here's the steps you can try.

    -Press Windows key + X

    -Go to Settings

    -Click Update and Security

    -Click Troubleshooter then Additional troubleshooter.

    -Look for Printer and run the troubleshooter.

    Restart print spooler service.

    -Press Windows key + R

    -Type Services.msc and hit enter

    -Look for Print Spooler service

    • Stop the service

    Once done proceed with these steps.

    -Press Windows key + R

    -Copy and paste this in the the run box and hit enter.

    C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS

    Delete all the files in that folder.

    Now proceed with these steps.

    -Press Windows key + R

    -Type Services.msc and hit enter

    -Look for Print Spooler service

    • Restart the service

    -Press Windows key + X

    -Go to Device Manager

    -Expand the Printer

    -Look for Printer driver that was installed

    -Right click and Update

    -Look for "Browse my computer for driver

    -Let me pick drivers available drivers

    -Choose an old driver and use it.

    Restart and check he Printer.

    If issue persists,proceed with these steps.

    -Press Windows key + X

    -Go to Device Manager

    -Expand the Printer

    -Look for Printer driver that was installed

    -Right click and Uninstall

    Once uninstalled , go to this link below and download and install the driver

    https://pdisp01.c-wss.com/gdl/WWUFORedirectTarg...

    Once downloaded and installed restart your computer and check .

    I hope the information above helps. Please let me know how it goes.

    Have a wonderful day ahead and stay safe.

    Sincerely,

    Carlo T.

    Standard Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2021-12-11T16:31:38+00:00

    You can remove all ink and it would still be detected if there are compatible drivers.

    Looks like the MP250 has Windows 10 drivers but its from 2015. Windows 10 has had major versions since then that can mess up certain things.

    Sadly it has no LAN port which would have been an alternative.

    So it looks like you either need to find a compatible driver or somehow get one, need to update Windows further (or have a Windows installation problem), or need to use an older Windows in a VM maybe. The USB cable appears to be working fine so its probably going to be one of these options.

    I would suggest making sure Windows is fully up-to-date first. I'd put Windows installation problem as probably not it. So that would leave trying to get a driver or finding a workaround like installing an older OS in a VM (some others are hacked drivers if available, random other driver working, Linux). Compatibility settings could in theory work on the driver install but I'm thinking not. Not likely to be anything else except buying another printer or whatever but you could test it on a test Windows 10 clean OS install which would completely rule in or out the OS and get it working if it just unlikely happens to.

    6 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments