Surface X - print driver compatability

Question

I recently purchased a Surface X without fully understanding the limited number of arm64 print drivers.   In fact, I have not been able to locate any available printers with drivers that can work with arm64.   I have seen some rather confusing recommendations from tech support on this forum--I want to ask, simply, is there a list of printers that are compatible with arm64?

Answer 1

I recently purchased a Surface X without fully understanding the limited number of arm64 print drivers.   In fact, I have not been able to locate any available printers with drivers that can work with arm64.   I have seen some rather confusing recommendations from tech support on this forum--I want to ask, simply, is there a list of printers that are compatible with arm64?  

I haven't found a list, but the closest thing would be to follow theseinstructions to manually add a printer and browse through the list of drivers on your Pro X, or search the windows update catalog using the link on that page. Not knowing what printer you have, I'd suggest if one isn't available to try either of the generic PostScript or PCL drivers and see if that works with your printer. I got a Konica Minolta machine at work to print from mine using the PS driver.

I do know there is a built-in class driver for Brother Laser printers that works well.

Answer 2

Domfriant,

  Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Based upon my research so far, it's unlikely there exists arm64 driver for my Canon mx920 series printer ( but I will follow your suggestion and see if one exists on the list updated drivers on the surface X).

If I have to use a PostScript for other generic driver, will I be able to locate those drivers in the windows update catalogue?

Or is the PostScript driver a purchased product from a vendor on the internet?

Answer 3

Domfriant,

  Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Based upon my research so far, it's unlikely there exists arm64 driver for my Canon mx920 series printer ( but I will follow your suggestion and see if one exists on the list updated drivers on the surface X).

If I have to use a PostScript for other generic driver, will I be able to locate those drivers in the windows update catalogue?

Or is the PostScript driver a purchased product from a vendor on the internet?

You're welcome; I try to help where I can. The PostScript and PCL drivers I referred to are built into windows:

You basically get to them following the steps in at the top of the article I linked. I can't say for sure which one will work, if either. But according to this article most Canon printers support PCL, so the "Microsoft PCL6 Class Driver" might be your better bet. Or you might find a driver for a similar model printer in the windows update catalog.

A generic driver like that may not support any fancy features, and if it's a multi-function printer, it might not allow it to do anything other than print. For me that was all I've needed on my Surface. Best of luck!