The computer does not see the printer, what should I do?

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Users often encounter problems connecting and operating printing equipment.

Ordinary users do not know what errors can occur and how to avoid them. Therefore, let’s consider possible problems and methods for solving them:

• The print service is disabled.

This is a special program that is available in Windows operating systems. If it is disabled, operating difficulties may arise. The service could be disabled by a virus or by the user on purpose. To enable it, go to Start Menu - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Print Spooler.

• Incorrect connection.

Checking the correct connection is carried out by inspecting the working cable and connectors. Dust and dirt may cause interference.

• The drivers are not working properly or are incompatible with the printer.

These reasons are the most common. To eliminate them, you must completely remove drivers. Then reinstall them following the instructions provided by the installation program.

• Faulty printer.

Countless breakdowns of working equipment lead to the fact that this issue is difficult to solve on your own. Therefore, if you notice a malfunction, it is better to contact a specialist. Such services are provided by special service centers.

• Faulty cord.

The cable may be damaged due to mechanical stress or may be incompatible with this equipment. This problem can be solved by replacing the accessory.

• Operating system (OS) errors.

If after all the manipulations the device does not start working, then it is worth connecting it to another computer to check the system. If this reason is confirmed, then you need to reinstall the OS.

• The default printing device is different.

If another device was previously connected or several are used, the OS will automatically recognize the information of the other printer. Right-click on the icon of the current equipment and select the desired option “Use as default”.

To quickly find and fix the error, you can turn to professionals, thus saving time and nerves.

The computer does not see the printer, what should I do?

Carrying out the correct installation is not so difficult; for this you need to strictly follow the instructions, sequentially performing all the steps. While connecting, gradually eliminate possible problems.

• Connect all elements to the computer.
• Check the correct connection (serviceability of the cable and connectors, power button, connection to the desired connector).
• Install drivers from the special disk included in the kit or download from the Internet, paying attention to the OS computer and printer model.
• Set the default hardware by right-clicking on the device icon and selecting the desired item.
• Enable Automatic Print Manager. To do this, go to Start Menu - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Print Spooler. Having opened the desired tab, find the “Startup type” parameter and set it to “Auto” (“Automatic”).

When all steps are completed, you can start working. Usually after this all problems are eliminated, however, interruptions in operation may occur. In order to efficiently remove all damage, it will help to contact specialists who will promptly correct the error.

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Interaction between various external devices and a computer always causes numerous difficulties, in particular the computer does not see the printer. Failures can occur at 3 stages: on the device, at the connection points and on the computer. Even if it is working properly, the computer does not always correctly recognize and identify the printer, but there are methods for restoring the normal function of both devices.

The computer does not see the printer: what to do first?

The first and most likely reason why the computer does not see the printer is the presence of poor contact in the cables. The equipment is not actually detected, the signal does not arrive at all or has interruptions in some area.

To check the serviceability, it is recommended to remove the cable from the socket on the computer, wait 10 seconds and insert it again. Now wait a little and check if the device is connected correctly. The same must be done on the reverse side, where the cable connects to the printer. If the cable is not removable, you can check it with a tester.

You need to confirm that the wire is connected to the correct USB socket, since many devices operate using the old USB 2.0 standard, so USB 3, 3.1, 3.2 do not always process transferred data correctly. If possible, you should try other connectors by moving the keyboard and mouse. It is worth checking each socket, it is likely that some individual connector will react.

Check the cable for serviceability. The simplest, but less informative method is to manually detect a power cable failure. First of all, you need to pay attention to places where there is friction on the corner, areas where people walk, and various bends. The cable will feel incomplete; if a suspected section is detected, you need to bend the wire a little, the resistance will probably be less. The solution is to replace the cable or solder it.

Despite the banality, a lack of attention can occur in anyone - check that the power button is pressed and the printer itself is connected to the network. Given the inconvenient placement of the button, there is a possibility of incomplete pressing. A diode light indicates that the device is running.

Checking drivers

If the computer does not see the USB printer, you need to pay attention to the availability and serviceability of the drivers. Drivers are required software for device interaction.

To install, you just need to find the disk included with the device or download the appropriate version from the manufacturer’s website. To install, you should insert the disc into the drive and follow the wizard’s recommendations exactly. The procedure is obvious and no help is required.

If you don't have an installation disk, you should look for drivers online. The very first place to search should be the website of the device manufacturer; every self-respecting developer has a “Support” or “Drivers” section. In the search bar or form you need to insert the printer model, which is indicated on the case or in the documentation. Before downloading, you must correctly specify the bit depth and version of the system.

1. Click on the Start panel and click on the “Control Panel” tab;
2. Select the “Printers and Faxes” tile and click on it;
3. Check availability of the appropriate device.

From time to time there is a situation when the driver is installed, but the relationship between the PC and the printer is still not established. In this case, you will need to first remove and install from scratch.

Step-by-step instructions for reinstalling the driver:

1. Click on Start and right-click on “Computer”, select the “Properties” option;
2. Go to the “Device Manager” section;

1. Find the appropriate driver for the printer, right-click on it and “Delete”;
2. Go to the “Programs and Features” section from the “Control Panel” and also uninstall the program, if any;
3. Reinstall the driver.

The computer does not see the printer via USB due to the wrong device selection

When the computer does not see an HP or any other printer, and the system has several devices installed or there is a virtual printer, you need to check that HP (or another installed one) is selected as the main printing device.

To solve the problem, just right-click on the printer shortcut in the notification panel and set the selection next to the “Set as default” suggestion.

Service deactivated

A special service called “Print Manager” is responsible for printing documents, so if the computer does not see the Canon printer, it is worth checking the activity of the service.

To activate you will need:

1. Click on Start and “Control Panel”;
2. Select the “Administration” tile;
3. Next, go to the “Services” section;
4. Find the “Print Spooler” element and double-click;

1. In the “Startup type” column you need to set “Automatic” and click “Run”.

Windows malfunction

Checking for a problem in this area is quite simple; you need to connect the printer to another PC and check the printer’s functionality.

If the problem is really in the system, you can run the Microsoft Fix It utility, which is downloaded from the official website and contains detailed instructions for use. An alternative option that does not require the use of third-party programs is the sfc utility. To use, you need to press Win + R and enter cmd, insert sfc /scannow in a new window and wait for the system integrity check to complete.

If you still have questions on the topic “Why doesn’t the computer see the printer and how to fix it?”, you can ask them in the comments

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Problems with setting up and installing a printer or MFP usually arise before the first start. In some cases, the settings disappear, for example, after reinstalling the operating system. Less often, the reason lies in technical problems: a broken wire, a loose cable socket in the printer or USB port.

If a computer or laptop does not see the printer, you need to carry out detailed diagnostics and start with the simplest thing - a visual inspection. Connect the printer to the network, connect the wire to USB and the printer socket, turn on the device and computer.

The procedure is as follows.

1. Functionality check power cable.
2. Turn on the PC with the button, check its functionality (the printer does not turn on).
3. Inspect the USB cable from the printer to the PC. Try wiggling it around the socket, if the computer finds and loses the device, it's probably the nest is loose. Check the USB port in the same way.
4. Make sure everything is system lights are on.

It is convenient if you can check the operation of the printer by connecting it via a wireless network or to another computer. Repeating the same error will be evidence that the printer is faulty. If other devices see the printer, we look for the cause of the problem in the PC.

Driver installation/reinstallation

When installing an MFP or printer, the user updates the device drivers; usually, this is enough for the device to function properly. If the original software (from disk or official website) is not updated or produces errors during installation/unpacking, this is a reason to clean the system of viruses, debug the operating system, or completely reinstall it. Before taking drastic measures, you can search compatible drivers(from previous or subsequent models), but this method is rarely beneficial.

In Control Panel, find the "Devices and Printers" section - the printer should be displayed here. When it is detected as an unknown device, then reinstalling the drivers and restarting the PC should solve the problem. If the computer stops recognizing devices once, this is a minor system failure, but if the error repeats regularly, you need to check all the settings.

If possible, connect to your PC via a wireless network; the presence of a connection indicates that the cable from the printer to the computer is faulty.

Install/reinstall printer drivers for your operating system, such as Windows. If the disk with the program is lost, the drivers can be download on the official website manufacturer. Find your model through the search and install the software.

Print service and system failures

The computer may not see the device because it disabled in print service, the device will not be detected by the computer. Go to control panel - administration - services. In the list you need to find “Print Service” and check the startup type, there should be two marks here: status - running, startup type - automatic.

System failure is an abstract concept; this is the name given to all operating system errors that are difficult to explain. The cause of the failure may be as simple as a sudden disconnection of the PC from the network or different programs. It is possible that various software were updated before this, after which the Windows system files were damaged. The solution to this problem is, but it helps only at the initial stage.

Printer failure occurs quite rarely and regardless of the brand - HP, Epson, Canon, etc. Perhaps this is influenced by indirect reasons that are invisible at first glance.

Viruses and antivirus software

Antivirus programs may interfere with the installation of additional equipment, including printers. While using the program, the computer simply does not see the installed hardware. Temporarily pause PC protection and test the printer operation.

Cleaning your operating system from viruses is a very useful activity. Not all malware is safe; there are very nasty programs that can cause almost mechanical damage to your computer. It is recommended to use only licensed programs to check your PC.

Don’t forget that you need to clean not only the system, but also all external drives and flash cards.

Testing the USB port

Printers are connected to a PC via a USB port version 2.0, but due to an accidental failure of the operating system, USB activation in the BIOS may fail, in which case the port simply will not be seen by any external media or accessory: headphones, removable disk/flash drive, USB- Hub. To solve the problem, you need to turn on the controller; you can enter the BIOS only when the operating system starts. The combination of hot keys depends on the version of the computer software; if you don’t know how exactly to do this, press the F1, F2, F8, Tab, Del and all the “neighboring” keys in turn.

The BIOS interface varies; the user needs to find the following partitions and activate them (Enabled setting):

• USB Mouse Support (mouse detection);
• USB Keyboard Support (keyboard detection);
• USB EHCI controller (controller activation);
• Legacy USB storage detect (supports flash cards, external drives).

Exit and save your settings. Restart your computer.

In most cases, all of the above manipulations will help solve the problem, determine and eliminate the reason why the computer does not see the printer.

As practice shows, usually all manipulations end with reinstalling the drivers.

It happens that the PC system does not see the connected external device. This can happen with a web camera, speakers and printer. Let's find out what reasons contribute to laptops not seeing printing devices and how to fix it.

Before you send the device for recycling, it is still worth finding out the reason why the laptop does not see the printer. This is an important point, since many nuances can be corrected yourself.

What will we talk about:

Check connection

First of all, you need to make sure that all cords and USB cables are connected to the PC. Equipment malfunction can occur due to a loose contact or USB cable. It is also worth checking the units for damage. In this situation, try connecting the printer to the ports, then inspect the cable. Don't forget to turn on your device. The reason for the non-working state may be simple user inattention. This is the first reason why the laptop does not recognize the printer via USB.

Driver installation and malfunction

It often happens that the laptop does not “see” the Canon printer. The cause of this malfunction is mainly the drivers. The breakdown is easy and quick to fix. It is enough to install the computer software. Often, drivers “fly off”, that is, they are damaged or even deleted. If you have a Canon brand device that your PC does not see, you should check the drivers.

The best solution would be to remove them completely and install them again. This can be done using a disk; media with software is included with any printer, including Canon. But if for some reason they are not there, then do not be discouraged. Just go to the manufacturer’s official website and download them from there completely free of charge.

Check printer settings

The reason may be an incorrectly selected device as a print source.

If you have several installed printing units of different brands: HP, Canon, etc., you should go into the settings and see which printer is selected as the main one. It happens that the settings get lost.

The entire “breakdown” of the equipment lies in this part. To eliminate it, just select the brand of the desired device and save the settings. If you don't have the printer you need, such as HP, try reinstalling its software.

System failure

A common and important cause of equipment failure. If such an incident occurs, then you need to completely remove the operating system and reinstall it again. The process requires a long time to restore the system and install all the necessary drivers for the PC and printer. Next, check the operation of the printing device, if the problem is still not resolved, check all the points described above.

If the printer does not function, the following reasons are possible:

• All necessary driver programs are not installed;
• printer failure.

System incompatibility

In addition to the reasons already mentioned above, one of the options is system incompatibility. Often, when buying a printer, people do not pay attention to the characteristics of the device. Thus, as a rule, all supporting systems are described, when installed on which the printer will work properly. If you do not take into account the details, you can spend quite a long time thinking about the cause of the equipment malfunction.

The problems cannot be resolved due to the fact that the operating system does not support drivers at all. If you have such a problem, we recommend looking for software on the Internet, including on the official website of the company producing this equipment. If the search is successful, just indicate the required device model and download the file.

Then start the installation process and follow all instructions. Try to understand every word you write. If the software requires you to turn off the printer during installation, then follow these instructions. Deviating from the installation rules will result in drivers being loaded incorrectly and will affect the operation of the printer.

Advice! If you were unable to determine and eliminate the cause yourself, you should contact a service center.

Listed above are the main reasons why the laptop does not “see” the HP printer and brands from other manufacturers. There are tips for eliminating various types of breakdowns. A large proportion of the occurrence of this type of malfunction is due to dysfunction of the driver system. If you have problems, we recommend that you follow all the tips described above; if the problem still cannot be solved, you should contact a specialist.

The USB device is not recognized.
I started installing a USB printer,
the computer sees it as an unidentified device.
The printer is not detected by the computer.

If you have encountered similar problems when trying to connect a printer via USB 2.0, then this article is for you.

The main source of these faults is the USB cable. Let's determine how to choose the right USB cable and successfully connect a peripheral device to a computer.

1) The cable must contain noise filter. This is a small thickening (ferrite ring) at the end of the cable, sometimes at both ends. The figure shows an example of such a cable.

2) It is very important that the signal in the cable does not fade. To do this it is necessary to determine maximum cable length according to the following marking on the cable "28 AWG/1P.....". The first two digits indicate the maximum cable length.
Marking and corresponding cable length:
28 = 0.81 m
26 = 1.31 m
24 = 2.08 m
22 = 3.33 m
20 = 5.00 m

3) It is also necessary that the cable supports the standard USB 2.0. You can also find out about this by the marking on the cable “USB High speed cable 2.0”.

If instead of the numbers 2.0 there are numbers 1.1, then the cable does not support the USB 2.0 standard.

Let’s summarize the above: a working cable that allows you to successfully connect peripheral devices to a computer must meet the following characteristics:

Comply with USB 2.0 standard;

Comply with the length indicated on the cable marking

Another tip: use cables shorter And do not buy cheap Chinese USB cables.

Main causes of malfunction, often caused by unsuitable USB cables:

The printer cannot be installed (the computer usually displays “USB device not recognized”);

When going into standby mode, the printer “does not wake up” (you have to turn the printer off and on again);

Unstable printing;

The printer prints the job incompletely;

The printer prints with a delay;

The printer appears in Windows and then disappears again.

If the cable meets the characteristics described above, but the problems remain, then you can try setting it in the motherboard's Bios USB 1.1 mode. It will most likely work, but the speed of information exchange will be significantly reduced.

If this doesn’t help, download the latest ones from the manufacturer’s website drivers to the printer and install it. It also makes sense to download the latest drivers for the motherboard and install them.