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Jul 31st, 2008
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Cannot set a default printer in Vista

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I am running Visa Home Premium and all of a sudden I cannot set a default printer.

I am not sure of when this happened but I think perhaps after I installed Service Pack One. I cannot print from programs like Windows Photo Gallery that don't pop up the print window where I can select a printer, giving me a message that no printer is installed.

Instead of a check mark next to the printer I want as my default there is a tiny icon with what looks like two
people. I have reinstalled the printer to no avail. Any ideas?
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marvml33 is offline Offline
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Aug 1st, 2008
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Re: Cannot set a default printer in Vista

What's the brand and the reference of your printer ?

Could you provide some screenshots ?
gtd
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Aug 1st, 2008
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Re: Cannot set a default printer in Vista

The printer is a HP Photosmart C4280 All-in-one.

I have tried to attach two screet captures. One the error message and two the Printer screen from the Control Panel. As you can see I even tried to install a second verion of the printer.

Marvml33
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Click image for larger version Name: Messsage.jpg Views: 35 Size: 30.1 KB ID: 6838   Click image for larger version Name: Printers.jpg Views: 27 Size: 23.5 KB ID: 6839  
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Re: Cannot set a default printer in Vista

It's weird, this icon diplaying two people means your printer is shared.

How do you install your printer ? Are you using the control panel ?
gtd
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Re: Cannot set a default printer in Vista

I do have the printer shared with my notebook through my wireless network and am not having the same print problems. I installed my printer using the cd that came with it. I have been using the printer section of the control panel to try and set the printer as the default. Is that what you mean by using the control panel?

Thanks for your interest in my problem.

Marv
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marvml33 is offline Offline
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Re: Cannot set a default printer in Vista

did this happen right after you installed service pack 1?

you might try uninstalling SP1 and see if it is just a problem with the update.
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jermaghs07 is offline Offline
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Re: Cannot set a default printer in Vista

Service packs are known to be full of faults and glitches. this is why most people wait for about 6 months to install the newest service pack. i installed SP3 for xp and it was so glitchy that i had to completely remove it.
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Re: Cannot set a default printer in Vista

Thanks for the suggestion about uninstalling Vista Sv Pack one. I really think the proplem started before that but if nobody can come up with anything else then as a last resort I will try that. Appreciate your interest in my problem.
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Re: Cannot set a default printer in Vista

If you think it happened before the installation of SP1 then you should uninstall your printer, then instead of using the CD to install the printer. Go into your Control pannel select printers and select add a printer then when it asks you what kind of printer it is you should be able to select browse. at that point you should insert the driver disk that came with the printer and the select your CD drive as the browse target.

if that is a little confusing let me know sometimes i get a little carried away.
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jermaghs07 is offline Offline
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Aug 7th, 2008
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Re: Cannot set a default printer in Vista

What I meant by "using the control panel" is indeed what jermaghs07 mentioned in his post.

What's more, is there a yellow question mark beside your printer in the device manager ?
gtd
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This thread is more than three months old

No one has posted to this discussion for at least three months. Please let old threads die and do not reply to them unless you feel you have something new and valuable to contribute that absolutely must be added to make the discussion complete. Otherwise, please start a new thread in this forum instead.
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