Printers That Work With Win95?

  • Thread starter Thread starter DEWLine
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DEWLine

Realizing that this may already be covered by a FAQ list or URL
somewhere
(and hoping to be directed to such if it exists), I was wondering what
makes and models of printer currently being manufactured might be
compatible with machines running Windows 95 with a minimum of muss
and fuss.

Can anyone here help me out on this?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide...

Yours,

Dwight
 
DEWLine said:
Realizing that this may already be covered by a FAQ list or URL
somewhere
(and hoping to be directed to such if it exists), I was wondering what
makes and models of printer currently being manufactured might be
compatible with machines running Windows 95 with a minimum of muss
and fuss.

Can anyone here help me out on this?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide...

Yours,

Dwight
Click to expand...

I would think any decent printer with a parallel port connector (not
USB) would work!
 
I would think any decent printer with a parallel port connector (not
USB) would work!
Click to expand...

And in some cases, you may have to use drivers for an older model. You
may even want to check out EBay or similar to find an older model with
Win95 drivers. Win98/ME drivers may or may not work.

If the computer has Win95b (with FAT32 and some USB support), it MAY
support a USB printer.
 
Hi!

I would recommend choosing a printer that has a parallel port and either a
PCL or PostScript interpreter. If you can find one meeting those
requirements, it should work. You might have to use a driver for an older
printer that uses PCL or PostScript.

Buying an older printer that's in good working order or a network-capable
model might also get you compatability with Windows 95. In the case of the
networkable printer, however, this may be more expensive than buying a
simple "single user" printer.

There are still some new printers being sold that offer Win95 drivers. Most
of them are lasers, so high end color printing may be difficult to
accomplish on a Win95 machine.

William
 
Realizing that this may already be covered by a FAQ list or URL
somewhere
(and hoping to be directed to such if it exists), I was wondering what
makes and models of printer currently being manufactured might be
compatible with machines running Windows 95 with a minimum of muss
and fuss.

Can anyone here help me out on this?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide...
Click to expand...

What do you want to print? Text. photos, documents containing both? What
level of each?
 
There are still some new printers being sold that offer Win95 drivers. Most
of them are lasers, so high end color printing may be difficult to
accomplish on a Win95 machine.
Click to expand...

I'm not expecting to be too fussy about "B&W vs. colour" needs with
this particular purchase.
I'm willing to work with an inkjet printer, too, as this isn't planned
to be a high-end usage
machine.
 
What do you want to print? Text. photos, documents containing both? What
level of each?
Click to expand...

Ed: possibly both, but leaning more towards text-heavy usage.
Graphics-intensive
work is not a priority with this machine.

Yours,

Dwight
 
You didn't mention what type of printer technology you are looking for
(Inkjet, monochrome laser, color laser, dye sub, dot matrix, etc).

The big problem you are facing is that many printers today no longer
have parallel connectors, but instead use USB 1.1 or 2.0. Win 95 did
have a later version (it wasn't available as an upgrade, but was made
available OEM later in its history) which supported a early form of USB
1.1, many older computers had poorly implemented chip sets for USB, so
most people running Win 95 cannot use USB properly.

Some printers will work with a parallel to USB 1.1 converter cable, if
you can find such a cable and it is compatible with the driver and
printer (varies).

Then the next issue is the driver. Assuming the printer has a parallel
connector, most Win 98 drivers will probably work with a WIn 95 computer.

Depending on what you need in a printer, it will probably be cheaper and
less hassle to just buy an older printer used. Many of the older Epson
inkjet printers, or the older HP laser printers were built very robustly
and worked fine with Win 95. Check to make sure consumables (cartridges)
are still being offered. You may well be able to get some of these
printers for free, because some have not had there drivers updated
beyond Win 98 or ME, so people running XP and above machines may discard
them.

Many older drivers can be downloaded free of charge either from the
manufacturers' websites or from driver websites.

In HP laserjets consider HP II, IIP, HP III, or any of the HP IV series.
In Epson inkjet printers, consider SC 640, 660, 740, 760, 800, 850, 880
900, 980 color printers.

Art
 
Realizing that this may already be covered by a FAQ list or URL
somewhere
(and hoping to be directed to such if it exists), I was wondering what
makes and models of printer currently being manufactured might be
compatible with machines running Windows 95 with a minimum of muss
and fuss.

Can anyone here help me out on this?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide...

Yours,

Dwight
Click to expand...

Re: suggestions for a parallel printer

The Epson C88/D88 still has a parallel port (I think it's the only
consumer level printer that still does), but I'm not sure whether or
not it comes with drivers for older operating systems. Anyone else
tried this? I don't even know where the original CD is, I always
download the newest drivers off the website.

--

http://www.FenrirOnline.com

Computer services, custom metal etching,
arts, crafts, and much more.
 
You didn't mention what type of printer technology you are looking for
(Inkjet, monochrome laser, color laser, dye sub, dot matrix, etc).
Click to expand...

As I believe I mentioned, I'm not being particularly fussy on this
point.
In part because I don't know what's still available, and in part
because
the distinctions didn't seem that important compared to knowing what's
out there whatever the technology involved. I was trying to cast as
wide
a net as possible. If I get color, that's a bonus, but it's not
essential.
Laser, likewise.

I suppose dot matrix can be ruled right out...but that's as far as I'd
take
it.

I've been looking for used printers, but the places I'd usually count
on
for such things seem to have moved out of used gear, or simply shut
down.

Yours,

Dwight

Yours,

Dwight
 
The Epson C88/D88 still has a parallel port (I think it's the only
consumer level printer that still does), but I'm not sure whether or
not it comes with drivers for older operating systems. Anyone else
tried this? I don't even know where the original CD is, I always
download the newest drivers off the website.
Click to expand...

*makes a note for future reference*

Thanks.
 
DEWLine said:
*makes a note for future reference*

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I got a wonderful HP LJ4 available, too bad the shipping would
cost more than what I would charge for it.
 
Mön§igñor:

I've heard of the HP LJ4, and am looking into it further. Maybe
there'll be leads closer to home.
 
If your computer is not capable of running a current OS then it is time
to get a new computer and printer. Even a cheap 800 computer with WXP
will perform better than a W95 system. Then get a Canon IP4300 and be
sure to use fade resistant Canon ink.
 
I've been looking for used printers, but the places I'd usually count
on
for such things seem to have moved out of used gear, or simply shut
down.
Click to expand...

Ask on Craigslist, freecycle.org, or the like, or ask if those computer
accepting charities have one. Also check the thrift stores, quite often
I see older printers there.

FWIW, pre Windows XP, I've used the following printers on Win 95 and
3.1:

NEC Silentwriter 800 (Postscript laser), on Win 3.1

Citizen Projet II (win95)

HP Laserjet II (Win95)
 
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