What causes the Dell printer to not work? There are several possible causes for your 'Dell printer offline' message such as the. Communication between the PC, Wireless router and printer through its WIFI connection that. This is a Dell and the strange thing is if I go to compatibility it states Window 10 does Not support Any Dell printers. Stranger yet is I do have trouble uninstalling the printer, I have to make several attempts. I end up going to the Dell site and have to download the driver and Wizard to get it to work.
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You can still add and install a Dell printer even if you don't have the installation disc by downloading and installing the software from Dell's Support site. Printer installation discs often end up like the drove of installation discs that come with all a computer's hardware: they're nowhere to be found when you need them. Installing a Dell printer without the installation disc can be as brief as if you still had the disc.
Let Windows Do the Work
If you plug the Dell printer into the PC and the computer recognizes it as a printer, there's a chance it might work without Dell's software. If you have turned on Plug and Play, Windows might be able to install the printer and enable it for printing just by plugging it in. If this doesn't work or you're using a networked printer, type 'Add a Printer' into the Windows Search menu, choose the 'Settings' option, click 'Advanced Printer Setup,' select 'Add a Printer,' run the Installation Wizard and following the on-screen instructions. This process may be able to download all necessary software to install the printer through Windows Update.
Identify Your Printer Model
Identifying the printer model speeds up the software-finding process. The printer itself should clearly display the model name on the front. If the model name is scratched or not clearly visible, you may be able to find the printer's model name by checking a computer that previously used the printer for an active installation. You can find the installed printers list by going to the Control Panel and selecting the 'Devices and Printers' option. The printer will be listed with the word 'Dell' in its title. Some Dell printers may share software, but it's likely that software for a different printer model will not work with your current model.
Locate the Software
Dell's Support site features product searches and lists that you can use to find your printer's software (link in Resources). Either type in the printer's model name into the search bar or check the master list of printers to find your printer. After you've identified the printer, Dell's site presents a page that lists all the software available for your particular printer. Download the software that is appropriate for your computer's operating system to a local drive.
Install the Software
You can install the printer software after the download has completed. Locate the setup program on your hard drive through Windows Explorer or your browser download list and double-click it to run it. After the installer program has launched, follow the on-screen instructions to install the printer on your computer. The installation process typically requires that you connect the printer to the desired computer before running the setup program.
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About the Author
Dan Stone started writing professionally in 2006, specializing in education, technology and music. He is a web developer for a communications company and previously worked in television. Stone received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and a Master of Arts in communication studies from Northern Illinois University.
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Stone, Dan. 'How Do I Add a Dell Printer Without a Disc?' Small Business - Chron.com, http://smallbusiness.chron.com/add-dell-printer-disc-65967.html. Accessed 20 January 2020.
Stone, Dan. (n.d.). How Do I Add a Dell Printer Without a Disc? Small Business - Chron.com. Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/add-dell-printer-disc-65967.html
Stone, Dan. 'How Do I Add a Dell Printer Without a Disc?' accessed January 20, 2020. http://smallbusiness.chron.com/add-dell-printer-disc-65967.html
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