On my old computer with XP I didn't have to install the heavy software that came with my HP all in one office jet. I would just go to start, programs, accessories and it said printer and camera wizard I think so I would use that to scan. Can I do the same with vista? Mary

OK, I guess I didn't search right the first time so found out it's called windows fax and scan but not included with home premium only with the Business and Ultimate editions. If so that stinks as I really liked it because my HP office director was too heavy and had so much I didn't need as I just need to do a simple scan or print and nothing more. Mary

Is the printer compatible with Vista?

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Yes, it is the HP
office jet pro L7780 all in one. I got it last summer and it's a newer model to replace our old office jet G85. It came with an XP and vista install disk for the director software but I find it heavy and don't need all the features and liked that I didn't need to install it on the XP computer.

My son has vists home premium on the laptop he got last summer and it was so convienient to have a printer with the built in wireless and have the laptop print from anywhere in the house with no go between. I put the director software on the laptop but with my set up was hoping there was just a simple print and scan wizard in vista. Mary

Unfortunately, you are going to have to install the OEM fax program, there is no way to hack the Fax non-availability on that machine.

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You don't have to install the director software to fax with this. It's a stand alone unit so it does not even need to be hooked up to the computer to print, copy and fax. You just run the phone cord from the jack to the back of the unit and use it like a regular fax machine. The G85 worked th same way. So on the old compuer with XP it worked fine with XP printing wizard for me and I didn't need the director software but since vista home does not have that will have to install the full program.

You are probably thinking why get all this but hubby needs the fax and copy machine for his work and I need a computer printer and scanner and we had the G85 for 9yrs and that was a work horse for him so we decided to upgrade to this. Mary

If you want to retrieve an image from your scanner you can use Paint to do this.

Click on "Start" > "All Programs" > "Accessories" > "Paint" then click on "File" at the top of the window the click on "From Scanner or Camera..."

You will get scan quality options and be able to save the scanned image as the format you choose... I believe it is JPG by default?

Mary,

You are correct: I do know it is an all AIO unit with fax capabilities independent of a PC & did misconstrue your quagmire.

My thinking was: you were looking for a quick & easy way--in Vista Home Premium--to directly run your fax(es) digitally from the PC without having to manually do it from the AIO unit.

As far as scanning & printing: it is quite easy & another way besides the one suggested by btk1w1 from above involves scanning through Windows Photo Gallery.

- Click the Start Orb in Vista.

- Click All Programs.

- Click Windows Photo Gallery.

- Click File from the tab & from there click Import From Scanner or Camera.

- Click Import & finally click Scan.

Good luck!

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OK will try that for scanning. I just called my son to confirm and we never did put the HP director software on his laptop. I went to add printer and clicked wireless bluetooth and there was a list of printers so I picked an HP that was close the 7400 hundred series I think and it installed drivers and he can print fine but we have never tried to scan with it. Maybe I will try that on here and just see what happens. Mary!

Well I tried photo gallery and paint and it says make sure deivice is connected so won't scan withouth the software I guess.

I did get it to print without the HP software. I went add printer and then picked USB virtual port and clicked to install drivers for the 7400 series like I did on laptop and it prints fine. Now if I coulf just find a work around for the scanner.

I wish MS had not done away with the scanner and camera wizard because that would have made it so much easier. Mary

The wizard is still available in Vista.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Wi...

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Ok when I searched about it said it was only available in the business and ultimage editions not home premium. I did what the link said and when I go there I get the same box as before that says make sure it's connected and it is as I can print with it from what I did earlier. Will unhook the usb and hook it in again and start from scratch and see if that works. Mary

Well that didn't work. When I go to scanners and cameras is only lists a zerox something and I tried clicking for that one then when I went to photo gallery to import it won't scan. Any other ideas? If not I will just have to install all of the HP software. Mary

You are over-complicating this issue IMHO.

Granted you are trying not to load the (300Mb+) bloatware for the Officejet Pro L7780 from HP, there is a far smaller (Vista compatible) basic driver-only software solution from HP for the print/scan functionality. Download & install that instead & be done with it.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...

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Ok followed the instructions at that link and it installed and I can print but how do I scan? I went to windows photo gallery and clicked import from scanner and a screen comes up listing zeox work center pro scanner which is not mine but I tried it and when I hit scan nothing happens. During a certain point of the install it said make sure device is on and plug the usb in and I did and it said all was OK. Mary

It's working now. I had to re-boot twice for it to get recognized but now it scans fine, thanks. I still think the scanner and camera wizard was better in XP because now after I scan one I have to go back to file and start again for another one and in XP you just clicked back, preview and kept going for each scan, seemed easier. Mary