# Installing old printer with new hard drive

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-old-printer-with-new-hard-drive/929231>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 30, 2020, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-old-printer-with-new-hard-drive/929231 "2020-12-30T09:09:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-old-printer-with-new-hard-drive/929231/1 "2020-12-30T09:09:26Z")

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I recently replaced my PC laptop’s hard drive and now I can’t reinstall  
my old Samsung printer (ML 1740).

My Samsung software disc is out of date, so I downloaded the universal print driver at [Samsung ML-1740 Driver Software Downloads - Windows, Mac, Linux](https://samsung-drivers.net/samsung-ml-1740-driver-software/).

My computer thinks I have HP LJ300-400 color M351-M451 PCL6 class driver processors. And when I try to print, I get this message: NPIB704F4 (HP LaserJet) Error - Offline.

Is there any way to get my printer to work?

Thank you!

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**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\
**Post date:** [December 30, 2020, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-old-printer-with-new-hard-drive/929231/2 "2020-12-30T17:09:49Z")

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have you tried what JohnC\_21 suggested ?

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**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-old-printer-with-new-hard-drive/929231/3 "2020-12-31T00:28:13Z")

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Your computer is still trying to print to the HP Printer. Try going to ‘Printers and Scanners’ and turning off ‘Let Windows Manage My Printer.’ Then click the Samsung printer then ‘Manage’ then ‘Set as default.’

BTW, it’s best to download the drivers from the official site:

> **[Home | Official Samsung Support US](https://www.samsung.com/us/support/downloads/)**
>
> Get the latest owner's manuals, firmware and software updates for you Samsung devices in one easy-to-navigate location: the Manuals & Software page

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**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-old-printer-with-new-hard-drive/929231/4 "2020-12-31T00:35:20Z")

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Missed the edit window:  
It looks like HP acquired Samsung’s printing division. Try downloading a driver from here instead:  
[https://support.hp.com/gb-en/products/printers/samsung-printers](https://support.hp.com/gb-en/products/printers/samsung-printers)

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**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-old-printer-with-new-hard-drive/929231/5 "2020-12-31T00:48:13Z")

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I don’t see his response. ☹

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**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-old-printer-with-new-hard-drive/929231/6 "2020-12-31T00:49:04Z")

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Thank you! My printer isn’t listed there because it’s too old. Would a Universal print driver work? (I removed the HP printer from my device manager list).

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**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2020, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/installing-old-printer-with-new-hard-drive/929231/7 "2020-12-31T03:33:49Z")

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Missed edit window.

It’s working! Thanks so much for your help!