# Windows Vista and Lexmark Optra E310 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 30, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-vista-and-lexmark-optra-e310/431728 "2007-12-30T20:33:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sebhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@Sebhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sebhal)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-vista-and-lexmark-optra-e310/431728/1 "2007-12-30T20:33:43Z")
I bought a new computer with Windows Vista yesterday, and have an old Lexmark laser printer which, until yesterday, worked fine. It took me about five minutes on theweb to discover that Lexmark are not intending to release Vista-compatible drivers for the Optra E310. It took me another two minutes to discover [here](http://www.computing.net/drivers/wwwboard/forum/5670.html) that apparently the HP Laserjet 4L emulates the Lexmark. There are HP divers within Vista, so I installed them. Now the problem; every time I turn on the Lexmark I get the ‘new hardware’ window in Vista, and of course it can’t find drivers. Assuming that one does emulate the other, how do I ‘fool’ Vista into thinking that the Lexmark is the HP (or vice versa)? I tried renaming the printer, but, surprise surprise, that didn’t work! Any help much appreciated! Thanks S. ---
**Author:** ![Genericuser234](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5daacb/32.png) [@Genericuser234](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genericuser234)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-vista-and-lexmark-optra-e310/431728/2 "2007-12-31T00:55:24Z")
i had the same problem, but with my webcam. it didnt have any drivers for it for vista, but i found a different driver and now it works, cept the built in mic wont work:S go figure. vista is a cruel temptress i might add:P sometimes its easy to trick it sometimes its not. if you had a different computer around the house you could probably connect the two computers togeather on the same network and just send any files you want printed to that computer. but make sure the other computer works with your printer. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-vista-and-lexmark-optra-e310/431728/3 "2007-12-31T01:23:50Z")
FWIW, this is the sequence of actions that was prescribed for me by HP when I had to spoof Vista for printer drivers (from the HP page): First, determine which driver is the one to spoof, of course – then, go through the “Add a Printer” sequence: > [@](#): > > Verify that the Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable is not connected to the printer. > Click the Start\> Control Panel\> Hardware & Sounds\> Printers . > Click Add a printer . > Click Add a local printer . > Select the “Use an existing port” check box. > In the Use an existing port drop-down list, select LPT1: (Printer Port) and then click Next . > Under Manufacturer on the Install the printer driver dialog box, select HP . > Under Printers , select the appropriate alternate driver for the printer and then click Next . > In the Printer name text box, type the printer name and then click Next . The printer driver starts to install. The name of the alternate driver displays as the device name: you can change this to the name of your printer. **[JRD note: but, all this does is change the device name in the Printers folder, it does NOT make Vista redefine the installed driver as an E310 driver].** > > After the screen stating that the printer was successfully added displays, connect the USB cable to the printer and to the computer. > **On the Found New Hardware screen, click Cancel .** If multiple pop-up windows display, click Cancel on each window. > > In the printer folder, right-click on the name of the printer and then click Properties . > Click the Ports tab. > Change the port from LPT1 to USB or DOT 4 > Click Apply . > Print a test page to see if it works. \*Specific details may vary for your specific hardware, of course… \* but the key may come in the next part, which they do NOT tell you: **When the next time you boot up it again says it found a new unsupported printer, DO NOT REATTEMPT TO LOAD A DRIVER OR MAKE VISTA RECOGNIZE THE PRINTER**. Hit “cancel” to ignore that warning and then proceed to attempt to use the printer normally. If it does function normally, **then, next time** you boot up and get the “new printer” dialogue, check the box that says _“don’t tell me this any more again”_ or however it says there. That’s what worked for me – the system THINKS there’s an HP already installed to that port, and the Lexmark’s another one being added, every time. ---
**Author:** ![Sebhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@Sebhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sebhal)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-vista-and-lexmark-optra-e310/431728/4 "2007-12-31T09:32:27Z")
JRDelirious, that worked perfectly, thank you very much. I’d asked it to print a test page when I reinstalled the drivers, and nothing happened. The moment I pressed apply on changing the port from printer port to USB the test page came out and it’s worked fine ever since. Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/windows-vista-and-lexmark-optra-e310/431728/5 "2007-12-31T16:05:58Z")
You’re very welcome, glad to have helped.