Problems Installing Software on Dell Computer w/Vista

Stephen A. Camp

New Member
Hello. I apologize in advance for my lack of computer understanding. The folks here will probably find my questions elementary but to me they are unknowns, so your help would be greatly appreciated.

The wife and I just bought two brand new Dell desktop computers (Inspiron 530's) and hooked hers up today. When we went to install software, some would install and some would not. Some of MS Office program's installed. PageMaker, and some other expensive software would not. We could not install the printer (HP LazerJet 4250) software.

My question is: Did we buy a computer that has some sort of problem with the configuration or something mechanical with the disk drive? (Sometimes it spins up and sometimes no.)

OR:

Will Vista simply not load existing software?

Any and all help is appreciated and thanks so much in advance.

Best to you and yours.
 
Do you know if the printer is Vista compactable, also as for the other software you could use the compactability mode to install them.
 
Hello. No, sir. I do not know about the "Vista Compatibility" thing. Gosh, I am hoping that this is not the case. The printer is relatively new and hooked right up to the wife's older computer using XP. If this is the case, surely there will be a way to get the printer to install.

Best.
 
I wouldn't be worried about the printer being incompatible just yet. And as you said, there's probably someway of getting it to be usable otherwise.

I wouldn't be worried about buying a faulty computer either. Dell makes good systems and they have great quality control in my experience.

To the problem...

What kind of errors are you getting (if any)?

Did the programs come with the computer in a bundle offer or something of the like? Or was it on the computer when you set it up?
 
Hello.

Well, we got different errors.

With the printer's disc, the error was that it was saying that the disc was something called "HP Mariner 2.0 Beta 3" but the same disc in my Windows 98 System showed the correct disc for the HP 4250 Laserjet Printer.

Another error that showed up and I don't remember on which program, said that we needed to have IE 5.0 or greater. Our brand new Dell Computers came with IE 7...something.

The discs that came with the computer were for the most part, already loaded. Something called "Roxio" was not.

I do not know if it means anything or not, but in some cases the disc drive simply would not "spin up". It would do nothing. In other cases with a different disc, it did.

Best.
 
As with most HP printers you have to install drivers first before ever turning on the printer, also you will need to go to HP's website and download the drivers and software for Vista. After you download them just install and follow the step by step directions. During the setup it will tell you when to turn on the device and then setup should continue at this point. Best thing to do at this point is to solve one problem at a time , that being said let's get the printer going and then move to the next problem.


Here is the HP link for your drivers and software (http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...esId=412144&swLang=8&taskId=135&swEnvOID=2093 )
 
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Hello. Part of the problem (about 10 1/2 hours' worth) was a faulty new computer. The disc drive simply didn't work. We broke out the second new computer and it worked much, much better and we did in about 40 mins, what we tried and failed to do the previous day during that "little slice of heaven."

I will do what has been suggested here when the defective computer is returned from Dell and each of you has my most sincere thanks and appreciation for taking the time to help such a minimally capable computer user. Things that are simple as can be to many of you are about like trying to solve one of Dr. Einstein's problems to me.

Again, thank you all so much.

Best.

PS: I also remembered to use the search function here and found similar information.
 
No problem , Glad everything worked out for you. We all had to start somewhere and I think you'll find this is one of the better, if not the best forum get answers to your computer problems. I know that I have, good luck.
 
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