I've recently upgraded a machine to Windows 7 x64. This machine has a 1012 printer attached. According to HP's site, the printer is no going to be supported in Windows 7. Are there generic drivers that may suffice?
Is there even such a thing as a generic printer driver?
Best Answer
Low-end HP printers (ie: Home-use ones) are 'host-based'-only printers. Meaning they use the computer's CPU to do the printing processing, and require a specific driver to do it. This keeps the price low, but the major trade-off is (as you've discovered) when the printer gets end-of-life'd by the manufacturer they stop making drivers, and the printers aren't compatible with any other drivers.
You can try the HP "universal" printer driver, but the 1012 isn't on the supported printer list, and from trying to get 1012's working with Vista in the past personally, it's not going to happen (even with a hacked apart XP driver), especially when you throw 64-bit into the mix.
Bascially, if you buy a sub-$200 laser printer, expect to replace it whenever you replace your OS with something a couple years newer than the printer. :)
If you want to keep the same printer for years and years, and have the most compatibility regardless of system, then aim for a printer that uses the PCL and/or Postscript printer languages.
Sorry I don't have better news.