Can't connect printer to Dell Studio 17 Windows Vista

It could be the USB port or cable.
1. Try a different USB port on the PC; if error returns...
2. Try a new USB cable.

hello
Try turning the printer off for a while, take the cartridges out and put them back in

Unplug the printer from power, and from the computer. (FROM the computer, not from the printer)

Open the printer as you would for replacing ink cartridges. Close it.
Plug into computer. Plug into power. (In that order)
Turn printer on.

This procedure resets the printer, and clears Error Codes.

It may be that the USB cable from computer to printer was loose; or it is bad.
You may also have lost Drivers.

Driver: Small piece of software that allows the Operating System to communicate with a device.

Printer is the device in question; Windows XP, Vista, 7; is the O/S.
Try the above first, then we will reinstall the drivers.
Post back in a Comment.

Also; what is the error message. Write it down. (I know. It comes across the display like a ticker-tape )

Regards,
joecoolvette

It could be a communications error message, the printer is not communicating with the computer.

Disconnect and then reconnect the USB cable.

Disconnect and then reconnect the printer power cable.

Restart the computer.

Remove and reinstall the printer software

If your printer does not function properly or communication error messages appear when using your printer, you can remove and reinstall the printer software.

1. Click Start®Programs or All Programs®Dell Printers®Dell Photo AIO Printer 962®Uninstall Dell Photo AIO Printer 962.
   
   
2. Follow the instructions on the computer screen to remove the printer software.
   
   
3. Restart your computer before installing the software again.
   
   
4. Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD, and then follow the instructions on the computer screen to install the software.
   
   

If the installation screen does not appear:

1. In Windows XP, click Start®My Computer.
   
   

In Windows 2000, double-click My Computer from your desktop.

1. Double-click the CD-ROM drive icon. If necessary, double-click setup.exe.
   
   
2. When the printer software installation screen appears, click Install or Install Now.
   
   
3. Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the installation.
   
   

Communications error message
The printer is not communicating with the computer.
Communications error message
The printer is not communicating with the computer.

1. disconnect the parallel cable and uninstall the printer
2. check to see if you need to de fragment the hard drive.
3.. reinstall the drivers for the the printer from the OEM disk ( the disk that came with the printer.
4. Visit the manufacturers site for troubleshooting the wi-fi connection to the printer.
5. Hope this helps
6. Dell will usually assist with this issue.

Check these HP FAQS:

• 'An error occurred while communicating with scanning device' Message Displays in Windows XP When the Device is Connected to the Computer with a USB Cable (Windows XP)
• In Windows Vista the message 'An error occurred while communicating with scanning device' Displays When Scanning with a USB Connected Printer (Windows Vista)

If you have Windows Vista, and the FAQ above doesn't solve your problem, you might need to update your driver/software. Read this:
Installing the Product Software in Windows Vista for a USB Cable Connection

Hi,

Please follow the follwoing steps,

1) unplug the power cord at the both ends from the printer and wall outlet. connect to wall out let directly dont connect to printer.
2)Press and hold # and 6 while reconnecting the power cord to the product hold for 1 min after plugging the power cord, and then release both buttons, this should resolve the issue.

Regards,
raj_p5983

With the Lexmark printers communication subsystem you MUST let the driver ask for you to plug in the printer. DO NOT plug the printer into the USB port until told to do so.

To fix a fouled install :
(1) Uninstall the Lexmark drivers in Add Remove Programs
(2) Shutdown the computer
(3) Disconnect the printer from the USB port
(4) Restart the computer
(5) Run the Driver Installation software
(6) Cancel ALL attempts by windows to auto install the printer
(7) When the sofware asks for the printer connect it and continue

First, shut down your computer and priner. Unplug both from the wall outlet, Unplug the printer from the computers USB receptical. Next, plug both the computer and printer back into the wall, and turn on ONLY THE COMPUTER. After the computer is fully initialized, plug the printer into the computer's USB socket and turn printer on. A small window on your screen should say:NEW HARDWARE FOUND. it will ask if you want it installed, click on YES. and just follow the onscreen instructions, and make sure your printer driver is compatible with VISTA..To check, go to http://support.dell.com and left click on WINDOWS VISTA SUPPORT. Left click on LATEST VISTA DRIVER UPDATES, and follow the onscreen instructions to check what you have now, and what you may have to download.. If, after downloading and installing VISTA COMPATIBLE SOFTWARE,you still get the communication message, try this: On the windows screen, left click on START. left click on CONTROL PANEL, then left click on PRINTERS. Find your Dell printer icon and RIGHT CLICK on the icon.. On the drop down menu, left click on PROPERTIES. On the Properties window, left click on the PORTS tab. Make sure USB VIRTUAL PRINTER PORT FOR DELL is checked. If no, select that port, left click on the check box, also check ENABLE BIDIRECTIONAL SUPPORT and ENABLE PRINT SPOOLING boxes. Then left click on APPLY, then Ok. The Dell printer icon should show READY. Try a test print to check operation.

I'm curious as to whether or not your USB bus drivers were loaded for Vista. Check it out in device manager. Good Luck