Hi Littlepeaks,

Before reinstalling printer drivers, it is best to remove any printer drivers that were previously installed. Not doing so can cause problems that prevent the computer from communicating with the printer. Select the correct operating system prior to downloading and installing the driver. Click on the links below for instructions and useful information:

 How to Uninstall the Existing Dell Printer Drivers: http://dell.to/147dcbV

Product Support for Dell V305 All In One Inkjet Printer: http://dell.to/13JXAb9

Product Support for Dell V305w All In One Wireless Inkjet Printer: http://dell.to/17HsIsb

Let us know if further help is needed.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell 

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

I uninstalled the printer drivers successfully.  I downloaded the latest driver and tried to install it.  I left the printer USB cable disconnected as directed.  During the installation process, I got an error saying there was a communication failure (no kidding -- the cable was disconnected).  So I connected the cable, and the process started up again, but when it was done, I could not get comm with the printer.  Disconnected the cable, rebooted.  No luck.

So I uninstalled the printer driver again.  And rebooted.  I tried installing the printer driver again, and now, it installs everything, and immediately goes to the uninstall window and uninstalls everything and tells me to reboot.  Also, when the installation comes up, the option blocks are preselected and grayed out.

Any suggestions?  It's like some registry key is stuck or incorrect.

Time for a new printer?  :(

I found out this really messed things up -- it created ANOTHER directory on my PC, entitled Program Files (x86) (x86) -- yes x86 twice -- with subdirectories of Dell and Dell Printers -- didn't see any uninstall file in there.

littlepeaks,

Please continue with DELL-Babita S

I see a possible corrupted installation.

First run Delete Print Jobs to remove stuck print job(s) from the queue, then restart your computer.

Make sure the printer is not usb cable connected.

Start, control panel, programs and features, Dell V305 Printer, uninstall.

Restart your computer.

Make sure the printer was removed. Manual Printer Driver Removal

Start, computer, click on OS (C:)

Delete the Program Files (x86) (x86) Folder

This should give you a clean start with installing the printer.

With the computer online, insert the Dell V305 Printer disk, choose new installation and follow the instructions.

Remember virus programs and firewalls will blcok communications.

Rick

Didn't work.  I deleted the Program Files (x86) (x86) Folder.  I had problems deleting some of the files because they were in use by "Printer Transfer Card Monitor", so I killed off that app in task manager and deleted the rest of the files and the folder and subfolders (Dell and Dell V305W).  (There was no printer to uninstall). I restarted the installation program I downloaded from the Dell site (R264821.exe).  I could not install from the disk, because I bought the PC before Windows 7 came out (and I'm not sure I can still find the disk).  

Anyway, as soon as the installation completed, the uninstall application immediately ran (without my intervention), and asked me to reboot.  Also, the install wanted me to install under the Program Files (x86) (x86) Folder, which I deleted, so I told it to install under  Program Files (x86) instead, but it went ahead and created the Program Files (x86) (x86) Folder again and tried to install in there.  Sounds like something is stuck.  Is there a registry key or keys that control these processes?

OK RockSt☆r-Rick K .  I finally got my printer working again :)

Here's what I did:

1.  Before I started following your instructions, I went into Control Panel --> Programs and Features.  I was surprised that V305W was still listed there, even though the driver had been uninstalled.  I told it to uninstall from there, and of course, it couldn't because it didn't exist.  It asked me if I wanted to get rid of this entry in Control Panel, and I said yes.

2.  I deleted the Programs Files (x86)(x86) folder and the remaining files in that folder..

3.  I deleted any stuck print jobs from the spooler manually (although I don't think there were any) by saving the script as a .cmd file and running it, as suggested in one of the documents.  (That script is pretty neat, and I'm going to save it for future use).

4. I rebooted my PC.

5.  I downloaded the 64 bit version fo the driver installation program and ran it.  It wanted to do the install in the  Programs Files (x86) folder, so I changed the destination to the Program Files folder, where 64 bit programs normally go.

6.  The program told me to connect the printer -- when I did, the printer went kerchunk, and everything seemed to be installed successfully.  However, I tried to print a test page, and there was no communication.  I tried disconnecting the USB cord and reconnecting the cord, and that didn't fix the problem.  

7.  I rebooted the PC, and -- lo and behold -- my PC and V305W are best of friends and talking to each other again.  :)

A couple of notes -- when I first tried installing the driver (which led to the problems in the first p;lace), I downloaded the 64 bit driver.  I think it accidentally sent me the 32 bit driver, because after that failed, I tried downloading the 32 bit driver, and it gave me the same one.  (The 32 bit driver is about 76 MB, while the 64 bit driver is 125 MB.)

Also, I noticed that, even after the uninstall, there were at least two registry keys under V305 registry folders that were left behind.  Don't know what purpose these had, because the driver knows how to use them.

When I installed the 64 bit driver, the install program put everything where I told it to put it.

Anyway -- all is well --

Thanks

littlepeaks,

Glad you got it working! :emotion-21: Thanks for posting back.

Take care,

Rick