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4 Posts
0
308646
December 13th, 2015 19:00
After Windows 10 upgrade, V305 printer says "Communication not available"
The printer "communication not available" post has been posted several times before. Nothing in any of these posts has helped me resolve the problem with my wife's Dell V305 printer generating the "communication not available" message. This started when I upgraded both my computer (Windows 7 professional) and my wife's computer (Windows 8.1) to Windows 10. For her, after the upgrade, the V305 printer does not work, giving the "communication not available error. If I connect my wife's Dell V305 printer to my Windows 10 computer, it works fine. Connected to my wife's upgraded computer I get the "communication not available" error. I moved my HP 1020 laser printer over to her computer and used the same USB cable (and same USB hub) and the HP 1020 works fine. So there is no problem with the cable or USB hub. If I move her Dell V305 printer over to my computer, it works fine (so the printer driver is compatible with Windows 10). I verified that both computers are using the same printer driver (I think). Following suggested posts, I disabled the firewall on her computer... same result. I checked the print spooler service and it's running, no problems. I restarted it anyway. I also ran "sfc /scannow" on her computer and no problems. I also unselected the power down option on the USB hubs
As part of this troubleshooting, I removed the Windows 10 upgrade from her computer, making it Windows 8.1 again. The printer works fine in this case. Following the retrograde back to Windows 8.1, I upgraded her computer again back to Windows 10. Now the printer doesn't work... meaning the "communication not available" message.
I have removed the printer and re-installed it many times. All sorts of variations of this. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
donhuntley
4 Posts
1
December 14th, 2015 15:00
I also posted this on Microsoft community. Thankfully someone there had the answer: answers.microsoft.com/.../7966c984-5334-4e84-98d8-071a4e790010
donhuntley
4 Posts
0
December 14th, 2015 18:00
Posted the same question in Windows forum and they were able to answer it:
answers.microsoft.com/.../7966c984-5334-4e84-98d8-071a4e790010
mr amx
13 Posts
0
December 14th, 2015 08:00
When you go to Dell Support and enter in the service tag for your printer, does it confirm that it has indeed been tested to work with Windows 10? My all in one V515W has not, but reinstalling the older drivers solved the communication error, but now it just prints blank pages.
PudgyOne
9 Legend
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30.3K Posts
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December 15th, 2015 11:00
donhuntley,
Printer wired or wireless? If wireless, what color is the WiFi light?
What virus program and firewall are you using?
Does the printer print if the computer is restarted?
Rick
donhuntley
4 Posts
0
December 15th, 2015 17:00
Rick, please read my original post. It has all the information. Windows forum was able to resolve this. My post with the link to the answer on Windows forum has been removed. In summary, it was resolved by disabling the print spooler before removing the printer. I reinstalled the printer driver using XP Compatibility mode. Rebooted the computer. Disabled the print spooler again. Then attached my USB printer. After that, it worked.
PudgyOne
9 Legend
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30.3K Posts
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December 16th, 2015 03:00
donhuntley,
There is an issue with the Dell V Series printers and Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10. You may send more than one print job and the rest of the print job(s) will remain stuck until you restart your computer. This was caused by Internet Explorer 11 just being installed on the system. The solution is to turn off the balloon tips for the printer.
Start, control panel, devices and printer, your printer, printing preferences, advanced, more options. Tell it to never show. The problem with this setting is you cannot tell if you're low on ink, printer jams, Etc.
Rick
rodgerdp
1 Rookie
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10 Posts
0
December 13th, 2017 08:00
I have same problem and as yet have not managed to solve.
PudgyOne
9 Legend
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30.3K Posts
1
December 13th, 2017 11:00
rodgerdp,
Try this procedure and see if the printer installs.
First run Delete Print Jobs to remove any stuck print job in the queue.
Disconnect the printer.
Hit the Windows key and the x keys at the same time, programs and features, your printer, uninstall.
Restart your computer. Make sure the printer is removed. Manual Printer Driver Removal
Download the Vista 32-bit drivers for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 32-bit or the Vista 64-bit drivers for Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 64-bit. Install the Vista drivers in the Vista Compatibility mode you’ll get a message, the printer is not connected. Connect the printer at this time (powered on).
Links to the drivers can be found at…
Dell V305 & V305w All-In-One Printer owners thread (W7)
Remember virus programs and firewalls will block communications.
Also Turn off Balloon Tips for the printer as there's an issue with Microsoft and the printer.
Rick
Rod85
9 Posts
0
May 27th, 2018 12:00
Your printer solution worked for me!