New printer wanted to work with WIN95

[quizmaster]

My mum is looking for a new computer, when all she really needs is a new printer to work with the one she has. The printer that I gave her (bought in 1990) has finally packed in.

Can anyone suggest how to search for a new printer that will work with WIN95? Not sure if new printers will be quite so radically backwards compatible.

Thanks
QM

[downside]

Hi quizmaster

I didn't know anybody was still using Windows 95 

You would probably have to buy a second hand printer, that is if there are any still around.  Try doing a Google search for your current printer and see if it returns any hits.  Ebay might have some ancient equipment - it's always worth a try.

I think your mum is right.  You might be able to pick up something cheap and a little out-of-date on the second hand market.  Most of the older equipment is shipped out to 3rd world countries.

downside

[indiapaleale]

Quiz,
You are kidding...right?......Win95 is kaput....gone...rubbish......finished.

Mom needs a new puter....and a printer to go with it....there are lots of good deals out there...search the internet.

Indi

[Burrow Digger]

My parents were using Win95 up until early May when the PC finally went Ka-Boom and died.

Now they have a new PC running Win XP.

Now they can see the photos I send them - they used to not be able to save and print out the photos I sent in my emails.

And I have recently upgraded from Win 98 to Win XP just in the last 2 months as well.

Not everyone can afford to keep up with the Jones, however much they would like to.

BD

[Michael72.]

The obvious answer is to bite the bullet and upgrade...'95' ....

BUT....I just happen to have an Epson Stylus Colour 440 in perfect working order, that would run a treat on the ole' 95.....don't know where you live but you can have it totally Free and welcome if you would like to collect it....at the moment I have the Epson C42 Plus....but IMO it's not as good or as fast as my old '440'....but the 440 won't work with my XP setup..

And NO....I feel sure that none of the 'New' Printers are retrograde....they will Not run on old Comps....even a lot of new Keyboards etc., are not compatable........

Michael72.

[Thudnut]

Quizmaster,
you would have to find a really old type of printer to go with WIN95.  I couldn't find any on a quick internet search either.

Another problem you may face is that of getting consumables such as ink cartridges etc.

As has been said, if the budget allows, you may want to think about upgrading. 
The problem is that there is no user support for WIN95 anymore.

Good luck,
Thudders

[quizmaster]

Michael72

Thanks for the offer. I live in Cambs but my mum is up in Newcastle. Are either of these anywhere near you?

QM

[Michael72.]

Did you get my PM quizmaster??...


Michael72.

[arnietheother]

Apologies for replying to an old post, but just in case it still isn't solved or other people have a similar problem, one other solution would be to leave Win95 installed as your default operating system, get a newer printer (providing there's a USB socket on your motherboard) then to use your printer, but boot your computer from a live cd such as Knoppix -
http://www.knoppix.com/
This runs an operating system from your CD ROM without having to install any software on your hard disk.  It will more than likely detect your hardware, configure your new printer and also let you access your existing hard drive for reading, writing and printing.  (Download or buy a copy of the CD & try it before you buy the printer).  Then you won't have to worry about drivers or installation etc. 
While running from the CD, it's possible to access the internet, write documents etc.   
There are other bootable CD ROMs about, you would be best with one that loads a lightweight window manager when you don't have much RAM.  I think Knoppix loads IceWM when RAM size is less that about 180Mb. 
An alternative, really lightweight distribution, bootable from a CD or USB pen drive and capable of running on a 486DX with 16MB of Ram is "Damn Small Linux"
http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/
This would be a very low or zero cost way of getting your old hardware to work with a new printer.