On my Win7-64bit computer, create XP partition to run Epson 9600 printer?

<p>On my Win7-64bit computer, create XP partition to run Epson 9600 printer?<br>

<br>

I have spent days trying to get a Win7-64bit computer to work with an Epson 9600 printer I obtained some time back. Nozzle check from the unit itself is good but I can't get my laptop to communicate with the printer. I have looked through all the forums, spoke to Epson tech and, as some have recommended, I downloaded the Vista 64-bit driver, etc. The Epson tech guy said that best bet would be to find a Vista or XP computer because both operating systems have the driver for the Epson 9600 printer.</p>

<p>I'm exhausted by it all. I have located my XP disks. Do you think I could partition my computer and load the XP OS onto a partition to use just for printing on the 9600? I could eventually get a used computer to dedicate to the purpose but don't have one at the moment and, if I don't have to spend the money for one, so much the better.</p>

<p>I've never done partitioning before but it seems it could possibly work. Any advice you can give would be so very appreciated. (I bought a 44" roll of canvas before making sure I'd ever get to use it. D-uh!)</p>

<p>Thanks in advance,<br>

D. Saunders</p>

<p>I have a hp 3400 mhz system 4gb ram<br>

and with slide in holders so I can use either win xp or win 7 ( encoraged by my son)</p>

<p>I like /prfere several apps that will not run under win 7.<br>

with little hassle but with agonizing slowness, I creaed a Vurtual drive under win 7.<br>

the apps would not run.<br>

the virtual computer within the win 7 drive ( insttaltion)_<br>

seems to work for other things ( as a trial)<br>

but woulfd not support my favorites.<br>

the manufacturer suggested downloading a trial for version 9.<br>

but this liiked like an app for a win 8 touch screen .<br>

not this is not a dual boot system.,<br>

I just had two slide in trays one win xp onw win 7.</p>

<p>I am still riunning windows xp with the unofficial sp4 from "softpedia"<br>

and avg free edition<br>

( not that this is NOT THE free download)<br>

but during install says " free"<br>

and malware bytes. so far so good.<br>

there is also a combatability patch for office 2000<br>

that allows it to read newer files.<br>

I am not a computer expert but must work along a step at a time.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Here's a step-by-step on how to configure a system to dual-boot XP with Windows 7 pre-installed:<br>

<a href="http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/8790/dual-boot-your-pre-installed-windows-7-computer-with-xp/">http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/8790/dual-boot-your-pre-installed-windows-7-computer-with-xp/</a></p>

<p>XP will also run as a virtual machine within Windows 7 using VirtualBox, but Google the laptop's CPU to make sure it supports hardware virtualization or it will run with "agonizing slowness" as Walter described:<br>

<a href="https://www.virtualbox.org/">https://www.virtualbox.org/</a></p>

I have no experience with that printer but I'm sure that instead to have a new partition with an old OS you better download a Linux distro like Mint or Ubuntu

and run it from CD or, better, from a memory stick. Linux is very friendly with older hardware and lately distros of Linux are very easy to work with, run fast

and are very reliable. You will love it.

<p>Not sure whether they're real or fake, but tried this page: https://driverscollection.com/?H=Stylus%20Pro%209600&By=Epson&SS=Windows%207%2064-bit ?<br>

These seem to be network printer drivers, also for 64-bits Win7/8/8.1. If you can hook up the printer to a network, it might do the trick. Else, you could use a virtualised Windows XP, share it in there as a network printer, and actually use it in the host OS (=win7 64-bits) as a network printer. A bit weird setup, but it would mean you can print from Win7 directly.<br>

<br /> Else, I'd try the trick with VirtualBox, or if you have Windows 7 Pro, you could actually try the Windows XP Mode - a downloadable from Microsoft which is effectively a Windows XP image that can be run virtualised within Windows 7, much like VirtualBox but more 'transparent', plus it's part of the Win7 license. Dualboot is always an option, but a bit more pain in the rear.</p>

<p>You have two choices to run XP:<br>

First choice is to create a dual boot on your computer. You can add XP and you will receive a menu at startup. Directions are available everywhere including Microsoft. This is the best option since you are running a XP in native mode but you need to reboot when switching back and forth.<br>

<br />Since you have Win 7 Pro you can download the Windows Virtual PC software from Microsoft which requires two programs Virtual PC and an XP client. This runs on top of Win 7 Pro. It's designed to allow legacy programs to run on Win 7 Pro. The bad news is that it doesn't always work for all apps but it should work for just a driver. You just start and end XP like any other application.</p>

<p>Another alternative to VirtualBox and Virtual PC - VMware's free VMware Player. It's a "light" version of VMware Workstation. There used to be restrictions on creating VMs, but they've lifted that. The current version is quite capable, and VMware - while it'll use the CPU virtualization features if they are present in hardware - has always performed well even when they aren't (I've been using VMware Workstation since 2002 or so).</p>

Back in the day, I used two hard drives and each had their own OS. I'd

just power down, swap sata cable, and power up. It was

easier in the end than otherwise dealing with boot

partitions and software