Ever since I replaced my hard drive (a week ago) I've been having problems with my Dell printer/scanner/copier. I can print and copy perfectly, but I cannot scan at all. I get a message that includes a suggestion to check my firewall to make sure the file "dleacoms.exe" is not being blocked (among other "basic" things which I've already done).
I have added this file to the "ignore" list of Microsoft Security Essentials, Malwarebytes and Norton in case one of them is blocking the file, but I still can't scan. I've shut off the printer master switch and put back on, still no scan.
I can't think of anything else except to uninstall the printer and re-install it. Is there any reason I should NOT try this?
Is there something else I can/should try?

Did you go to the printers web site and see if they have any new drivers for it ?

Cathy,
I just looked at the drivers available to download for my particular printer. The first one is for the firmware for the printer. Can I totally screw up my printer by doing these driver downloads?
At the very least, I can still print and copy from my printer right now, I just can't scan.
Are they pretty straightforward to download?

What is the model number of your printer? I have a Dell 968 AIO, and it acts up now and then. Is it hard wired or wireless?

Inland,
My printer is a v313w. I've had many problems with the printer head right from the beginning but I learned a way around the problem and don't even think about it anymore. But something changed when I had to replace my hard drive and I think a file is being blocked somehow, a file that's used by the printer to communicate with the computer. At least that's what I THINK is going on. It is wireless capable, but it's hard-wired for my computer. I can't scan items anymore, although copying and printing are fine.

That sounds like a driver issue. I can connect my HP printer and it will print and copy just fine. But in order to have the ability to scan, I need to install the drivers from HP.

Microsoft Security Essentials and Norton are both antivirus.
It's not a good idea to run two antivirus which use real-time protection at the same time.

Ah, gee, I didn't even catch that Mary was running two anti-virus programs. I'm surprised her computer is running at all! I just worked on a laptop that had both Norton and AVG running... what a mess.

I looked at the page for the drivers and there are drivers for Windows 7 and Windows 8. Have you downloaded them? If you're using the installation CD that came with the printer, it may not have the most recent drivers.

Jenny,
I forgot about Microsoft Security Essentials being another anti-virus. I think it got installed when I re-installed Microsoft Office after getting my new hard drive. I've uninstalled it.

Draclvr,
I just found a 40MB download for Dell Inkjet printers. I'll download and see if it helps at all.

Make sure the drivers are appropriate for your model number printer/scanner.

Since my printer is a v313w model, it looks like this driver would pertain to my machine: Dell Inkjet Drivers - Printers - Dell V310-V510 Series

However, this is an older download, from 2010; does that make a difference? I'm pretty sure I never downloaded it.

Do you see your PC in a list of available PC's when you begin the scan process? If you've defined a PIN number for your PC you may have to provide that as well.

If not, this sounds similar to my issue - the name list becomes corrupted and I have to reset the printer to factor defaults. Mine is used as a network printer, but it will not connect directly to the router. To reconnect it I have to hardwire the printer and reinstall the software to regain access.

Here's the Manual for your printer (not sure if you have it or not) -

Dell V310 User Guide

Page 85 contains a troubleshooting section and page 21 describes resetting the printer to factory defaults.

The firmware downloads you've mentioned are for WiFi. If you're not scanning over a network you probably don't need those. Do download and install the latest drivers.

Mary, here is the page for downloading drivers specific to your printer. You will need to select your operating system. These drivers are from 2012

http://www.dell.com/support/troubleshooting/us/en/19/Product/dell-v313w

I found printer drivers that are for OS "Deployment". I found them on this Dell site: http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/dell-v313w
I'm not exactly sure what "deployment" means in this situation.
Should I download that driver?


Also, this download on the Windows update site:
Dell Inkjet Drivers - Printers - Dell V310-V510 Series
Download size: 40.9 MB
Update type: Optional
Dell Inkjet Drivers Printers software update released in May 2010

Edit: Draclvr, I see you found one of the sites I did. I didn't see your post before I submitted mine.

The download size of the 2012 drivers fro your printer is 69.9 MB. These are the drivers you want.

Okay, I've tried all the suggestions...and I still can't scan.
I think I may uninstall the printer and try a fresh install.
I tried calling my computer shop but whoever I got on the phone just told me that they don't offer any support for printers and he had no ideas for me.
Well, I guess I can live without a scanner...but I really don't want to.

Let us know how it goes, Dell printers can be very frustrating.

"I've had many problems with the printer head right from the beginning but I learned a way around the problem and don't even think about it anymore."

Mary, I'd like to know the "way around the problem". I think I killed my print head by cleaning a part of it that I shouldn't have. I can't copy, print, scan, or fax anymore. My printer is a V515W. I had to have the print head replaced before I could even use the printer out of the box. They are now discontinued and Dell doesn't seem to have parts for them. Amazon has a print head for $75.00. I thought the thing cost 5 or 10 bucks. It is just a cheap piece of plastic. I haven't decided what to do about it and have just been going without.

Do all printers come with the removable print head now? Neither of the printers I had before this one did.

Can I have ruined the print head by cleaning a wrong part of it?

oldbroad,
My printhead "problem": Every now and then when I try to print something, I get a message saying that there is a "printhead error" and to check the manual on how to re-seat the printhead...I think that's what it says. No matter what I did it just kept coming back and not letting me print.
I discovered if I just opened the top of the printer and waited until the ink cartridges moved into position and then closed the lid, all was well again.
I don't know if this works for everyone, but I knew my printhead was fairly new and clean as a whistle, so I just made sure it was seated correctly and continued with my "system". TONS of Dell printers at the same time were having the same problems. Dell did nothing to help its customers.
Since I really didn't do much to my printhead at all, I really can't answer your question about whether you could have ruined your printhead.

I wish you luck!

I suppose you could have damaged the contacts. Sometimes it's cheaper to purchase a new printer than it is to repair an old one. If you shop the sales, you can actually purchase a new printer for less money than it costs to replace the ink.

There's one on eBay for $49.95 - New Genuine Dell V515 V515W Inkjet Printer Head

Mary, unfortunately that had never worked for me. I kept getting errors and having to take it out and put it back and it would still give me the error.

Inland, thanks for that link. I still don't know if it's worth it. As you say, there are some pretty cheap printers out there and I'm not really sure if a new print head will solve the problem. I hate to spend that money and find out it doesn't. On the other hand, the print quality of the printer is really excellent. And I believe it is compatible with my old camera card although I never did try it out.

Decisions, decisions.

Perhaps, if your printer has the feature, the print head needs aligned. This is a feature our HP printer has and occurs automatically when the ink cartridges are replaced. It's also something that can be done even if the cartridges haven't been changed.

I don't know what occurs during alignment but a test page is printed then placed on the scanning bed. The printer then goes through a series of checks, the print head seems to be moving during this time, which I imagine the printer is comparing what's on the test page with the paper in the printer to make sure the head prints according to programmed parameters and is positioned correctly to do so.

As to not being able to scan something, that wouldn't have anything to do with the print head, at least it doesn't on our printer. I would imagine the major cause of this problem would be troubles with the printer drivers. And getting the scanned item to the HD dependent on how the printer connects to the computer.

I totally agree with InlandAZ.If you buy ink and say also buy a backup cartridge,you could get a new printer for less than that ink!!
Example-( http://www.walmart.com/ip/HP-Deskjet-2512-All-in-One-Printer/20690017 ).

oldbroad,
One thing to think about: if you are considering the new Dell printer that Inland linked to, please read up reviews on the machine. Back when I got my 313 (several years back), I saw that people were having problems with the 515, also.

I would never buy another Dell printer.