Looking for your printer model number is not all that difficult. What is considered a model number, however, may be just a bit more confusing. Fortunately, if you are trying to communicate with the printer manufacturer you will likely only need the model name and series of your hp, Cannon, Epson or Brother printer.
Where to look
Ever heard of the saying; if it were any closer it would have bitten you? Well, this holds true for finding a printer model or series number. Given the way that most computer engineers think you might believe that taking the printer apart is necessary to find the printer model or printer series. This is not true. In most cases, the model name and series number the customer service representative will need is actually right there on the front of the printer. After all, if it is easy for you to find it will be easier for them to help you troubleshoot the printer when you are in crisis mode.
Finding the serial number
When it comes to finding the serial number of your HP, Cannon, Epson or Brother printer you will need to look a bit closer. On the back of most of these printers you will see a white rectangular sticker. In all likelihood it will have the printer company logo shown in a big way. The ?UL? logo for Underwriters Laboratories will also be found on the sticker.
What you are looking for, however, is the always present barcode symbols that everything has on them these days. Numbers will be above the barcodes. There will likely be two barcodes here. One is a product code, which you really do not care about, and the other is the serial number which identifies that particular printer. If, by chance there is no sticker on the back of the printer check under the lid or open the printer up and it should be there. In any case, these stickers are usually about 3x5 inches in size and have all sorts of other inconsequential symbols on them that you really don't care or need to know about.
One last place to look
If you have looked all around the printer for; the printer model, serial number sticker and/or series and make of the printer with no luck try going to the printer test page option on the computer. Print out a test page and everything will usually be there. All this may sound like it is involved but it really will only take seconds.
If you want to ensure that your older printer keeps working well with the rest of your hardware and software, then you may need to update those drivers and other software occasionally. However, identifying these items for an older model printer can be a challenge. Below are some tips that can help you.
Why Drivers are Important for Printers
Without the right driver, your printer is simply not going to work with the rest of your hardware. A driver is a piece of software that basically acts as a translator between your printer and your computer.
Free Ways to Find Printer Drivers
Before you abandon your older but perfectly functional printer because of a lack of driver support, make sure to check these potential sources:
The manufacturer. Many manufacturers continue to have downloadable drivers available for free through their web sites even for older models. For example, the Epson printer's site still makes available drivers for the Epson Stylus C80 which was first released in 2001.
PrintCountry. If you want an easier solution, you can go to PrintCountry.com. Once there you have to select the brand and model of your printer and the operating system you are currently using. The printer driver is then emailed directly to you instantly. The service is completely free to use and includes a large catalog of brands and models to choose from.
Paid Services for Finding Drivers & Software
Besides the options listed above, you can also find a few sites that give you access to drivers and software for older printer models but only if you are a paid subscriber to the site. Choosing this option is rarely the best solution for several reasons:
Available for free elsewhere. Although you may feel desperate to locate the drivers and other software for your printer so it work with your hardware, you can find these downloads for free using other methods, including the ones listed above.
No more convenient. These paid sites argue that they provide a more convenient option for finding drivers and software for these printer models because everything can be located through one web site. While digging through a manufacturer's web site can take time and patience, the PrintCountry.com alternative is very similar in set-up to most of these paid services (better, in fact, than the search features used in some) but the service is completely free.
Another Option
If the options above do not help you locate the driver software you need for your printer model, there is another option if you are using a Windows operating system. Microsoft includes a number of built-in drivers for printers and along with these it adds a ?Generic/Text Only? driver that is not designed to work with any specific model. Your printing options will be limited if you choose this driver but it will prevent your old model from becoming nothing more than a bulky paperweight.
Both James Kara Murat & John C. Arkin are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.