My HP Printer won't scan on my Mac, but it will on my PC, why?

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Level 1

1 points

My HP Printer won't scan on my Mac, but it will on my PC, why?

I have an HP Photosmart 3210 - All-in-One Printer (Copies, Scans, Prints) and the scanning option will not work on my MacBook.

When we first got this printer, about 4 years ago, we only had a PC and it worked perfectly fine with that. Now, I want to use it for my MacBook, so I plugged the USB cord into it and went to the scanning application that was downloaded from the software, and I expected it to scan. It keeps on telling me that a scanner can not be found.

But, if I try to scan on my PC it works perfectly fine again.
Why is this happening, and what can I do to make it scan on my Mac?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.6), iPod Touch

Posted on Apr 11, 2009 9:34 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 11, 2009 9:45 AM in response to grekgator

grekgator,

The HP drivers that are built into OS X only handle printing to HP printers. For scanning, you must use HP's software. You'll need to look on the HP website for the software appropriate to both your printer model and your Macbook. Scanning is handled from within this software, not by using the scanner/printer's interface.

Scott

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Answer 2

vff

Level 1

0 points

Apr 23, 2009 7:14 AM in response to Scott Radloff

I'm also having the same error using my HP Photosmart 3210 AIO (via ethernet) with all my Macs. After two years of usage, this problem started manifesting itself three weeks ago after applying the latest batch of OSX updates. I'm using the latest drivers/sw from HP (HP Installer_PS3200v9.7.1.dmg).

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

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Answer 3

rkaufmann87

Level 10

149,396 points

Apr 23, 2009 5:54 PM in response to vff

As the previous poster mentioned you need when you install using the drivers Apple provides these are ONLY print drivers, you then need to download the most current scan, copier drivers from HP to be able to use that functionality. My recommendation is to:

System Preferences, Printers & Fax, highlight the 3210, click - sign, then click + sign and add back the 3210. Then you will have the most current print drivers.

Then go to hp.com, Support & Drivers, enter Photosmart 3210, click on OS X, download the HP Full Feature Software and Drivers (about 203 mb) and then install following HP's directions.

This should do it.

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