HP Scanner driver

HP Scanjet 5530 scanner.
HPs basic driver has worked for 12 months...they only do a 'basic' driver.
Now having problems with it.
Tried a third party driver which works....'Vue Scan'....however it costs 30 Dollars (£20) to save without a watermark which for domestic use is too much.

Are there any sensible options...Please?

 

You have not told us what OS you are using. If it's Win 10 then the HP Scanjet 5530 is not supported and your only recourse is to use the 3rd party software you mentioned in your post.

 

Sorry...a silly mistake!
Windows 8.1....Windows 10 soon.
Was hoping there might be a free driver somewhere?
I have similar problems with printers where HP hasn't updated drivers for Windows 8 and only offers 'basic' drivers.

 

MajorGeeks lists various free driver updaters, and downloading the drivers are also free.
I have had great success with DriverEasy.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/drivereasy.html

 

Have avoided general 'driver updater' programmes as being a bit too intrusive....perhaps I'm being too careful?

 

DriverEasy is not 'intrusive'. It scans you hardware devices (it has to) and then it's database of more than 3,000,000 to check for a new driver.
It's 1 of only 2 driver updaters on MajorGeeks' list of Top Freeware Picks.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/top_freeware_picks.html

If HP can't provide a suitable driver, this is your only option... unless you want to pay for drivers.

BTW Do you know for sure commercial driver updaters are not intrusive?

 

Have never used a driver updater before (20+ years).
Only ever updated graphics drivers when it has been necessary....otherwise drivers have lasted years!
Will follow your advice...Thanks

 

You have the right attitude!
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
To many computer users update drivers because it's free - don't pay for drivers. And then the :crap hits the fan. Uninstalling drivers is not as simple as uninstalling programs.

BTW DriverEasy shows an update for my onboard VIA HD Audio - I'm not doing it because my audio is perfect.

I do hope DriverEasy can find a suitable driver for your HP machine. :wave

 

Downloaded and ran Driver Easy.
It found 12 out of date drivers.
The only ones that interested me were my two printer drivers (Inkjet and a B&W laser printer) and obviously the scanner driver.
I updated all three and sadly it made no difference as they were all the manufacturers 'basic' drivers which were already installed......just the latest version.
I am obviously committed to purchase 2 new printers and a new scanner in the near future....however one work around that I have used is as follows:-
I have a small laptop on Windows 7....it is loaded with the Vista scanner driver and it works in compatibility mode.
It's then a simple case of starting the laptop....plug in the scanner USB lead....scan as required.....then save or print via my home network on one of the desktops!
PCs used to be simple!!!!!
Thanks for your help

 

Windows used to be user-friendly... roflmao