So you’ve just installed Windows 7 on your computer, or have received a new computer with Windows 7 installed and want to print a label on Zebra Designer.
Zebra is recommending Nicelabel Drivers, just click on the download link below (there is a list of supported printers on Nicelabel.com): http://www.nicelabel.com/downloads/nicedrivers/zebra
Once downloaded, follow the simple to use wizard to install your printer driver and print using Zebra Designer.
For the future, Windows 7 support is planned for the ZebraDesigner driver and ZebraDesigner software, this post will be updated when there is more news or updates. There are no plans for Windows 7 compatibility using the Zebra Universal Driver (ZUD).
Updates 8th February 2010:
Further tests and confirmation from Zebra conclude that although the Zebra Designer driver will print a Windows test page in Windows 7, once Zebra Designer software has been opened the software will automatically keep asking you to add a new driver (even if one is installed).
Specifically the software runs up to the splash screen and then requests the user install a zebra designer driver. The driver wizard will then run successfully, upon which point Zebra Designer will restart and will again prompt to install a Zebra Designer driver. Currently there is no way to prevent this request from appearing, additionally, the software can not progress past this point unless a driver is installed, making the software unusable.
We also tested Zebra Designer using Windows 7’s compatibility feature (modes tested, Windows Vista, Windows Vista with service pack 2, Windows XP, Windows XP with service pack 3), but found that this caused the software to out right crash when started.
To conclude the current Zebra Designer driver will work with Windows 7 but there is no way to successfully start Zebra Designer within Windows 7 due to its inability to check for drivers successfully therefore rendering Zebra Designer unusable. Zebra have confirmed that they will be releasing a newer version of Zebra Designer that is compatible with Windows 7, unfortunately this is not due until April - May 2010.
If you can’t wait until then, the only alternative is to buy a copy of Nicelabel which is compatible with Windows 7 and will automatically open the Zebra Designer label formats (.lbl) that are automatically saved on your computer in C:\Program Files\ZebraDesigner\samples\Labels.
Please click here to contact us regarding alternative software options.
does not work!!! Used the “Nicedrivers” but everytime you try and run the program - it prompts you to add a driver!
Hi
You will need to install a nice driver to enable Zebra Designer to work with Windows 7 as there are currently no compatible Zebra drivers. Follow the wizard and select your printer to install the Windows 7 compatible printer driver. You should now be able to print using Windows 7 in Zebra Designer.
Any problems let me know, Vanessa
The nice drivers installed nicely into Windows 7, but ZebraDesigner Pro doesn’t recognize them. When launching, it says, “This program requires that you install a ZDesigner printer driver. Please click ‘Add Printer’ to install an appropriate driver or click ‘Close’ to exit.”
I am having the same problem. I have installed both NiceDrivers and ZebraDesigner and ZebraDesigner asks for drivers every time I try to start it, even though I have added the drivers using ZebraDesigner. Incidentally I am using Windows 7 Professional 64 bit and I am wondering if that is the issue.
Hi Vanessa,
I’m having the same problem as Cool Breeze.
I finally managed to get Zebra Designer installed, after figuring out that with W7 64 bit, it didn’t like going into the Program Files (x86) folder. So I’ve installed it in the standard Program Files folder.
Once I run Zebra Designer, it pops up and wants to install the printer. I select the Nice driver. It tells me its already installed and do I want to update the driver or add a new one? With either option, it just prompts me again to install a driver.
I’ve kind of figured out why its doing this…. When I plug in the device, its now connecting as a ZLP 2844-Z, but when I update the driver with ZD, its removing the hardware from the device, and the device becomes “unknown” again.
Is it a 64 bit problem?
What should I do?
Thanks,
Meaghan
Hi Meaghan
I have updated the post: http://blog.amlabels.co.uk/index.php/2009/12/zebra-designer-for-windows-7/
Thanks Vanessa