How I install Windows 7 drivers on Window 8 (or Windows 10) computers

The recent demise of the Windows XP operating system has led a good many of my customers to migrate to windows computers in their offices.  I thought I would explain a tip I found on the internet that has helped me when I am installing Xerox drivers that were originally intended  for Windows 7 on to Windows 8 computers. 

Below I have pasted  the few lines of instructions  a friend passed along to me.  The instructions show how to set up Windows 8 for  unsigned Windows 7 64 bit Drivers:
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Install unsigned drivers in windows 8 this way

I had a problems installing unsigned drivers in Windows 8 and the steps below worked for me.

Windows Key + R

Enter shutdown.exe /r /o /f /t 00

Click the "OK" button

System will restart to a "Choose an option" screen

Select "Troubleshoot" from "Choose an option" screen

Select "Advanced options" from "Troubleshoot" screen

Select "Windows Startup Settings" from "Advanced options" screen

Click "Restart" button

System will restart to "Advanced Boot Options" screen

Select "Disable Driver Signature Enforcement"

Once the system starts, install the drivers as you would on Windows 7

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The only problem I have with these instructions is that most people including myself have a problem with the 2nd line.  You don't need to type in Enter in front of Shutdown.   In fact I have never been able to type the instructions in the 2nd line without some syntax error occurring so I usually just cut and past everything after Enter.  The rest of the instructions are pretty clear so I don't think I need to explain them. 

As far as Xerox wide formats go I have been able to run everything from a 12 year old 8825 with the original controller to the latest 6204 in Windows 8 with no problems.  

Also I recommend for my customers who don't like being without the start screen in Windows 8 that they go to stardock.com where they can purchase the windows 7 start screen app for windows 8.

The Stardock screen costs about 5 dollars but it has saved me much more than that in time saved  teaching and re teaching customers and new Windows 8 users how to find the printers in Windows 8.  

I believe the Window 8.1 OS will have a start button and desktop screen as an option but I have not seen it for my self.  


Windows 8 is a good OS and Older Xerox wide formats can be made compatible with it. I tell my customers not to push their old Xerox 8830, 510 or 6204 out the door and into the scrap bin till they have tried this.   Many of the new KIP, OCE , and Ricoh owners who I tell about this tip literally cry out in agony when they discover they could have continued with the rock solid Xerox equipment that has been in their offices for as much as a decade.  

Hope someone finds this information useful.

How I Re-install Xerox Freeflow Acxess client tools on a Windows 7 64bit computer

Assuming the computer on which I or my customer needs to install Acxess client tools has the Window 7 64 bit OS installed,  I usually go to the page below and look for the FREEFLOW ACXESS CLIENT TOOLS AND ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT TOOL FOR WINDOW, VERSION 14.01.12.

 http://www.support.xerox.com/support/xerox-6204/downloads/enus.html?operatingSystem=win7x64

Dell Optiplex controller used on most Xerox
Wide format scanner and printer systems

NOTE: This version of Acxess client tools runs on a desk top or laptop computer.  If I see a black computer next to my customers Xerox wide format system  that resembles the Dell Optiplex controller noted in the photo that can be seen on  this page then I know  this version of Acxess client tools will probably work on my customers computer. I never attempt to load the Acxess Client tools onto the Dell Optiplex controllers.  The Dell Optiplex controllers run the proprietary software that Xerox printers and scanner use to operate.  Acxess Client tools is only meant to be installed on the customers desktop PC or Laptop where they intend to retrieve the scanned files!!!

Here is the process I use to install Acxess client tools on to a Windows 7 64 bit desktop or laptop personal computer:

I Download Acxess client tools from the website above and it will automatically install itself when I open it. During the install I am carefull not to select the password protected account as this will install accounting software.   I then need to go to the DEVICE MANAGER tab on the upper right.  There is an icon on the left side of the DEVICE MANAGER page that when you cursor over it will read "create a new device".  Once I click on create a new device I can see the device name and IP address boxes open on the bottom of the DEVICE MANAGER page. I then enter the name and IP address of the Xerox 6204 or the type of system I will be using..  I then hit enter.  I will then see the new device in the list on the screen.  I then check on the boxes marked default printer and default scanner

Next I need to go to the DOCUMENT RETRIEVE tab at the top of the page.   On the DOCUMENT RETRIEVE page the Mailbox name will most likely be defaulted to" images" (lower case) but it can be any of the mail box names that I or my customer has entered at the Xerox scan page on the copier or scanner system. The file prefix can be anything I or my customer choose or I can leave it defaulted to MYSCAN.  The retrieval directory will be  the location I or my customer want the files to wind up in when they are retrieved from the copier. I usually close and reopen the AXCESS CLIENT TOOLS once.  When I close it on some systems a question will come up and read " save changes?"   I do not want to save changes.  When I  reopen it windows may give me an error telling me that the program wasn't installed correctly.  Just choose to re-install the program with the recommended setting and it will quickly correct the install and reopen.  

This should do it if the controller is an Acxess unit.

 If there is no controller to be seen or it is mounted on the back of your printer you will need to look at either How I install Xerox scan assistant  or the page for How I install Acxess client tools on machines that have Non Dell controllers installed.  I will be putting these pages up for you shortly.