Dell 3130cn Windows 11 driver solution fixed ! on Precision 7760

I recently purchased a 7760 off dell outlet with Windows 11 Pro running - I've had 3130cn printers for a long time, actually 3 of them all of which still function reliably. 

Upon connection, I found windows was recognizing the 3130cn as a printer, but no driver could be found. 

Unfortunately the Dell driver download indicated there is no driver support for windows 11 and this printer.  A call to tech support yielded nothing, though tech support did suggest I try installing the Dell Open Print Driver as it 'might still work.'

Well, it didn't recognize the 3130cn. But I uncovered a viable and bit surprising solution after getting desperate - there's seemingly no information online which describes a solution so here one is. I almost bought another color laser on Amazon having lost hope, but started a ditch effort looking through settings haphazardly for something to try. Here's the instruction of what will work:

1. Install the Open Print Driver from Dell: https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/dell-3130cn/drivers 

2. Open Settings

3. Open Bluetooth & Devices

4. Open Printers & Scanners

5. You'll see listed as a printer the Dell Open Print Driver as a printer. It's useless as installed. 

6. Open it and open Printer Properties

7. On the General tab, you can rename it anything you wish - I renamed it Dell 3130cn

8. Open the Ports tab - on the 7760, I run a Rollo thermal printer on USB001, USB002 was open - select this, hit ok. I haven't tried it on any of the USB-C ports that the 7760 has, nor on USB001. I assume whatever available would work. 

9. Hit apply/ok and close settings. 

9. Try printing something to the 3130cn via the renamed Open Print Driver - I was pleasantly surprised to hear the printer spin up and work! 

Since you're not using the right 3130cn driver, the print dialogue box doesn't have the same options as previous versions of windows with dedicated driver, but it will print and there are still quite a few options that so far have provided me complete functionality, MPF use for example. 

It blows my mind that Dell tech support couldn't take me through this extremely simple fix, but as the tech support guy said, 'they haven't sold printers for 6 years.'  Yup, they apparently made the 3130cn too well - they're nearly bulletproof. :)  Hopefully this fix will show up on Google.