Found new hardware (printer) every start

Hello.

I had this same problem on another computer and posted it on the BBS forum last year. The responses I received back solved the problem. This time, the solutions are not working.

Computer: Dell Dimension, Windows XP home ed.

Problem: "Found new Printer" window comes up on every startup.

Printer: HP All in One V40.

Steps taken:
1) I removed the printer software and deleted all drivers from system.
2) I deleted all print drivers files in the system 32\spool\driver folder.
3) I went through all the oem.inf files and checked for old printer descriptions and deleted them.

Here is the step that gave me a problem:
4) Referencing the Microsoft technical document 298370:
The New Hardware Wizard may detect the printer device after every restart of the computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298370/en-us

To use Registry Editor to remove the damaged registry key, follow these steps:
1. Log on to your computer by using an administrator account.
2. Click Start, and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
4. Locate and click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\LPTENUM
5. Right-click the registry key, and then click Delete.
6. Under Confirm Key Delete, click Yes.
7. Close Registry Editor, and then restart your computer.

When I tried to do the above step, I was unable to delete the registry key. An error window appeared saying it was unable to completely delete the key.

I got the same window when I tried to delete any keys in the LPTENUM folder.

Question:
1) Assuming the problem is a faulty registry key, how can I delete it.
2) If this isn't the problem, what other steps can I take to stop the "found new printer" window from appearing on start up.

As always, many thanks for your input.

 

Hi, macpez.

Perhaps you can boot into safe mode and run regedit from there to delete the keys you wish to delete.


Before deleting registry keys via the Microsoft instructions, I recommend you look around the HP web site first to see if there are things you'd like to try. You didn't say anything in your post about checking the HP web site for information so I dug up a link.

HP Officejet v40 All-in-One

Below are a couple pages I found via that "HP Officejet v40 All-in-One" web page that may be helpful. There are other links via the HP Officejet v40 All-in-One web page that might be helpful. I didn't examine them thoroughly.

HP All-in-One Products - Resolving Installation Problems with the All-in-One Drivers Built into Microsoft(R) Windows XP

I added the "Printable Version" link directly to the quoted text for your convenience. There's a lot of other information on that page that might be useful.


Here's the link for obtaining and installing the proper drivers for Windows XP.

HP PSC 900 and Officejet V Series All-in-One Products - Installing the All-in-One in Windows XP

 

Printer issue: I know that for most hardware software problems it is best to uninstall and reinstall software and drivers, but I have a Lexmark printer that does the same thing when I first install it. I tried everything, but nothing work until I just said ok, so you found new hardware let's install it. So that's what I did. I just click on the new hardware (printer) and install it. That corrected my problem. May not help you, but it help me.

Good Luck

 

I recommend that you check to verify that all the XP services are running with their default settings.

I recently had a two day ordeal/nightmare trying to install a Lexmark All-In-One printer for a friend. It turned out that he had set Application Management Service to disabled as opposed to the standard Manual setting. That wasn't something I expected to make any difference but when I reset it, the install went smooth as silk.

HTH

 

found new printer - still a problem

Hello. Thanks for all the input.

I'm still stumped by this problem. It drastically slows down the startup process and interferes with other applications until all the "found new printer" windows are displayed and closed.

I tried removing the LPTENUM registry key in Safe Mode without any luck. (See my original post above.)

As mentioned, I have reviewed all related information from Microsoft and HP, but nothing has worked to date.

Since the "found new printer" window is displayed by the system tray and then the hardware wizard is displayed on every startup, could some other type of previous hardware or software installation other than a printer be causing the conflict?

I removed all peripherals and made sure all references to any printer, driver or server were deleted, but the "found new printer" window still pops up.

Note: I also used updated software for the HPv40 all-in-one re-installation.

Using a suggestion from an above reply, I tried to install the HP software when the "found new printer" window appeared. The hardware wizard scanned the HP-CD for the "software," then, after a rather long time, the Wizard said it could not find software for the "printer." This makes me think that it is not an HP printer file that is causing the problem.

Also, is there any other way I can remove the LPTENUM registry key? What about trying to delete the entire LPTENUM folder in a backup copy of the registry and then replacing the registry with the backup? What procedure/program can I use? -- Also, where else can I look in the registry?

Thanks again for the help.

 

Some questions, and some comments.

. Did you originally install the software with the printer disconnected from the workstaton until the installation software prompted you to connect the printer?

. Have you tried at the prompt letting it reinstall the printer software?

. Are you connecting using a parallel cable or USB?

Note: If USB, then the LPTENUM registry key makes no difference.

To clean stubborn drivers or fragments use CLEANSPL.EXE from the Windows 2000, XP or 2003 Resource Kit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...69-57ff-4ae7-96ee-b18c4790cffd&DisplayLang=en

Cleanspl.exe from the Windows 2003 Resource Kit tools will work on Windows XP without a problem.

Note that at some point the Cleanspl program will ask about removing the Print Monitors, such as the Standard TCP/IP Port, Apple Laserwriter, BJ Print Monitor, etc. Just telll it no. Run the cleanup. (You now have no reason to worry about a registry edit).

Disconnect the printer.
Restart the computer.

Test.

------------------------

Now about the registry key you wanted to delete. As Administrator start regedit and navigate to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\
Right click on this key, Permissions, Advanced.
Highlight Everyone, and click Edit
Click on Full Permissioins. Clheckmark the last box on the screen: "Replace permission entries on all child object with entries ......." and then click Apply and then OK.

Now delete your key. If it gives you a hard time Right-click, Permissions and repeat the process above just on the Value LPTENUM.

 

Also worth a shot:

Try looking in Device Manager using the VIEW option of Show Hidden Devices. Check your Printer section and see if there is any listing for a hidden printer with installation problems. If so uninstall and remove or disable this.