Re-installing New Printer Driver

Troops.

I would like to make a few points with my brother. He has the following problem: His HP printer stopped accepting print commands. Yes, it might be the printer itself but he would like to re-install the driver as a first measure.
He went to ADD/REMOVE on the CONTROL PANEL and removed the printer's driver from there. He has removed any reference to the printer from the PRINTER_FAX Window. He has looked through WINDOWS EXPLORER for any reference to that printer and removed the files. He has downloaded the driver for his printer from the HP site.

The problem is this: When he tries to install the printer driver a message comes back saying the printer has already been installed. What measures might you suggest to get around this stopgap? As it stands the only thing left to do is bring the entire computer to its knees and re-format the disk. This of, course, is most undesireable.

I will entertain any suggestions for if I come through, as the older brother, imagine the immense power thrust into my hands.

David Favin

 

David Favin--Since your brother has already uninstalled the printer, I think he has to reinstall it before doing anything else. He should use the installation CD and follow the instructions for installation that came with the printer.
After uninstalling I suspect he needs more than a driver now

 

Jim:

I do not understand what you mean by installing. I am asking you what is involved in the installation other than picking out the printer and indicating where the driver is to be found? During the attempt at installing my brother gives the full path (namely the CD drive) to the installation disk which was downloaded from HP. It starts the installation and then says that the printer has already been installed. Have I made the problem clearer?

David

 

It sounds like the printer is uninstalled, but the driver files are still there. This is the same as the uninstall of any other hardware driver, if you "Remove" something in Device Manager, it does not delete the driver files which have been copied to the Windows\System folder, they will still be available in the driver listing and should be able to be reinstalled.

You should only need to go to the Printers folder in Control Panel (what you mean by the "Printers_Fax Window" I take it) and run the "Add printer" wizard. That will tell Windows to install the original driver files for the printer. You can then test it by right-clicking on the printer, select Properties and click on the "Print test page" button. If it works, reinstall the HP software program.

If that does not work, check in the printer's manual for how to print a "self-test" page, that will tell you that it is functioning correctly, but may be having problems communicating with the computer.

If you think that the driver files are corrupt, when you run the "Add printer" wizard, select the model from the list and use the "Have disk" button to direct it to the CD.

Matt

 

Matt:

Your last sentence sums up what my brother has been trying to do. He does think the driver files are corrupt. He did select the HP model and then he dis answer the "Have disk" with the path to the CD. The process starts and
is stopped with the message that the printer is already installed.

Now let us assume we are truly dealing with a corrupted driver. How does one make sure that ALL information with regard to a previous installation of an HP printer is removed so that a completely new installation might be effected?

I guess that is the true nature of the question being asked. How can we get a new clean start?

David Favin

 

David Favin--If the problem started less than five days ago, your brother could try Start|ShutDown|Restart in MS-DOS Mode|OK.
On reboot choose a date before the problem started|Enter|Wait. When finished, reboot. This procedure restores the Registry and system files to the time of the previous date.
If that does not work, and what mattman has suggested also does not work, has your brother contacted HP support?
http://www.hp.com/country/us/en/contact_us.html
P.S. My initial response was to your post in which you said

.
Installing the downloaded driver is not the same as installing all the printer's software (including all drivers) which is on the HP printer installation CD.

 

Jim:

Now this is a revelation to me. I thought the downloaded material was, in essence, the same as the original CD (which I think he no longer has). What is the difference between the CD and a downloaded driver? In all the printers I have experienced a downloaded driver was enough to get it up and running. Can you explain this difference?

David

 

David, it has been a while since I updated or reinstalled HP drivers. All printers will have the "basic driver set" of files which will just run the printer in Windows (the printer can be used from any software to print). So if you run the Add Printer wizard it will just install the basic drivers for the printer.

The printer software is an additional (Hewlett Packard) program that adds utilites to do things like: clean the heads, align the heads, remind you clean the heads after a certain amount of time, help files about the printer, etc.

If you let us know the printer's model number, maybe we can find some info to help you.

Matt

 

Matt:

The printer in question here is a HP Officejet v40.

What we want to do is reinstall this but when we go thru the installation procedure we get the error message that it is already installed. So it comes down to ... How does one clean out all the old installation material even after doing a proper ADD/REMOVE?

Going to HP and asking is like signing over your checkbook to them.

David Favin

 

David Favin--Not guaranteeing anything, but emailing HP is free and you just might get some help
http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Look...=236252&h_cc=us&h_query=officejet+v40&x=9&y=6
P.S. I cannot speak for the driver you downloaded for your brother's printer, but usually there are several drivers and those available for download are only updates to earlier versions or those that were not included in the installation CD. (For example, my HP printer has three drivers.)
HP might sell you the installation CD for about $10.

 

There is a "system cleaner utility ".
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...s&os=20&product=60630&dlc=en&docname=bpu00681

I think you will need to run through their troubleshooting lists and follow them step by step.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...&os=20&docname=bpu05051&dlc=en&product=60630&

These appear to be pretty complex beasts, being "all-in-one ". The troubleshooting lists are quite long.

"HP All-in-One Product Family - Windows OS: The All-in-One Will Not Print "
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...ct=60630&os=20&lang=en&cc=us&docname=bpu02550

Once you get the drivers reinstalled, if it still does not print, use the troubleshooting page above. If you miss a step you may spend many hours looking for the problem in the wrong place.

Matt

 

David: You have just received some really quality advice from Welshjim and mattman. It took me years to learn what they have just given you in a few statements.

Before even thinking about wiping the computer I would use mattman's links and wipe the HP program clean. If the original disk is not available. at least get the printer working by installing the downloaded driver, again taking the advice given you by having the proper driver. A lot of drivers can be listed and it can be confusing. (Have your new downloaded driver available where you can find it easily).Run the windows printer installation wizard, and when you get to where it asks you if you "have disk" don't let that throw you, they are actually presenting you with the opportunity of selecting the driver location from wherever it is. I usually store the driver right under C:\Program files.

 

One question. Did he shutdown the PC after removing the printer drivers then physically uplug the printer from the PC before restarting? If not the driver uninstall would have been incomplete.