Printer Issue Need Help!

Marybella · ‎03-09-2010

I have an HP wireless printer that has been working fine since I installed it in April. Now, out of the blue, my computer tells me that "the driver is unavailable." The printer is connected to my wireless network, but I can't get the driver re-installed on my computer. I have tried numerous times to remove and re-install, but I am unable to remove it (from Printers and Scanners), and it doesn't show up in the device manager, so something is goofed up. Now, I am confused! Please help me see the logical path to getting the driver that is "unavailable." Thanks for any insight you can give me!

Deb665 · ‎01-07-2012

I hate to say this, but a call to HP customer service might be your best bet. They can probably walk you through what to do in just a few minutes. Sorry that’s the best I can offer.

10000thnickname · ‎12-05-2010

Hi Marybella. Are you using Windows 10? Funny because that happened to me about a month ago! I had to go to the HP website, and find the right "driver" for my printer and upload it to my computer.
When I did that, BINGO, everything HP was great again!

I dd read that this happens when there is a required update to the software. Sigh.
I hope this works for you!

123.hp.com is the site to find your driver.

author · ‎03-09-2010

This happened twice to me recently.

The first time I did do the necessary printer updates, driver, software, firmware, downloaded and re-installed it all, and it worked out ok but did take most of the morning to do.

I used the HP print scan doctor software you download and install from their site, and it tells you what you need to update to fix issues.

Then a new Windows 10 update and it wouldn't print once again, got "printer in error" messages.

Tried all the same stuff, and eventually out of desperation set it up as a new wireless device with direct wi-fi connection to printer.

This is what you would do if you had a guest wanting to print from their computer - it was a video on the hp website and it worked great. Now I just choose this as the printer to use when I print something.

It's my same printer, just a slightly different name and connection.

It is so totally frustrating to have a wireless printer I don't think I'd ever get another one!

Marybella · ‎03-09-2010

I noticed this after a Windows update, so I uninstalled the updates that allowed me to uninstall. It is under warranty, so calling is the better idea for me, now. I have to believe there is some glitch that I can't discover that's creating the problem.

I did do the print and scan doctor several times and it couldn't figure out or fix the issue. I'll try to do the wifi-direct to the printer and see if that will work, but I still haven't been able to install the driver on my computer properly. The call to tech support will probably be my savior!

I'll follow up with the results later today. Thanks, everyone!

author · ‎03-09-2010

@Marybella

Good luck! Please post results, would be good to know what exactly the problem is and how you fixed it.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

Remove the the printer from the Device Manager. Restart your computer then try connecting the printer again. What has happened is the communication between the printer and your computer has been lost. Reasons for this can be from automatic updates to Windows software...it just happens sometimes (pita!). Most likely it is not because of driver updates. Those are usually taken care of whenever your system receives normal Windows updates. The problem is more likely a device communication disconnect.

How to do this:

- Go to Settings by typing that in the lower-left search box

- Click Settings

- Windows Settings will open

- Click Devices

- Under Bluetooth & other devices click the printer you have

- Click the Remove device button

You might have to restart your computer. After that you need to re-connect the printer.

@Marybella

10000thnickname · ‎12-05-2010

Good luck. Pretty sure it's the WIndows update .....you need to update the driver too.
You do that my downloading the driver from the HP website.
Same thing happened to me after Windows 10 update.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

Your printer might be located in HIDDEN DEVICES.

To access that:

- Hit Windows Key + X

- Select Device manager

- Drop down from View tab

- Look for Show hidden devices

- Select your printer there and remove it

@Marybella

Marybella · ‎03-09-2010

@SilleeMee wrote:
Remove the the printer from the Device Manager. Restart your computer then try connecting the printer again. What has happened is the communication between the printer and your computer has been lost. Reasons for this can be from automatic updates to Windows software...it just happens sometimes (pita!). Most likely it is not because of driver updates. Those are usually taken care of whenever your system receives normal Windows updates. The problem is more likely a device communication disconnect.

How to do this:

- Go to Settings by typing that in the lower-left search box
- Click Settings
- Windows Settings will open
- Click Devices
- Under Bluetooth & other devices click the printer you have
- Click the Remove device button

You might have to restart your computer. After that you need to re-connect the printer.

@Marybella

@SilleeMee I know this sounds crazy, but I have tried to delete the printer umpteen times and each time it says "removal failed." I found it in hidden devices and tried there as well and it doesn't disappear. Yet, it still says driver unavailable. What the heck am I not doing correctly? Dang!