(The driver didn't show up in "Windows Update," which froze, but I successfully downloaded it through Google Chrome and ran the installer/setup wizard with no trouble.)īut, although I successfully got a test page printed, weird things continued to happen:
This made a change, and I was then able to download the drivers from the manufacturer and install the printer again.
Delete all files from the three directories C:\Windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86,Ĭ:\Windows\system32\spool\drivers\圆4, although in my case there were only files present in the third of these, 圆4.Stop the print spooler (which was actually already stopped) through Windows-R -> cmd -> services.msc -> print spooler -> stop.I attempted loading the registry keys for the print spooler from a working Windows 7 machine (see comment from "WindowsAdminGuru") and rebooting the computer, but there was no evident change and I don't think that was the solving factor.įirst, I followed the steps listed here to: Below is what I did to fix it (after the steps attempted that I listed in the question). More simply, how can I get this printer reinstalled correctly and working again?
How can I get rid of the errors when I try to install this printer (maybe wipe out the driver completely?) and then successfully reinstall it? I think there is a corrupt driver involved. Notepad successfully opens the print dialog box but there are no printers available (none installed). The printer icon did briefly appear, and didn't disappear when we attempted to remove it, but is currently not listed. Please restart the spooler or restart the machine." The local print spooler service is not running. We clicked "add printer" again and got the error: "Windows can't open Add Printer. The printer installed but then the installer crashed. We clicked "add network printer" and chose the correct printer (with the correct IP address) from the list. Then, we tried adding the printer again through the "add printer" dialog. The printer was removed (yay!) and notepad could successfully open the print dialog, but complained that no printers are installed. On the last step, I didn't remove the "inf" files (just the registry entries), because there were so many "inf" files and I couldn't tell which (if any) referenced the printer we are having trouble with.īooted the computer up normally, and checked the printers list. Rebooted the computer into safe mode (with networking) and followed these steps to remove the registry entries related to the printer. very low level).Īttempted to remove the printer printer icon didn't go away.Īttempted the solution described in this comment was unable to remove the printer driver because it was in use. Attempting to access information about the printer from "printer properties" would give an error with "C:\Windows\Explorer.exe" in the title bar I didn't copy it down but it had some computer pointers in it (i.e. Even attempting to open the "Print" dialog from Windows notepad would give an error and crash the program.
I was trying to help a friend with a printer problem-running Windows 7 Home Premium, with an HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M277dw.