Bumfuzzled with Vista printing issue

[OneHandClapping]

Ok, folks, I need you to be my collective brain. Here's the deal in a nutshell. I have a client that has an HP tower PC with Windows Vista SP2, and up to date on all patches. He had a wireless HP printer (4500 series) that was starting to give him paper feed issues, so he went (about 2 weeks ago) and bought a new HP Photosmart 6510, which also is wireless.

When he couldn't get it to print, either by USB or wireless he called me to come take a look. I UNinstalled the software, then reinstalled using the latest download from HP, with it connected by USB. All software installed ok, and it set it up as the default printer. At least there were no errors from the install routine. But here's where it gets interesting. When I right click on it to print a test page I get the error "printer driver is not installed, do you want to install it now?" If I answer yes, it aborts.

Now, it gets even "better;" he also has a Lexmark laser printer. When attempting to print a test page to this printer, I get the same error. So, I fire up his old 4500 (the drivers were still installed), and get the same error from it.

Even though all of the printers show up, when trying to print to any of them I get the same error. I've stopped/started the print spooler, installed/uninstalled/reinstalled the software, ran the MS Fixit tool (which found no printing problems) ran the HP diagnostic tool, which found no problems, but I still can't print to any printer. I can change the default from one to the other, but as soon as I try to print "the print driver is not installed; Install it now?"

It's almost like the driver is only "half" installed; just enough the PC knows it's there, but not enough that it can print to it. Any help, advice, direction, or sympathy gladly accepted.

 

[Mr.Mike]

Inspect your install disk. Whether or not it is scratched, etc., try downloading the entire install (setup) program from HP. Make sure you are using a good uninstall program like Revo uninstaller or Advanced Uninstaller from Innovative solutions. Check the registry and find any leftover entries tied to printers and delete them. Better yet, use CCleaner to get them out if the uninstallers miss anything (not likely). Once purged, try installing again.

Have you tried restoring from another time when the printer worked (if ever)?

Good Luck.

 

[OneHandClapping]

Inspect your install disk.

I didn't use the disc but the latest download from the HP site. He didn't know where his disc was, so rather than have him try to find it I just downloaded the full install. I did use ccleaner after the uninstall, but didn't use Revo, just the normal HP uninstall, so maybe I'll give that a try. I didn't try a restore point since he's been playing with it for 2 weeks; thought that might be "pointless" but maybe not. I'll check and see how far back his restore points go.

Thanks for the ideas.