The printer port suggested by the HP diagnostics software wasn't an available port on my PC. The software itself doesn't change anything, it just suggests a port, as I understand it. See post#15 screen shots. I've included screen shots of the HP diagnostic process I carried out a few minutes ago:
It really does seem that the only issue is porting - something I know nothing about. Please note: I did restart the PC during the diagnostic testing and it didn't help.
Maybe I misunderstand, but it seems to me that port USB001 is already configured to my other printer therefore it's unavailable to the HP printer?!? Also, I cannot be sure the HP diagnostic software suggested USB001, it may have suggested USB0001 or USB00001. I can't remember exactly but whatever port that was suggested wasn't available to the HP printer, as I understand it.
EDIT: I should add that I'm trying to install the printer through USB - one last attempt.
I hope you uninstalled it first [as I think your printer manual suggests, most need this to be able to do a clean job].
https://support.hp.com/gb-en/product...402151/manuals
If it fails again then try this - HP Printers - Installing and Using the Windows Built-in Print Driver - your drivers page now suggests this but I didn't think it did a few weeks ago
I thought this might also be useful HP Printers - USB Printer Setup (Windows) but I'd imagine it's the same as in your manual.
Good luck,
Denis
I did, but I'll go through the uninstall process once again. Actually, HP instructions say to 'remove device' (which I did) rather than 'uninstall' (hopefully, it's the same thing?). I'm following the instructions you kindly linked on the HP website because they are clearer than those in the paper manual (far too fragmented to follow easily). I have gone through the HP Easy Start and unfortunately, despite following instructions to the letter, it couldn't identify my printer:
So, I 'removed device' yet again and followed the instructions to install the Windows drivers, however, at the 'Add a printer wizard' stage, the wizard doesn't start automatically so I follow instructions to add a printer manually from 'Devices and Printers' but the HP printer is already showing (i.e. before I click 'Add a printer'). Maybe the wizard does it's job invisibly?
I think I have only one problem with adding this printer and that is porting. Is there a way for me to focus just on the porting aspect as I really doubt there are issues with drivers or other software. I can see that I can manually alter porting settings for my HP printer but I wouldn't know what I was doing.
The reason I didn't attempt to connect the printer via Ethernet, as intended, was because when I investigated, I realised it was beyond me - far too much jargon I didn't understand so at least another day or two of learning and even then it may not work. Just not feasible.
Thanks again, Denis, for your continued support - much appreciated.
I'm afraid that I have almost completely exhausted my ideas about the subject.
I have not installed a new USB printer for a decade and I always had the benefit of HP software that worked with my OS. Since then I have always had WiFi printers. But that does not help you.
The only problem I ever had was when I saw the printer installation say that the printer was on port USB001 and I did not believe it because I had only seen references to LPT1, COM1 etc before. As soon as I started again and let the installation software do what it wanted to do, it installed correctly and worked correctly. But that does not help you.
I assume that you are waiting until it tells you to before you plug the printer into the USB connection [that used to be essential].
Is there any guidance from other HP users in the HP forums? There's a link to their forums on the HP support page.
You mention an ethernet connection. You'd have to uninstall again** to try it but I don't think it will force you to learn about it. If the installation software [HP or the Windows driver] can find it then it will just get on with the job and tell you when it has finished. Given where you are now, I'd think that would be the best thing to try.
** If you do not have a dedicated uninstall utility within your HP folders then
1 Delete it from Control panel, Devices & printers, and
2 Uninstall all its software from Control panel, programs & features.
Denis
Last edited by Try3; 30 Apr 2020 at 12:01.
@play2mefish
Can you help on the topics of
1 Ethernet-connection installation, and
2 The choice of HP / Windows software?
Denis
The user needs to disconnect the printer from the computer. He needs to remove all and any hp software for this printer. Then he needs to connect this printer to his ethernet network, and then he needs to retrieve the ip address from the printer. By using the screen on the printer. Once he has the ip address then and only then should he go back to the computer.
Once at the computer, you need to open a cmd prompt and ping the printer: c:\>ping printeripaddress from step above. You should receive a reply from the printer. If you don't then you have a network issue that must be resolved first. If you receive a reply, then go to the control panel and add a printer. Follow the prompts from the wizard but choose network as the port. I can provide more detail instructions later if you need them.
I have 2 HP printers on my Network connected by Ethernet cable, an OfficeJet Pro and a LaserJet Pro. I didn't have to do anything other than run the software, choose Network and let it find the addresses to use. But my Network consists a Wireless Router with 4 Ethernet ports and an uplink port plus an 8-port Switch, both are Gigabit. No Server involved.
I do agree with the suggestions, at least for HP, to first use Remove Device then Uninstall all the software previously installed. Sometimes HP requires physically disconnecting any cables until prompted to connect and that has included the Ethernet.
Quote
