Windows update deleted my printer driver

MDL · 26 Sep 2016

The latest Windows 10 update apparently killed off the driver for my HP OfficeJet J4540 printer. When I tried to print the document, nothing showed on the window except the FAX and PDF programs which I never use.

When I went to the control panel and clicked on the printer icon, the line underneath said that the driver was unavailable. That's strange, since the printer is only four years old and it was "available" before the upgrade.

So what's up with that? Even the Driver Support program can't seem to help.

Steve C · 26 Sep 2016

Just go to HP's web site to download and reinstall the driver you need here http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/.../model/3645093

MDL · 26 Sep 2016

Steve C said:

Just go to HP's web site to download and reinstall the driver you need here http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/.../model/3645093

Been there, done that. The downloader gets as far as Checking System and keeps rolling along. After a half-hour of watching the wheel spin and the green line crawl along, I assumed that nothing was going to happen. I tried it three times yesterday and threw in the towel. I'm almost guessing that it's a good download for Windows 7 but not necessarily for 10.

willus · 27 Sep 2016

MDL said:

The latest Windows 10 update apparently killed off the driver for my HP OfficeJet J4540 printer. When I tried to print the document, nothing showed on the window except the FAX and PDF programs which I never use.

When I went to the control panel and clicked on the printer icon, the line underneath said that the driver was unavailable. That's strange, since the printer is only four years old and it was "available" before the upgrade.

So what's up with that? Even the Driver Support program can't seem to help.

This has happened to me as well, on multiple updates. I have an old HP printer (HP P1000) where I've had to install a Deskjet 970Cse driver from the extra list of printer drivers ever since Windows 7 since it's the only remaining driver I can still install that's compatible. This happened when I upgraded from 7 to 10 and then again during this last annual update. I was able to re-install the HP 970Cse driver after each update, but MS should not be deleting printer drivers during updates, period. I am very annoyed by this.