Windows thinks uninstalled HP OfficeJet 9015 still installed via USB

In 2020, when I first got this printer, I installed it via USB. But at least a year ago, I changed all that to a WiFi connection so that all the systems in my home LAN could access this printer. I just had some issues with the scanning app, so I tried to install the full HP Webpack. Webpack says that the printer is offline.



So I uninstalled the printer through Settings and then reinstalled it through settings as IP 192.168.xx.xx. I did this 3 times. I was able to do a test print, but Webpack still thinks the printer is installed via USB. A quick search with regedit didn't produce any useful results.

I am comfortable with regedit but I know very little about the registry itself. What should I do now?

I had an OJ 8712 that supposedly uninstalled but kept getting update notices for it, finally had to search the Registry for it and delete all entries. Now using an OJ 9015 but connected via Ethernet cable to my Router and all computers either Wired or Wireless can use it. I also don't use the WIreless Direct either. I haven't had the printer issues others had gotten with updates.

Much thanks to @Berton and @zbook. I will try both sets of suggestions tomorrow.

x509 said:

Much thanks to @Berton and @zbook. I will try both sets of suggestions tomorrow.

Guys,

What a pain in the gluteus maximus.

First, I tried to use the registry with this command, as suggested in the appuals.com website

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SYSTEM > CurrentControlSet > Control > Print > Printers

Guess what. No entry for my OfficeJetPro printer. Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot.

So then I went into the registry and deleted every darn entry I could for OfficeJetpro or 9010 or 9015. There were like umpty hundreds of these entries. With regedit, one by one by one by one. For some entries, I had to change permissions in order to do the deletes. In a few cases, regedit simply refused to accept the permissions changes. (Why oh why???)


I had also re-inited the printer, which was probably a mistake. Unlike my Laserjet 401dn, you can't configure the OJP from a browser. You have to use their inconvenient touch panel on the printer.

But in the end, it all worked. The printer was back on WiFi and I was able to re-install the drivers as a LAN printer.

If there is a better tool for registry work than regedit, I'm motivated to try it out.

Cleaning a Registry can be problematic now and then but I've used one with success, namely CCleaner [originally called Crap Cleaner]. It has had more added over the versions including an uninstall feature, used it just today for help in getting rid of WebNavigatorBrowser which was identified as an infection and of course had no uninstalled feature, like other infections they do their best to hide.

zbook said:

See if this software is useful:

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/usbdeview-x64.zip
View any installed/connected USB device on your system

It has been very useful to me several times now, to clear out the "cruft" after the OS install is several years old. +1 to Nir Sofer, the author.

When you uninstalled the printer the first time - a year ago going from USB to Network drivers - did you uninstall the drivers too?

Control Panel > Devices and Printers > highlight any printer > click Print Server Properties Tab > Drivers Tab > select driver > Remove.

TV2 said:

When you uninstalled the printer the first time - a year ago going from USB to Network drivers - did you uninstall the drivers too?

Control Panel > Devices and Printers > highlight any printer > click Print Server Properties Tab > Drivers Tab > select driver > Remove.

I'm pretty sure I did not. I have used HP's "Full Web Pack" each time I updated the drivers. There was no indication that this program uninstalled the old drivers. But even after I installed the old drivers manually, I still had the problem where Windows thought this printer was connected via USB.

Only after I blasted through the registry and deleted every entry that related to this printer was I able to do a clean install where the printer was installed as a network device.