Can't Install Printer Drivers on New PC - Help!

MrUniqueName on 29/10/2021 - 08:39

I bought a new gaming PC which, after a few issues, now seems to be working well.

However no matter what I do, I can't get it to install the drivers for my printer (HP 8620). I've tried wireless, wired, called HP for support… nothing.

I've been able to install the HP software and it can see the printer, and can even see how much ink each cartridge has left. But it just won't install the drivers so that I can print.

I don't know if this is a dumb question, but could the printer be too old (2014) for my new PC?

My PC can also detect my wife's HP printer wirelessly, but the same thing - it won't install the drivers.

Any suggestions?!?

Computing Printer

Comments

  • Ryanek on 29/10/2021 - 08:51

    Yes, some older drivers need to be installed in Compatibility Mode. Try here for some instructions - https://www.windowscentral.com/how-install-non-compatible-pr…

  • weezlebub on 29/10/2021 - 09:10
    +1

    make sure you've restarted the computer, windows gets weird when you haven't restarted …

    also, recent update caused some issues with kyocera printers for one of my clients, waiting for official fault to be announced & fixed

    • Revrnd on 30/10/2021 - 21:52

      ^ Yep - this helps.

      I was using a HP 2605dn on Win10 for years just over USB (network issues didn't permit me to set it up as a network printer), then finally just last week, the network side of things "just works", after trying just randomly.

      Funnily enough, all 5 PCs I have running Win10, only 2 showed the printer properly, the rest I had to tap into what I had shared off one of those 2 working machines (which then allowed the printer to work properly on the remaining 3.

      So yeah…. Win10 doing its usual thing where it can't maintain consistency across any number of machines.

      Best advice I can give OP;

      Install any updates and make sure a restart is done.
      Pause updates for at least a month.
      Go to Printers and add printer, when it starts searching, click the "didn't show up in list" that pops up almost straight away…
      if your printer is a network printer, add via TCP/IP address, or add local printer using manual settings.

      Give that a go and see how you go.

  • AndyC1 on 29/10/2021 - 10:07

    If the printer drivers are not compatible for Windows 10 (assuming this as you did not indicate which version you installed), then I would grab the latest HP printer drivers for a similar (as best you can find) compared to the HP 8260 and install it and see if it works. If it does not work then uninstall it.

  • Muzeeb on 29/10/2021 - 10:09

    In the windows update page check out the 'view optional updates'.

    My canon printer driver was hidden in there on a recently acquired laptop.

    Weird. But that's where it was hidden and worked a treat.

  • Elegant Giant on 29/10/2021 - 10:19

    The HP site indicates there are Win10 x64 drivers available - https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-officeje…

    If you have the software already, you can download the drivers only pack, then manually select the driver through Device Manager.

    If that still doesn't work, try installing the "HP Universal driver" (https://support.hp.com/au-en/drivers/selfservice/upd/4157320…) - last updated ~ 3 weeks ago. You may lose some printer-specific functionality, but you'll get printing again.

  • Danstar on 29/10/2021 - 10:44

    Make sure the printer spooler is enabled in "services". I find mine is disabled a lot of the time and this causes you to not be able to print or add a printer

    Type services in the Start tray, Scroll down to Printer services and it should be "enabled" / "running"

    if its disabled, right click and start it up

  • MrUniqueName on 29/10/2021 - 11:07

    Thanks everyone for your help so far.

    So it looks like I'm just generally having issues installing updates. I tried MS Paint's suggestion and did indeed find driver updates in the "view optional updates" menu. But when I tried to download and install them, I got an error message and it's the same error message I've been getting when trying to install general windows updates.

    The error code is 0x800703f1

    I'm just trying to work out what this means for me now…

  • the Unforgiven on 30/10/2021 - 11:19

    If you have the bandwidth, this is the best tool to update drivers on ALL computers
    I use it when I go to fix customers computers; plus on mine as well
    https://sdi-tool.org/

  • Danstar on 30/10/2021 - 12:37

    Have you tried my method? I’ve never had to install drivers for a printer and I’ve had about 3 different printers in the last few years.

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