Success! How to Print/Scan on network (Win7 & HP 2710) [ Edited ]

[teknomedic]

OK, I can't say that this will work for everyone considering how many different setups there are out there, but I was able to Print and Scan over my network using the HP software for my Photosmart 2710.  This works about 95% of the way.  The extra 5% I'll explain:

1) I keep getting a "device driver failed to install" error on restarting the PC.  This only happens on a PC restart and you can silence the message if you want (although it may slience any other hardware install messages with it).  The funny thing is that the printer/scanner still work perfectly fine even with error.

2) It seems Win7 programs still can't "see" the scanner and it appears to be "half installed"... I'm able to view the scanner properties, but when I select "Scan Profiles" I get an error saying "no scaners are insalled.  However, the HP software can see and use the scanner AND you can press the "scan" button on the printer and get the scanner to load the HP software to capture the scan.

3) Final Notes:  Printing seems to work perfectly from any program in Win7, and I'm unable to test the Fax since I'm not setup for that.

4) Lastly, my "UAC" was turned off so I'm unware of any extra "are you sure?" messages you may get.

~~~~~How to get the HP Photosmart 2710 to Print, Scan... and maybe Fax over the network with Windows 7~~~~~

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (Fresh install -- Installed Win7 then Installed the HP software to ensure no conflicts)

Network Connection: Wired through a Belkin N+ router (did not use the 2710's wifi)

Status: HP Digital Monitor can see and track the printer and scanner, some scanning options may not work if your not using the HP software.

How to:

1) Download the latest "HP Officejet and Photosmart Full Feature Software and Drivers" package (about 164MB large)" for Windows VISTA (32bit & 64bit) and the 2710 and save to your desktop.  Of course you should double check to ensure there's not a new Windows 7 software package available... just in case HP decided to help us out.  If there is, download that instead and ingore the rest of this post. ;-)

2) Now goto "Start", "Control Panel", "System & Security", "Windows Firewall".  On the left panel select "Turn Windows Firewalll on or off".  Now ensure that both "Turn Off Windows Firewall" options are selected... save your settings.  ALSO, ensure you've turned off any other 3rd party firewalls that may be running "ZoneAlarm, Norton, Symantec, etc".  Finally, you may need to double check your router settings, although if the printer was working before Windows 7... chances are your network is fine.

3) Now "Right Click" on the driver package sitting on your desktop and select "troubleshoot compatibility"... once Win7 gets done "detecting problems" make sure you select "Troubleshoot Program" (2nd option).  Now select "I don't see my problem listed" and click "Next".

4) On the new screen select "Windows Vista (Service Pack 2) and click "Next" and then select "I don't see my problem listed"... finally, click the "Start the program..." button that appears.

5) During the install slide the extra "program compatibility" window out of the way (leaving it open) and allow the installer to do it's work.  If everything goes to plan all the HP software should be installed and your printer should be detected on the network.  Once the installer is all done you can close out the extra window and if you so choose you can "save these settings for this program".

6)  Restart the PC for good measure and you should be able to run the 2710... keep in mind that you'll probably get the "device driver failed to install" message, but again I've not seen any real problem with that message yet.

7)  Now you can slow turn the windows firewall and any other 3rd party firewall settings back to what they were before.. keeping in mind that you might  have to give permission for the HP software to passthrough the firewalls you have running for it to work correctly.

Hope this helps, until HP does.   I'll try to answer any questions to the best of my ability.  Sorry about any spelling errors.

TK.

Message Edited by teknomedic on 10-25-2009 07:29 PM

Message Edited by teknomedic on 10-25-2009 07:30 PM

[teknomedic]

Finally found a "downside" to having the "driver failed to install" message appear on every restart.

It seems this little action flags the system to say "I need to be restarted".  In general this isn't bad, but I found when I tried to install my Anti-Virus program it wouldn't install because "xxx program has detected that your system needs to be restarted, please restart and run setup again".  Of course no matter how many times you restart the same issue happens.

So, I had to go into device manager and uninstall the 2710 which in turn "breaks" the HP software to HP driver connection.

...I'm still trying to figure out how to maybe "reconnect" the HP driver and software without doing a complete uninstall and reinstall of the HP software.  hmmm... any ideas??

TK.

[LegomanUK]

Hi - thanks for the post.  I have exactly the same problems - been reporting it in the Windows 7 forum here for a couple of months but no joy yet.  A support person at HP told me last week that the WIA / TWAIN drivers we need are being developed but I'd heard similar before so I'll believe it when I see it.  The only solution from HP so far is to use webscan which isn't really what I would have expected at this stage.  Actually, it sounds like you have managed to get a bit further than me, I found that the HP apps could see the printer for scanning initially but they lost contact after a reboot.  Like you, the scanner never appeared in my list of Win 7 devices - only the printer.  It was from your post that I realised the method of running the program in a compatibility mode has changed from when the RC was first released - I reckon it is harder to use now, it used to be so simple.

Best Regards

David

[dingbat]

Thank you for the above. It got me most of the way, but I had to do a few more bits to get the drivers to work correctly on Windows 7 Professional.

* Install windows 7

* Install anti virus/spam/firewall solution

* Install the 'basic' inbuilt windows 7 printer driver for the HP 2710. Then check it will print, so know printer works

* Turn off the firewall used on windows 7

* Installs the Vista drivers for the HP 2710, under vista service pack 2 compatibility mode, as above

* Download and install the Vista Reboot patch for Windows 7 upgrade (I think this stops the driver message at startup)

* At this point the printer worked, but scanner did not.

* Download and install the Windows 7 c309a All in 1 Photosmart software. Ignore when it looks for the c309a printer, and say complete the install. Basically this looks to be a newer photosmart based on the same software solution as the original HP2710. As it over-installs the 2710 software & drivers, it automatically fixes the bits that the 2710 install did not get right.

* Turn on your firewall

* Reboot the windows 7 PC

* On startup allow the HP software to access the different network bits (say Yes) to can HPxxxx access networks etc..

* Update Win7 with microsoft updates

* Reboot PC

Now after a few reboots the PC starts with a full patched Win 7 Operating System and the HP 2710 can Print, Scan, Fax as normal. Now I can use the HP2710 for another year until it breaks on me.

[adrocktx]

Can you elaborate on the Vista Reboot patch please?

[billyfridge]

i'm networking two computers, do i have to install drvers on both Pc's?

i have had my HP all in one printer for over 12 months, i lost the CD, so i have had to install the driver of the HP website.

any help will be appreciated.

[dingbat]

Go onto the HP web site and go into the driver and support area.

Search for "photosmart 2710" and then select Windows 7 (64bit/32/bit) as required

Select the "HP Print Software Patch When Upgrading Vista to Windows 7" patch.

Download and install it.

[billyfridge]

Hi thanx for your reply.....I installed drivers on both PC's and can print perfectly if i connect the printer USB to either one.

I have set the printer to share, been through the networking wizard a few times, but I cannot connect to the printer  from the PC the printer is not connected to. I keep getting the message 'the print server is not found'. My OS is XP on both PC's.

[billyfridge]

I am not happy with your reply....you sent me a feedback thing that had nothing whatsoever to do with my question!!!!!

still trying to find an answer.....it has been suggested that I find the IP addy of my printer, I didn't know it had one!!

I have lost my manual and CD that came with the printer, so it looks like I will have to connect it to my PC and let others print off my PC.

[dingbat]

Hi, I replied to the "Can you elaborate on the Vista Reboot patch please?" as this thread was how to get  the HP2710 running with windows7. You have mentioned that you have windows xp. I have used XP for a number of years with this HP2710 and I would suggest you do the following:

* Download the HP2710 software for Windows XP 32-bit. This is is around 140M from the HP support web site

* Check your XP PC and make sure you have deleted all HP 2710 drivers from your pc, using control panel add/remove programs

* Reboot it, & login again

* Shutdown any firewall on the XP pc

* Make sure your HP2710 is connected to the network and you can ping it

* Install the HP2710 XP software and drivers, and as part of this it should auto detect. You may have to reboot your pc

* Use the HP update sw to update the SW to the latest release. Check every 2 days for 1 week to ensure you have the latest software.