HPZ12 service and Pml Driver HPZ12 service

[bpcan]

On my Windows 7 machine, I used to have an Officejet printer installed. After some frustration, I un-installed the printer and the associated software.

I recently noticed that 2 HP services are being automatically run on the machine everytime it starts up. They are: Pml Driver HPZ12 and Net Driver HPZ12. Why?

I am not using any HP printer anymore. How can I remove this software from my machine?

[BHK6]

Hi bpcan,

I'll will be happy to help you out. The two HP services where are you noticing them; in the task manager, in your add / remove programs or somewhere else? What type of Officejet did you just uninstall?

Thank you,

[bpcan]

It was the Officejet 4500.

I was checking to see what was running/loading on my machine because it takes a long time to load the Desktop and among the services that load automatically was Net Driver HPZ12 and Pml Driver HPZ12.

I can see them listed in Task Manager under Services.

I do not have any HP printer/software listed in Add/Remove Programs.

Hopefully you can help me banish them from my system.

TIA

[BHK6]

Hi bpcan,

We will look at doing what is called a Level 3 uninstall. Do the following steps:

1: Click on your start menu and search for %temp% and open up the Temp foldler

2: In the Temp folder look for a folder that starts with 7zS### where the # will be random number.

3: Then open the util folder

4: Then open the ccc folder

5: In there look for Uninstall_L3

I DO NOT recommend doing the Level 4 uninstall.

If you don't have that 7zSxxx file, then just download the software using the link below or run your CD. After it has extracted cancel the installation and the 7zS### should be there.

Thank you,

[bpcan]

The folders and files described were not found even after doing a full install (stopping after the extraction).
I decide to use the Enterprise Un-install Scrubber utility and it provided the uninstall_l3 bat file which I ran. It tried the routine, but would crash at Step 10 with 80% done. It ran other routines and then asked to re-boot.
I did all of that, but the driver is still present on the machine. However, it is no longer running. It shows up as STOPPED in the Task Manager. I guess I will never get rid of these drivers as it is not worth a fresh Windows installation.

[AdamShaw]

Hi,

You will need to stop the "Pml Driver HPZ12" service in services.msc, then the service can be removed (though not the associated files) by opening an elevated command prompt and giving the command:

sc delete "Pml Driver HPZ12"

This is related to the installation and subsequent incomplete removal of a HP print/scan driver.

One less unnecessary service is always a good thing.

Regards,

Adam