'Driver is unavailable'

[fernandinamike]

Since W10 update on 6/15/2020 I have been unable to print. Printer icon says 'Driver not available', PC says 'Unable to print to HP6970'

Connecting wirelessly, but same problem exists with ethernet and USB connections. Have tried uninstalling, new drivers, Print doctor, Windows update 'doctor'. Still doesn't work.

Anyone else have this problem? Solution?

[Mans]

@fernandinamike 

Hello,

In order to palliate this incident, please follow the following procedure:

1. Uninstall printing software:

1. Unplug the USB cable at the back of the printer, if necessary.
2. On the keyboard, simultaneously tap the Windows flag and the R key. The Run window opens.
3. Type appwiz.cpl, then OK. The Programs and Features window opens.
4. Click the right mouse button on HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 series Basic Software, then Uninstall and Yes.

   Note: If the software uninstall process does not start or an error displays while uninstalling, download Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed from the Microsoft website, and then try uninstalling again.

5. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the uninstall of the printer.
6. Restart the computer.

2. Launch the registry editor:

1. On the keyboard, simultaneously tap the Windows flag and the R key. The Run window opens.
2. Type regedit, then OK. The registry editor opens.
3. Develop HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, then SOFTWARE, click with the right mouse button on Hewlett-Packard and Delete. (If the PC is HP-branded, develop Hewlett-Packard and remove Digital Imaging)

3. Delete the HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 series folder in the way:

• C: \Program Files\HP
• C:\Program Files (x86)\HP

4. Rename folder 3 in 3_old in the path below (a restart may be required):

• C:\Windows\System32\spool-drivers\x64.
• C:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers\W32X86.

NOTE: If the file refuses this action do as follows:

On the keyboard, tap the Windows and X keys simultaneously.

1. On the keyboard, tap the Windows and X keys simultaneously.

2. Click Command Prompt (admin), and then click Yes.

3. Type net stop spooler, then press Enter.
4. Rename the file.
5. Type net start spooler, then tap Enter.

5. Start a new printer installation via HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 series Full Software and Drivers.

Do not hesitate to contact us in case of need.

Best regards,

[fernandinamike]

Sorry, but it didn't work. I appreciate the detail in your response though. All the instructions worked well, although at Step 4.2, there was no option (command prompt(admin)) so instead I used (Windows PowerShell(admin)).

At  the same time that the 'driver not available' message appeared next to HP6970, it also appeared next to another HP printer (B109z) that I have installed but which is at another location. It is inaccessible from here, but it worked without problem last week.

Seems it may be something to do with Widows 10, and an update that was applied on 6/15.

Any suggestions?

Mike

[tttomdemaria · Accepted solution]

Dude windows broke something I have had multiple users now with the same exact issue.  They all are OfficeJet 6960 and 6970 series printers.

I just recently got around it by doing the following:

1. Go to the driver download page for printer
2. Download the "Basic" Driver
3. Extract it using something like 7-zip (right-click -> 7-zip -> extract to...)
4. open the run window using Win Key + R
5. type "control printers"
6.  In the window that opens, click "Add a Printer"
7.  Click "The printer that I want isn't listed"
8. Select the "Add a printer using the TCP/IP address or hostname" radio button 
9. Enter the IP address of the printer and make sure the checkbox for "Query the printer and automatically select the driver to use" is NOT selected.
10. In the window that opens after it contacts the printer, select "Have Disk"
11. Navigate to the extracted Basic driver that you extracted in step 3
12. I used the "hpygid20_v4.inf" information file and selected the non-PCL3 version and everything now works as desired.

[fernandinamike]

Very many thanks. I have spent two whole days working on this problem, and your fix worked. Not sure why since I had used the Basic download before; can you tell me what you did differently?

Don't know how to give you kudos, but you have earned it!