HP Laserjet 3050 / Windows 10.0.18362 - No scanner detected

[hp3050user]

I realize the original install disk is out-of-date but thought it would be a good starting point from which to then go to 'update driver' routine.  But I don't remember getting the  error when I initially installed the printer years ago.   I thought the issue was hpzpnp40.exe  was the problem, but I think it's a file in the Windows folder that cannot be found, but the error message is truncated and I don't know what it might be - do you?

     "F:\LJ_305X_339X\setup\hpzpnp40.exe" -I enu -f c:\Windows\hppin..."

     "System could not find the file specified"

I don't have access to another computer to try installing the printer on or the ability to rollback to version 1803.  Unplugging/plugging the USB cable results in 2 entries in Device Manager disappearing and reappearing:

1) IEEE 1284.4 compatible printers

       HP Printer

2) Printers

      HP Universal Printing PCL6

No Imaging Devices entry gets added added to the list.

[John_Getzke]

HP normally logs everything in the users %temp% directory.  Check out your %temp% folder and see if there are any logs that start with HP.  If you can find them then you will be able to see where the installation got stuck with more details than what is displayed in the installation wizard.  However, the driver only solutions that are available for your OS and this model might skip the more verbose logging features that other combinations are provided.

hpzpnp should stand for HP "zero?" plug and play (pnp).  So it sounds like the plug and play feature is missing what it needs to talk to the scanner.  I have no idea what could be missing from your C:\windows folder but apparently the installation thinks it should be there and does not provide it on its own.  This is odd considering that HP normally bundles everything the installation needs in the download.  

Thanks for the confirmation on the device manager.  Since there are no imaging devices showing up on the list either as identified or unidentified then we can conclude that your PC can no longer speak to the scanner of this printer model.  

Its time to make a hard decision.  Either swap the printer and purchase a new one that is fully supported on Win10.  Or risk reloading your windows installation and trying again from a fresh start.