Officejet 5740 e won't install correctly

[bob733]

I am trying to install via usb. The fax installs but the printer and scanner will not. Have uninstalled and downloaded drivers a few times. I have tried 2 new and two old usb cables. 3 different tech support people couldn't figure it out either. Last solution offered was to do a full restore which would be impossible as I would lose to much non-recoverable software. The drivers cannot recognize the priner/scanner portion of the device.I have tried 8 different usb ports (1.1 4ea, 2.0 2ea. 3.0 2ea.) to no avail. Today I borrowed a friends fully operational xp pc and get the exact same error message "The specified module could not be found". I wonder if the drivers have ever been tested with an xp system. My xp system runs other usb all-in-ones without a problem.

Has anyone reading this successfully installed one of these on an xp operating system? Any advice would be welcome.

[Cbert]

Hi there @bob733! 

Thanks for contacting us on the HP Forums!

I can see that your getting a  "The specified module could not be found" error on the computers running Windows XP when trying to install the printer via USB.  You had mentioned that you have tried 8 different USB ports but have you had a chance to try a different or new USB cable?  I recommended trying a new USB cable if you have not already.  You should be able to use this printer on the Windows XP operating system.

There is full feature software and drivers available for the Officejet 5740 on Windows XP.  When installing the printer USB you need run the HP software and leave the USB cable unplugged until the software asks you to plug it in.  If you already have the HP software installed then  I recommend uninstalling the HP software. After the uninstall is complete it would be a good idea to perform a disk cleanup in the computer. A disk cleanup will improve computer performance and clear temporary files that may cause issues during the install of software. Once the disk cleanup is complete you should restart the computer and re-install the HP software.

To uninstall HP software click here: Uninstalling HP Software

To perform a disk cleanup click here: Disk Cleanup in Windows XP

To download the HP software click here: HP Officejet 5740 e-All-in-One Printer series Full Feature Software and Drivers

Please post back and let me know if that worked for you!

[bob733]

On suggestion from HP tech support I purchased a new usb cable. Still didn't help. The next HP tech support person said the new usb cable I bought was too long (10 ft.) so I purchased another 6 ft. cable and that didn't work either. Have run disk cleanup, have completely uninstalled and reinstalled the printer software many times as have the HP tech support people. Out of 496GB I have 380GB available on the hard drive. When another XP PC system gets the exact same error I still wonder if the drivers have ever been tested on an XP system. I think my only solutions are to try to return the printer to HP or finally get off the XP and switch to Windows 7. Still open for any and all sugestions.

[Cbert]

Hey @bob733!

Thanks for getting back to me.

I apologize but after I reviewed your first post you had already mentioned you tried multiple USB cables.  If you would still like to troubleshoot I have some more suggestions that may help!

The firs thing I suggest is to run Windows update.  Open Internet Explorer and click on the "Tools" dropdown next to "File" at the top of the window. Click on Windows update and click yes if prompted.  You should be taken to the Windows home page.  Click "express install" and it should search for updates.  Install any updates available and restart the computer.

If that doesnt work I have provided some troubleshooting steps bellow.  I was able to locate them from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/871233.  They may help resolve the issue!

Let me know if that worked out for you!

[bob733]

Found 3 windows updates to install, tried all the usb steps, same issue exits. The usb cable works each time because in device manager under printers (hidden devices) I show 'Fax-HP Officejet 5740 series" located on USB Printing Support with the drivers working properly. Then I also show another HP Officejet 5740 series with a problem. The problem has been and still is The drivers are not installed (Code 28). I've tried to install the drivers many times from both the Basic 5740 software and the full 5740 software. Also linked to drivers directly from the HP site. All to no avail.

When I run the HP Printer and Scanner Doctor it finds the HP Officejet 5740 series (USB) installed and another HP Officejet 5740 series Not installed, the doctor software is also unable to install it.

Basically the software sets up the FAX via usb but just will not load the drivers for the printer portion.

[Cbert · Accepted solution]

Hey @bob733!

Thanks for getting back to me!

Sorry to hear you're still experiencing the issue!  I have another suggestion that may help in adding the printer!

You should be able to add the printer using an alternate print driver.  The best driver to use is the HP Deskjet 990c driver.

To add the printer using the HP Deskjet 990c driver:

1. Open printers and faxes
2. Click add a printer
3. Select "local printer attached to this computer" and click next
4. Select LPT:1 for the printing port and click next
5. Choose HP on the left side
6. Choose HP Deskjet 990c on the right side and click next
7. Name the printer Officejet 5740 and click next
8. You don't need to share the printer
9. Click next and print a test page!

Here is a link to a video on Manually Adding the HP Printer to Windows XP.  In the video they do not choose the HP Deskjet 990c driver but I recommend you do! 🙂  You only need to follow the first part of the video up to 1:40.

If that does not work remove the printer from printers and faxes.  Follow the above steps to add a printer again.  When you get to step 4 instead of using LPT:1 see if you can select USB because the printer is connected USB.

Let me know how it goes!

[bob733]

I was able to install the printer using the 990c. The only thing not available would be the 5740 program manger to access print, scan and fax functions from the desktop, but I can live without it for now.

Thanks much for all your time and effort, it's much appreciated.

Bob

[CERTIFIEDPURE]

Thanks!

I tried a lot of other solutions (they all failed or I wouldn't be here) and this worked! I appreciate your contribution. I pulled out an old Windows XP because we have some software that wasn't developed to work beyond XP. Our only challenge was printing. Your answer saved the day!