Cannot run HP Installer, Cannot remove "phantom" M477fdw printer driver

[SemperFideles]

On one of my computers, the HP Installer for the M477fdw driver fails at load.  I've tried just about everything.

I've run the HP provided wizard and even tried running a Printer diagnostic and it discovers a print server that is still there in Windows 10.

The thing is, I can't delete it.  It doesn't show up in my list of printers under Printers.  It does show up among my Print Servers but when I try to delete the printer package, it won't let me delete the package because it states the package is in use.

I'm stuck.

It seems that the HP Installer fails because there is a Print Server for my printer that won't go away and the system somehow thinks that there is a printer but I cannot access it from my Settings so I'm in a frustrating do loop.

Any ideas on how to remove a "stuck" print server?

[ShlomiL]

Hi,

Type services.msc into the search bar and open Services.

Locate and stop the Print Spooler service, the list is alphabetical.

Right-click the start menu and select Run.

Type Spool and press OK

Open the PRINTERS folder and delete any file within this folder, this is the entire print queue

Note: if some TMP files fail to remove this is expected, as long as those are TMP files only, with no other file extensions.

Start the Print Spooler service.

Open NOTEPAD and click on File > Print, if there is any instance of your printer there, please delete it.

Right-click the Start menu, paste the following and press OK:

printui.exe /s /t2

Try removing any instance of your printer from the Print Server again and check for any difference, now try reinstalling the HP Software and check for any difference.

Shlomi

[SemperFideles]

I was able to delete the print server that I hadn't been able to get rid of.

BUT...

Unfortunately, the HP Installer still fails.

I've tried rebooting, but no joy.

I've ruled out this rogue printer driver in the system.

Any ideas about how to troubleshoot the installer failing at the point it starts all the setup?

[ShlomiL]

What exact error is shown when the HP Installer fails? Please include a detailed description if the exact error or a screenshot.

Shlomi

[SemperFideles]

The error is literally:  "A problem occurred while installing software to your system..."

As soon as it gets to the Software Selection stage of install this error pops up.

[ShlomiL]

Thanks for clarifying.

Please ensure your operating system is up to date, lack of Windows 10 updates might be crucial:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4027667/windows-10-update

Also, are you using the latest web release to install the printer?

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software13/COL61848/t2-149283-7/HP_Color_LJ_Pro_MFP_M477-PCL_6_v3_Ful...

Also, does the popup appears multiple times like in the image with no taken steps? can't you see any other error information when canceling these prompts?

Shlomi

[SemperFideles]

Windows 10 is up to date.  I've scanned the system files for errors and the system files all checked out.

I had the latest version of the installer but downloaded it again and I have the same eror.

Yes, the same error is displaying over and over on top of itself.  It is the same box with no error codes or anything useful other than the problem occurred message that you see in my attached image.

I'm not sure where to find any error logs on my system that might tell me what is going on.

This is very frustrating.  Other programs install and run properly, but this one is perplexing.