Change a setting that is missing or grayed out

[Stargazer8in]

I anm attempting to use the Selection setting in printer prefferances. It is grayed out, is there but not useable. I cannot fix that.

[DavidSMP]

Hi @Stargazer8in,

Good Day.  Thank you for posting your query in the HP community.  I read the post regarding issues with selection setting in printing preferences being grayed out. I will be delighted to assist you here. 🙂

Superb description and commendable diagnosis of the issue before posting. Kudos to you for that. 🙂

For better clarity and to assist you better I would require more information regarding this:

• Did this happen after a windows or driver update?
• Did you try to uninstall and reinstall the printer drivers?
• Did you try multiple apps like MS Word, Excel, WordPad or Adobe and check?

For now please try these steps:

Please try a different app like Adobe reader or WordPad and check if the printing preferences work.

If they do, please uninstall and reinstall the app that is causing the problem and check again. This should fix the issue.

• Otherwise please uninstall and reinstall the printer drivers by following these steps:
• Uninstall the printer from "programs and features" which can be accessed by doing a right-click on the Windows button (Please have the printer Off and disconnected during uninstallation.)
• Check in device manager, if the printer is listed there, please delete it. (Right click on the Windows button to access device manager)
• Go to devices and printers, select any printer listed there and you will get some options on the top.
• Click on print server properties.
• You will get a popup, click on the drivers tab and delete all the HP printer drivers listed there if any.
• Delete all the instances of your printer listed in devices and printers.
• Restart the PC.
• Once the PC is on the desktop, press Win + R, it would bring a Run dialog box,
• Type %temp% in the run box and click Ok or hit the Enter button.
• It would bring up the temporary files folder. Delete the files in the folder (You might not be able to delete all the files).
• If possible, delete the printer from the registries using Regedit or using any other 3rd party application.
• Ignore the Regedit option if it cannot be done.
• Restart the PC again.
   
• Then download the latest full feature driver from http://hp.care/2x5EUth and install it on the computer after selecting the correct operating system.
• Connect the printer to your computer only when the setup prompts for the printer.
• This should fix the issue. Please check this printer settings link: http://hp.care/2x5COJD which will be very useful to change settings in printing preferences.
• If this does not work, then please try installing and using Windows built-in drivers by following the steps from this link: http://hp.care/2o3acvH on how to install it.

Please perform all these steps patiently as it is critical to resolving the issue. The trick is to remain patient, Going by your technical expertise and competence I am sure you will be able to perform these steps without breaking a sweat. 🙂

Hope this helps. Let me know how it goes. To simply say thanks, please click the "Thumbs Up" button to give me a Kudos to appreciate my efforts to help. If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue to get it resolved without hassles.

Take care and have a blessed week ahead. 🙂

Cheers!