Driver error when clicking into Printing Preferences/Defaults

[DanTheWise]

Hi,

I've started getting the below error message when going into Printing Prefs/Defaults. If I click past the error, I get a much more generic Settings window than usual.

I don't print that often, and am aware that this is the first time I've tried to print since updating Windows 10 from 1803 to 1809 a few weeks ago. That could be a coincidence but I thought it was worth mentioning.

I've tried uninstalling all traces of the HP software, including any registry entries I could find, and reinstalled the latest software bundle (June 2017) several times, to no avail. I'm running Windows 10 Pro x64.

Has anyone else come across this issue?

thanks

[asmita6658]

@DanTheWise

 
Greetings!

 
Welcome to the HP Community. This is a great place to get support, find answers and tips to your technical queries. I have reviewed your post and I understand, there's an issue with the printer driver. 

Don't worry, I'm here to help! Let's try these steps -

Step 1 Download and run HP Print and Scan Doctor from here -

Click on this link to download the HP Print and Scan Doctor.

Step 2 Re-install the printer drivers -

1) In the search box, type and open "Uninstall a Program". 
2) Look for HP Printer software. 
3) Right-click to uninstall. 
4) In the search box, type and open “Devices and printers”. 
5) In the Devices and Printers, look for your HP printer. If you see it listed right-click on it and choose “Delete” or “Remove Device”. 
6) Open the run command with the "Windows key + R" key combo.  
7) Type printui.exe /s and click Ok. (Note: there is a space in between “printui.exe” and “/s”). 
8) Click on the "Drivers" tab. 
9) Look for HP Printer driver. If you see it Click on it and click “Remove” at the bottom. 
10) Select Ok. 
11) Select Apply and Ok on the Print Server Properties windows. 
12) Close Devices and Printers Once the software and drivers are removed. 
13) Restart the computer. 
14) Download and install the software and drivers from here.

Let me know how that goes.

To thank us for our efforts to help you, click here to access your public post and Select - "Accept as solution" and click on the purple "Thumbs up". 

Have a great day!
 

[DanTheWise]

Hi Asmita

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately I am still seeing the error message after running through both procedures.

I found this thread which also describes the same issue with a similar model of printer, since upgrading Windows 10 from 1803 to 1809. It looks like HP need to release updated drivers, as currently we are unable to use our printers 😞

EDIT: That other thread was from mid-October, more than 5 weeks ago. So I would hope HP are very close to releasing new drivers by now?

thanks

Dan

[asmita6658]

@DanTheWise

Thanks for getting back to us. Please try these steps -

Step 1 Uninstall the printer drivers and restart the computer. 

Step 2 Install the Windows Updates -

1) In the search box, type, and open Windows Updates.

2) Check for updates.

3) If the updates are available, click on install and restart the computer.

Step 3 Install the built-in drivers -

Refer to this document for steps to install the printer drivers. 

Keep me posted. 

[DanTheWise]

Hi Asmita

Thank you, that looks to have resolved the issue with the print drivers. I had to choose the Envy 5540 built-in driver, as 5640 wasn't listed, but the print preferences pane now opens successfully. I haven't tested printing yet as I'm working remotely (still at work), but I'd imagine it will be ok.

The only thing now is I don't have HP Scan installed, because I haven't installed the HP software bundle. Is there a way to just install the scanning software, without installing the old print drivers and breaking printing again?

thanks

Dan

[asmita6658]

@DanTheWise

Thanks for getting back to us. Happy to hear that you are able to print now. 

Please refer to this video link for scanning instructions. 

Alternatively, you can also scan using the Webscan feature in the Embedded Web Server (EWS) to scan with the Windows built-in driver.

1) Get the printer's IP address from the printer control panel or by printing a network configuration page.

2) Type the IP address in the address line of a web browser, and then press Enter.

3) The printer Embedded Web Server (EWS) opens.

4) On the Scan tab, click the Webscan application.

5) Select the Image type, and then click Scan.

6) Right-click the scan in the browser window, click Save Picture as, and then click Save.

Hope this helps!

Keep me posted.