Driver files seem bloated

[El_Jefe1]

Want to download drivers for my printer, but want to minimize the files size and eliminate unnecessary bloatware. On the HP site, it states that the basic drivers is 49.6 MB but when extracted it is 196 MB.  1) What is the difference? My understanding is that the actual file size when downloaded will be the extracted amount of 196 MB. That is one heck of a lot of MB for a simple driver package, so I'm guessing there is a lot of bloatware loaded into this "basic" driver file.  2) Is there a way to get just the drivers? I don't need any software, just the drivers. The printer prints just fine using the Windows drivers, but I need the HP drivers to get my scan program to work - I use NAPS2 for scanning. I don't want to use the HP scanning software because it creates huge file sizes compared to NAPS2.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Jeet_singh]

@El_Jefe1,

Welcome to the HP Forums 🙂 I would like to take a moment and thank you for using this forum, it is a great place to find answers. For you to have the best experience on the HP forum, you could also visit our HP Forums Guide for First Time Here? Learn How to Post and More. I see from your post that you need information and assistance related to size of the drivers for your HP OfficeJet 6830 printer. Don't worry we'll work together to help you find a solution.

After reviewing your post thoroughly, I understand you would like to download the drivers however you want to have minimum file size. 

Printer seems to be working fine using the Windows built in drivers. However, you're having issues while scanning. 

If you want to scan then you would need to go ahead and install the full feature software. Don't worry we do have a work around. 

In Windows 10, you can either use HP Scan and Capture app or you can download and install HP smart app for Windows 10. 

Scan in Windows 8 and Windows 10 using the HP Scan and Capture app. The free app is available in the Windows Store.

1. Install HP Scan and Capture (in English) from the Windows Store.

2. Place the item you want to scan on the scanner glass or load it into the document feeder.

3. Open Start, and then click HP Scan and Capture.

4. Click the menu  icon, and then select Settings.

5. Click Select Device.

6. Select your HP printer.

7. Click Photo Scan Options to change any settings, and then click the back arrow.

8. Click outside the Settings menu, and then click Capture Photos.

9. Click Save.

   A window opens to save to a folder on your computer.

Alternatively, you can also try this - HP Printers - Using the HP Smart App (Windows 10)

Hope this answers your question.

Good luck and keep me posted about the developments. If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue and give the post a Kudos for my efforts to help. Thank you and have a great week ahead. 🙂

[El_Jefe1]

Thank you for the quick and thorough response.  However, it does not solve my problem completely.  Although I indicated that I do not want to use HP software for the scanning (I use NAPS2), I did try the Scan and Capture app because previously I had only used the scan function that came with the full software.  It is a very easy to use app but here is the problem, the same problem I've always have with HP software - the file sizes are significantly larger.  I will admit that the file size difference has been reduced to twice the size, rather than 3-4 times the size with the full software, but that is still not acceptable.  I do a lot of scanning and storing files and file size is important to me.  It's also important for emailing files.  To give you an idea, I scanned a 2-page document in NAPS2 for a file size of 1.15 MB.  The same document with the identical settings in Scan and Capture is 2.28 MB.  Note that I had to install the HP package to make NAPS2 work, but now I've got a lot of bloatware on my computer that I want to get rid of.  So I plan to delete the HP software when I find a solution to loading ONLY the drivers for the scan operation.  This is not a new problem - it's been around for a long time with HP - and I'm sure there is a solution, I've just not found it yet.

[Barachiel]

@El_Jefe1

Thanks for the response.

It looks like you were interacting with @Jeet_singh, but he is out for the day & I'll be glad to help you out, 

I'm the Barachiel & I'm at your service.

In this case, I recommend you to delete all the printer software and then install the basic driver from this link. 

Follow the steps given below:

In Windows, search for and open Programs and features 

2.) Select your HP Printer 

3.) Select Uninstall 

4.) In Windows, search for and open Devices and printers 

5.) In the Devices and Printers windows look for your HP printer. If you see it listed right-click on it and choose `Delete' or `Remove Device' 

6.) Open up 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 

Keep me posted, 

[El_Jefe1]

Sorry for the delay in responding. I've been traveling a lot and, quite frankly, I'm getting a little worn out by this topic and the inability to find a solution. Barachiel - thank you for the response but it doesn't solve the problem. In fact, your solution is where I started. Originally I downloaded the Basic Driver (from the same webpage as the link you provided) and this is what prompted my original post. It is this basic driver package that claims to be 49.6 MB but unpacks to 196 MB. All kinds of bloatware is included in this "basic" driver package, including such things as HP Shop for Supplies software for example. I get it that you want to sell more stuff but I don't want or need this stupid program or any of the others that come with this "basic" supposedly driver only package. All I want/need are drivers that will allow me to scan. This should be no more than 20 MB, probably less than 15 MB.

Anybody out there know how to avoid all the bloatware?

Another possibility is to install and then delete the various bloatware programs and also stop services. I've done some of this but I'm not sure I got everything. Also, this approach still leaves a lot of stuff on my PC that may not be used but it is just more clutter that I don't need. A simple driver download would be best.
Note that I can print with the basic Windows drivers but I can't scan, so that's what I'm trying to solve without all the HP bloatware.

[Jeet_singh]

@El_Jefe1,

I have brought your issue to the attention of an appropriate team within HP. They will likely request information from you in order to look up your case details or product serial number. Please look for a private message from an identified HP contact. Additionally, keep in mind not to publicly post personal information (serial numbers and case details).

If you are unfamiliar with how the Community's private message capability works, you can learn about that here.

Thank you for visiting the HP Support Community.