Driver is Not Available

[markmisky]

Hi Jay,

   Yes, that was one of the first ways I tried. The HP app says it will only print PDF files so I tried a simple one and got the Error " Error printing on HP771860 The printer couldn't print simple PDF...."  Then tried printing it again and it told me the "Printer was in an Error State. "

[Jay_G24]

 Try the below suggestions -

 Use HP Print and Scan Doctor to check connectivity

Download a special version of HP Print and Scan Doctor specifically created to help with printer offline conditions.

1. Download HP Print and Scan Doctor.
2. Run HPPSdr.exe from the download location on your computer.
3. Once HP Print and Scan Doctor opens, click Start, and then select your printer.
   • If your printer in not in the list, turn it off and on, and then click Retry.
   • If there is a connection problem, follow the instructions in HP Print and Scan Doctor.
4. If a screen prompts you to turn on printer updates, click Yes.
5. If a screen prompts you to make your printer the default printer, click Yes 

 Connect the printer to TCP/IP port

 --->Touch on the wifi icon ((i)) on the printer, and take down the IP address 

a. Click Start/Devices and Printers.  Right-click on your HP Printer.  Select Printer Properties.  Select the Ports tab at the top.

b.    Select Add Port.  Select Standard TCP/IP Port.  Select New Port.

c.    Follow the Add Port Wizard.  Under Printer Name or IP Address, .  Example:  192.168.1.15.  The IP address will be copied under Port Name.  

d.    Select Next and Finish the Wizard.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted.  

[markmisky]

Hi Jay,

   Thank you again you have been very patient. Didn't totally solve it but I see what the problem is just not sure how to fix it. Here is what I did. 

1. Set up printer on USB cable and works fine. 

2. Ran HP Scan Doc and first try it could not find the printer. Powered off printer and CenturyLink Modem and it found it and printed a test page. Thought it was fixed! but not. 

3. Went to Word and tried to print and got  Error printing to HP......

4. Then saw your section on creating a new port. Did that and bingo the word doc I got an error on printed out by itself. 

5. So tried to print the same doc again from Word and Error Printing to HP........

6. Went back to the Port settings for the printer and Windows was trying to print from a WSD port! I changed it to the Printers IP address port and Bingo the word doc I got the Error on printed. Tried printing a few more times and Windows' keeps changing the Port back to WSD no matter what I do. I do not allow Windows to set default printer.

7. I googled this issue and its very common but there are so many different "solutions" I am not sure which one. The questions seem to be from people on Networks and I have no Network but homeowner with a Laptop. Can you suggest a fix? 

[Jay_G24 · Accepted solution]

 Set a manual IP and then connect the printer to the TCP/IP port -

Set a manual IP-

To set a manual IP and try the steps below -

--->Touch on the wifi icon ((i)) on the printer, and take down the IP address 

--->Open a web browser (ex Chrome or Mozilla) and type in the printer's IP

--->then go to network ---> general ---> network protocols ---> select IPV4 only-->apply 

--->go to wireless ---> wireless 802.11---> select manual ip ---> apply

--->Enter 8.8.8.8 for the first DNS and 8.8.4.4 for the second DNS.  

--->then go to settings on the main ews page --> power management ---> select sleep mode to max 15min

Install all the available Windows updates

If it is been a while since you updated your Windows, that is the main reason why Windows says your HP printer driver is unavailable. Here are the steps how to do a Windows Update to install all accessible operating system update.

If you are accessing Windows 10, then these steps are for you.

1. Hit the Start menu and write an update. After that, click on the “Check for updates” option.
2. Tap on the “Check for updates” option.
3. After clicking on that option, Windows will install the updates automatically.
4. When Windows completes all its updates, start your computer again and attempt to print a file to check if your printer works.

Then add the printer to the TCP/IP

Hope this helps!

Keep me posted!