Driver is Unavailble

[Holden99ca]

I have had a heck of a time getting the HP software to connect with my new computer. The fixes I've found online have not only not fixed the problem but seem to have made things worse.

The first thing I did was this: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printer-Software-and-Drivers/Unsuccessful-Network-Installation/td-p/60...

But I couldn't uninstall the software so I did this: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/No-Driver-other-devices-gt-sms...

Which lead to even more, but different errors.

I'm not at the point where the software seems to have installed but when you look for the printer, it's listed but it says "Driver is unavailable", even though I've installed the HP software. Really really frustrated here. Any assistance would be appreciated.

[Garry_C]

Hi,

Thank you for contacting HP.

As I understand that you would like to connect the printer on a network, however you are unable to do that, Do not worry I will help you with the same.

Things to note first,

1) The Printer works only on the 2.4 GHz network and not on the 5.0 GHz. For Dual Band Routers we need to ensure the printer is connected to the 2.4 network.

2) PC and the printer or any device which has to be linked with the printer for printing and scanning should also be connected on the same 2.4 GHz network.

3) The printer and the router distance should be less than 10 feet for stable connection.

Let us try few steps.

1) First Restore Network Default on the printer.

• On the printer Home Screen > Go to Set Up.
• Select Network Set Up
• Select Restore Network Defaults > Yes
• Let it complete,

2) Run wireless Set Up Wizard.

• On the Printer Home Screen > Go to Set up.
• Select Network Set Up.
• Select Wireless Settings > Wireless > On.
• Again under Wireless Settings > Select Wireless Set Up Wizard > Run the Wireless Set Up Wizard.
• The Printer should detect available networks, choose the 2.4 GHz network.
• Enter the pass key for the network and connect, the printer should get connected to the network.

3) Ensure the PC is connected to the same 2.4 GHz network.

4) Access EWS of the printer just to confirm if the PC and the printer and communicating to each other.

• On the Printer Home Screen, select Set Up.
• Select Network Set Up,
• Select Wireless Settings.
• Look for View Wireless details, select it.
• The printer here displays the IP Address. (e.g - 10.0.0.23,,, 192.168.2.3)
• Make a note of the IP Address.
• Open any Web Browser and just the IP address in the browser address bar and hit enter.
• The Printer page should open.
• If the printer page opens it means the PC and the printer are communicating to each other.

5) Download the printer drivers from the below link and install the software, choose the connection type as Wireless.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/swdetails/hp-officejet-pro-8620-e-all-in-one-printe...

For further assistance please reply to this post.

Although I am an HP employee, I am speaking for myself and not for HP.

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[Holden99ca]

Thank you for the response, but my printer is wired, not wireless. That said, I did manage to mostly get it working by going into the device manager and finding the unknown device and updating the driver. So, it mostly works. I still can't install the HP Printer software. In trying to fix the problem, I was trying to uninstall then reinstall the HP software. It wouldn't uninstall without returning an error so I had to use Microsoft's Uninstall Tool. Now it won't reinstall. Pretty much everything works without the HP software, so I think I'll leave it "as is". Thanks again.

[Garry_C]

Hi,

Thank You for replying to the post.

I can recommend you to install a lighter version of the software which is known as HP Smart.

The HP Smart Software is an App and is much more compatible, easy to install and use.

You can perform Print/Scan and other functions like syncing print and scan documents to other devices.

Below is the link for HP Smart, Please download and Install.

If you are a first time user then you need to create an account with basic details and then add the printer.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/p/hp-smart/9wzdncrfhwlh?rtc=1&activetab=pivot:overviewtab

Please let me know how the HP Smart software installation went through.

Thanks

[Holden99ca]

Thanks, though it does lack the one feature that I was looking for, i.e., the ability to name your computer so it appears as an option under "scan to computer" on the printer. You can still see my computer when you click on "other", but I was hoping to make it a top level choice. It's not a big deal though. Thank you for your assistance.