Driver unavailable after installing OfficeJet 9020

[EricS9]

Hi everyone,

I'm helping a coworker setup her OfficeJet 9020 printer and I keep getting the "Driver is unavailable" error after install. I've tried installing it using the Windows add a printer option as well as using the HP Smart software. I've tried checking for driver updates in the device manager, but it says that the device already has the best drivers, and there's nothing available to download on Windows updates. I also tried installing HP Universal Print Driver for Windows - PCL 6 after seeing it on a Reddit forum, but that didn't help either.

After installing it, everything appears to be normal on the HP Smart app, it's connected to the printer, it has an IP address and nothing obvious like no ink. But if I try to print documents on the HP app, it tries to finish installing the printer and always fails. And then in Windows Printers & Scanners it will show that the drivers are unavailable. 

She has another laptop that is able to print off this printer with no problem, so I'm running out of ideas on things we can try. Any help would be appreciated.

[Raj_05]

Hi @EricS9,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

Dealing with printer driver issues can be frustrating, but let's go through some troubleshooting steps that might help resolve the "Driver is unavailable" error for the HP OfficeJet 9020 printer on your coworker's computer.

Uninstall Previous Installations

• Remove Printer: First, uninstall the printer from Windows Printers & Scanners settings. Right-click on the printer and choose "Remove device."
• Uninstall Software: Uninstall any HP printer software or drivers that were previously installed. This can usually be done through the Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.

Clean Up Remaining Files

Sometimes, remnants of old installations can cause conflicts. To ensure a clean slate:

• Delete Temp Files: Press Win + R, type %temp%, and press Enter. Delete all files and folders in this folder.
• Clear Printer Spooler: Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:

net stop spooler

del /Q /F /S "%systemroot%\System32\Spool\Printers\*"

net start spooler

Install Fresh Drivers

Since you've already tried HP Smart and Windows add a printer option without success, let's try a more direct approach:

• Download Drivers: Go to the HP OfficeJet 9020 driver download page on another computer.
• Manual Installation: Instead of relying on HP Smart, try installing the drivers manually:
  • Download the full feature software and drivers package for the OfficeJet 9020.
  • Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions. Make sure to choose the correct connection type (USB or network) when prompted.

Check System Settings

Ensure that Windows is fully up to date:

• Windows Update: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for any available updates. Install them if there are any.

Disable Security Software (Temporarily)

Sometimes, security software can interfere with printer installations. Temporarily disable any antivirus or firewall software and try installing the printer again.

Restart and Test

After completing the installation, restart the computer and then test printing a document:

• Open a document and attempt to print.
• Ensure the printer is set as the default printer in Windows Printers & Scanners settings.

Additional Tips

• HP Print and Scan Doctor: Download and run the HP Print and Scan Doctor utility from HP's website. It can automatically diagnose and resolve printing problems.
• Driver Signing: Check if the driver you're installing is digitally signed. Unsigned drivers may cause issues on some systems.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support