HP Easy Start appears to succeed but no PPD files are installed

[imikey_reboot]

I have two Macs.  I ran HP Easy Start about 3-4 months ago on a MacBook Pro and if I look in the "/Library/Printers/PPDs/Contents/Resources" directory, I can find the PPD file that corresponds to my M477fdw printer.  Everything is working perfectly fine with this Mac.

I justs bought a MacBook and attempted to run the HP Easy Start on it today.  I had it install the HP Easy Scan v1.5.0.12 (which was the only install choice), then completed the installer but no PPD files were installed in the "/Library/Printers/PPDs/Contents/Resources" directory.

Both Macs are running El Capitan (v10.11.6) but when I ran HP Easy Start 3-4 months ago (when it worked), I probably was on an earlier dot release of the OS.  I checked the logs on the MacBook and nothing stood out to me.  I used an admin account to run HP Easy Start, but it didn't make a difference.  I ran the command line tool for fixing disk permissions ("sudo /usr/libexec/repair_packages --repair --standard-pkgs --volume /") but it didn't make a difference.

Can anyone help me to figure out why HP Easy Start isn't working for me on the MacBook?

[ShlomiL]

Hi,

Try repairing the disk permissions from the OS tools as following:

From the Utilities folder select Disk Utility, select your active boot volume and press First Aid.

Once the process completes try resetting teh printing system as following:

*Be aware that resetting the printer system will remove any existing print queue and reset any customized driver settings.

Click the Apple menu, and then click System Preferences .
Select Printers & Scanners.
Right-click (or Ctrl + click) your product in the Printers list in the left panel, and then click Reset printing system .
Click OK to confirm the reset.
Type your user Name and Password .
Click OK . The printing system resets.

Now try reinstalling the printer using HP Easy Start

If the same results persists download and install the following installation package and check for any difference:

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/HP_Quick_Start/osx/Installations/Essentials/hp-printer-esse...

[imikey_reboot]

One of the features that was removed from the Disk Utility in the El Capitan release of MacOS was repairing disk permissions.  It's still possible to do it from the command line (which I described in my first post).  Regardless, I ran First Aid as you requested.  I also reset the printing system as you requested.  Then I ran HP Easy Start again with no change in the results: still no files in the "/Library/Printers/PPDs/Contents/Resources" directory.

I downloaded and ran the installer that you referenced.  It looked very promising as it installed many of the files that I was expecting.  However, something isn't right about that installer as it doesn't contain the "HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477.gz" PPD file, which I need for my printer to be recognized.  Let me clarify.  On the MacBook Pro I described previously, there are two PPD files for my printer in the "/Library/Printers/PPDs/Contents/Resources" directory:

• HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477 Fax.ppd.gz
• HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477.gz

The installer that you pointed me to, installed the former but not the latter on my MacBook.  I verified that the "HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477.gz" PPD file is actually missing from the installer package by looking for it using the installer's "File -> Show Files" menu option.

Just to see what would happen, I copied my MacBook Pro's version of that file to my MacBook.  With that file present, I was able to see my printer properly listed in the "Use" field when adding a printer, however, when I attempted to complete adding the printer, an error dialog appeared stating that something was wrong and I needed to reinstall the software (I didn't write down the exact message but I can if it matters).  I then removed the file I added so things are back to the way they were.

Can you point me to a more up-to-date installer that contains whatever files I need that are missing from this installer?

[imikey_reboot]

Any news on resolving the problem with the HP Easy Start or alternate installer?

[imikey_reboot · Accepted solution]

Solved.  I found a post that basically described the following procedure for MacOS El Capitan:

1. Under "System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General > Allow apps downloaded from:", make a note of the current setting (for me it was: "Mac App Store and identified developers").  Then select "Anywhere".
2. Run the "HP Easy Start".  This time, I had a choice to install "Essential Software" -- that never appeared before and of course, it made all the difference.  Finish installing and setup the printer.
3. Verify the printer works as expected.
4. Under "System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General > Allow apps downloaded from:", select whatever you had before.

No resetting the print subsystem, disk first aid, fixing disk permissions, or rebooting was needed.  Now the PPD files are installed and everything is working as expected.

I checked the security and privacy settings on my MacBook Pro (where I had previously installed this driver) and it was also set to "Mac App Store and identified developers" so I suspect that when I first installed the driver files in the past, I had a different version of MacOS and that version behaved differently with regard to the security and privacy settings.  Or possibly HP didn't properly sign one of its installer files after updating it.

In any case, I hope this post will help somebody in the future.