HP OfficeJet Pro 8025 "driver not available"

[superuser1234]

Unable to install drivers for an HP OfficeJet Pro 8025 All in One printer, running on Windows 10 Pro x64 on a Lenovo laptop. Tried connecting the printer via either USB or wireless methods, using HP Smart, Add a Printer wizard in Windows 10 or by using the All in One Easystart software provided on the site, none of these methods are successful. The printer is shown in devices & printers as connected, but "driver is unavailable" and I am unable to print. When going through Add a Printer wizard, all is well until choosing the HP OfficeJet Pro 8020 series PCL-3 driver - Windows errors with either "printer driver was not installed - element not found" or "the driver cannot be installed because it is either not digitally signed or not signed in the appropriate manner." HP Smart and Easystart software are also unable to successfully setup the printer.

Have tried factory resetting the printer, clean installation of drivers, running DISM and SFC scans, firewalls are off, and I have exhausted pretty much every post related to this issue, all solutions do not work. HP Support was unable to resolve the issue remotely connected to the machine, and before having to pay for further support I would like to see if there are any other solutions I have not tried. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I have never had so many issues setting up a printer before.

[TEJ1602]

@superuser1234, Welcome to HP Support Community!

This could be due to the connectivity or the drivers installed. Let us try to isolate and resolve the issue-

You may need to instead go into your router settings and try changing the channel manually. Experiment with different channels to see which one works best.

Use HP Print and Scan Doctor

Download HP Print and Scan Doctor and run the program. It will automatically diagnose and fix any printer connectivity issues. 

For more information, go to https://support.hp.com/us-en/topic/printscandoctor

Update the printer firmware

Download available firmware updates from the HP website

With the printer on and connected to the computer, go to HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads, and then identify your printer. Look for and install any available firmware updates. Refer to the document HP Printers - Updating or Upgrading Printer Firmware

Assign manual IP to the printer

The steps on how to set a manual IP address can be found here.

For the DNS servers please use 8.8.8.8 for the Manual Preferred DNS Server and 8.8.4.4 for the Alternate DNS server. These are Google’s public DNS servers

If the issue persists, I recommend you delete the driver and root level and retry, follow the steps below: 

1) 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”

8). Click on the “Drivers” tab 

9) Look for the 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.

Use this link to download and install the new driver. Configure the printer.

Add a TCP/IP port.

1. Print a Network Configuration Report from the Printer Settings or Wireless menu.
2. Right-click your printer, select Printer Properties, click the Ports tab, and then click Add Port.
3. Select Standard TCP/IP Port, and then click New Port.
4. Follow the instructions to add a new port using the information listed on the Network Configuration Report.
5. Try printing.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[superuser1234]

HP Print and Scan Doctor was already used without success. Firmware update utility is not able to find the printer and so unable to update. The printer is able to connect to the PC wirelessly, I can see the IP I assigned to it but the issue still comes down to "driver not available". I have been removing the printer at root level for this entire process, doing it every time in between attempting different approaches. None of the driver install software available from HP site works, wirelessly or USB connection, anything. Manually adding the printer port does not work either, driver is still unable to install.

[superuser1234]

The current firmware version is :
MALBECPP1N001.2051B.00
Built Date
2020-12-15

[TEJ1602]

@superuser1234

Create a new user account and try adding the printer-

1. Tap the Windows icon.

2. Select Settings.

3. Tap Accounts.

4. Select Family & other users.

5. Tap "Add someone else to this PC."

6. Select "I don't have this person's sign-in information."

7. Select "Add a user without a Microsoft account."

8. Enter a username, type the account's password twice, enter a clue and select Next.

9. Tap the Windows icon.

10. Select the User icon at the upper left corner of the Start menu.

11. Select the new user. You'll then sign in to your account with your password from step 8.

Use this link to download and install the new driver. Configure the printer and try printing.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[superuser1234]

Hi there,

Thank you for your assistance, the issue was solved with remote work by HP Support. A separate driver version was installed which managed to play nicely with Windows, and the printer port had to be changed.

[TEJ1602]

@superuser1234

That's great! Happy to hear that.

Let me know if you need any further assistance.