HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 - can print test page from HP Printer Assistant but not from any other app

[PaulKraemer]

Hi,

I have an HP OfficeJet 8100 All-in-one printer.  I have had it for a few years, but it has never been used.  I am now trying to get it to work on a Windows 11 PC.  I downloaded and installed what I believe to be the recommended driver for this printer.  It is described as HP Officejet Pro 8100 ePrinter series - N811 Full Feature Software and Driver version 28.1.1323.  The filename of the setup application I used was Full_Webpack-1323-OJ8100_Full_Webpack.exe.  I ran this file and the installation seemed to have completed successfully.  Running this file resulted in an application called "HP Printer Assistant" being installed.  From within this application, I am able to print a diagnostic test page by going to Print | Maintain Your Printer and then choosing Print Diagnostic Test Page.  The test page is printed perfectly when I do this.

When I go to Devices and Printers within Windows Control Panel, I can see that the printer is installed.  When I select the printer here and try to print a test page, it goes into the print queue, but it does not print.  After a short time (less than a minute), the print queue indicates that an error occurred when trying to print the test page.  Similarly, I am not able to print to this printer from any application (Word, Excel, or any other installed application) other then the HP Printer Assistant.

If anyone has an idea how I can correct this issue, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,
Paul

[Max3Aj]

@PaulKraemer, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

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

 It sounds like you're facing a frustrating issue where your HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 can print from the HP Printer Assistant but not from Windows or any applications like Word or Excel. This strongly indicates a communication problem between Windows and the printer driver. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you resolve this:

1. Check the Printer Port

• Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
• Right-click on your HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 and select Printer Properties.
• Navigate to the Ports tab.
• Check what port it is using:
  • WSD Port — Often problematic.
  • USB Port — Should work if directly connected.
  • Standard TCP/IP Port — Preferred for network connections.

If it's using WSD:

• WSD (Web Services for Devices) can be unreliable.
• Create a Standard TCP/IP Port manually:
  1. Click Add Port.
  2. Select Standard TCP/IP Port.
  3. Enter the printer’s IP address (you can find this from the printer settings or by printing a network configuration page).
  4. Complete the wizard (choose Generic Network Card if prompted).

Then, select the new port you created and apply the changes.
 

2. Reset the Print Spooler

Sometimes the spooler can get stuck from old jobs.

• Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
• Scroll down to Print Spooler.
• Right-click and select Restart.

3. Check Driver Association

Ensure your printer is using the correct driver:

• In Printer Properties, go to the Advanced tab.
• The Driver should show HP OfficeJet Pro 8100 (or a very close variant).
• If it shows something generic (like "HP PCL3 Class Driver" or "Microsoft IPP Class Driver"), it’s incorrect.
  • Click New Driver and select the one matching "HP OfficeJet Pro 8100".

4. (Optional) Reinstall the Printer Cleanly

If the issue persists:

• Uninstall the printer from Devices and Printers.
• Use HP Print and Scan Doctor to clean up old drivers and ports.
• Reinstall the printer. 

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support