HP Smart installation

[George99]

I am trying to install a new HP9020 printer and  loaded HP Smart, but when I open HP smart it just keeps asking me if I want to share usage data if I answer no or yes and the question keeps looping I have deleted HP smart and reinstalled it but it still loops.

[George99 · Accepted solution]

It works now  but no apparent cause.

[thieves]

This is a systemwide HP Smart crash.  HP confirmed such with me twice today (2/22/21) after opening up case number.  At first they claimed it would take "2-3" hours to repair.  After I hounded them multiple times later in the day they admitted they were working on it with no timeline for repair.

Worst part of this is not the crash, it is that HP would utilize a centralized server and software system to control simple printer functions such as scan.  One cannot scan without using HP Smart, or at least HP could not find a driver for me to do so.   

Meanwhile, for the bulk of today, a Monday, HP Smart is inoperable.  When it did function previously, it was slow to load and required multiple, duplicative inputs.  Clunky at best.  

The question is why they would risk all of their customers devices crashing due to this centralized product control?

IMO, it is because HP is more worried about obtaining customer data and usage so they can sell us more products incessantly, such as their automated ink selling service.  Instead they risk losing their customers because of predatory sales tactics and horribly functioning devices which in and of themselves, are very simple.

Epson, Brother, Lenovo here I come.  What a ridiculous outcome.