HP3830 Printer Not Working

[SimonC90]

Hi all,

This is so incredibly frustrating.  My printer first started malfunctioning with printing out blank pages of paper.  I would send a print job to my printer and it would take in the papers and not print anything on it.  I've tried deleting the printer from my Printers & Devices, deleting the drivers, uninstalling and reinstalling.  And now I feel like I'm just more **bleep**ed because after reinstalling the printer drivers and setting it up again, my Printer now says Driver Unavailable and nothing seems to be working.  HP Print and Scan Doctor isn't helping.  HP Smart isn't helping.  This sucks. Please help.

[SimonC90]

Okay, my printer is still not working but I was able to restore it to a point where everything is not all a mess.  My printer is still only printing out 2 blank pages for every print job.  I've tried uninstalling everything and reinstalling everything and nothing has worked. Please help somebody.

[SimonC90]

Hello?

HP really does not give a **bleep** about their customers.

[Jay_G24]

Hi @SimonC90,

I'd like to help!

I understand you are receiving a driver unavailable error.

Let's try and uninstall the printer software from the root level on your PC and install the full feature printer software.

First, unplug the USB cable from the printer if present.

• Go to Control panel – Programs and feature – Select all the HP printer entries and uninstall them.
  • Now go to Control panel – Devices and printer – Select all the printer entries and remove the device.
  • Restart your computer.
  • Click the bottom-left Start button on desktop, type device manager in the search box and tap Device Manager on the menu.
  • Once in device manager, click on the view tab in the top & choose “Show hidden devices”.
  • Then from the device manager list, check the entries under “Printer” – If there are any entries, please right click and choose “uninstall” – In the confirm device un-install pop-up, make sure you select the box which says “Delete the driver software for this device". 
  • Also, check the entries under "printer queue" and "imaging devices" and repeat the same exercise. Delete any printer entry or any entry which says “Unknown device”.
  • Once done, close device-manger. Then press the "windows key" + "r" to get the "Run" window open - Type "printui.exe /s" and press enter.
  • Under print server properties, go to drivers - remove any entry there as well.
  • Again, go running window, type – “c:/programdata” – Go to Hewlett Packard folder, remove any printer related folders & files.
  • Once done you can try cleaning out your temporary files and cached files. You can try using automated applications like some cleaner software's that you can download from the internet.
  • Now restart your computer again.
  • Open the Run window again, type “services.msc” and press ok to get services window.
  • Scroll down to “Remote Procedure Call (RPC)” – right-click and go to properties. Make sure the service is started and startup type is “Automatic”.
  • Now scroll up and go to “Function Discovery Provider Host” – right-click and select properties – Change the startup type to “manual” and start the service.
  • Repeat the same exercise on “Function Discovery Resource Publication” as well
  • Windows image acquisition stop and restart the service 

Install all the available Windows updates

If it is been a while since you updated your Windows, that is the main reason why Windows says your HP printer driver is unavailable. Here are the steps how to do a Windows Update to install all accessible operating system update.

If you are accessing Windows 10, then these steps are for you.

1. Hit the Start menu and write an update. After that, click on the “Check for updates” option.
2. Tap on the “Check for updates” option.
3. After clicking on that option, Windows will install the updates automatically.
4. When Windows completes all its updates, start your computer again and attempt to print a file to check if your printer works.

Reinstall the drivers from the Software and drivers page

If the error persists, Try installing the printer with windows built-in driver

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

And, Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

Please click “Accept as 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

[SimonC90]

Hello @Jay_G24,

Thank you for responding to my post.  I followed your instructions to the tee and my printer is still not working.  It is still printing out two blank pages of paper and telling me that the printer is out of paper even though there is paper in the feed.  Is there anything else that I can do?

[Jay_G24]

Try the steps in the document to resolve the out of paper issue -'Out of Paper' Displays, Printer Does Not Pick Paper

If the issue persists, I'd suggest you Contact HP in your region regarding the service options for your printer

Hope this helps!

Keep me posted!

[SimonC90]

The help page you referred me to is not helpful.  The printer is taking up pages but it's coming out blank.

[SimonC90]

This community support page sucks.