Photosmart C4280 re-installation problem - device fails to complete setup

[mab518]

I had to uninstall the software and driver for my Photosmart C4280 All-in-one, and when I re-installed it from the file downloaded from online, it gets to the step to add the device, it detects my device when I connect it via USB, but the progress fails to move past 0/8 and eventually it says "Device setup has failed to complete."

I have a Windows 7 64-bit, downloaded the software and driver exe from hp.com.  Before I uninstalled, it was recognizing the device just fine.  In fact, I had just printed and scanned right before I had to uninstall and re-install.  Windows Device Manager recognizes the device under "Other devices" as a Photosmart C4200 series, but it says the drivers for this device are not installed.  When I use this route to update the driver, it doesn't find the driver.

Back to the Photosmart C4200 Series installer, when I click Retry after it says Device setup has failed to complete, I get the same result - the device is detected, but fails to complete.

[Chimney_83]

Greetings @mab518, 

Welcome to HP Forums and Thanks for the post. 

I understand that you are unable to complete the setup of your printer on the computer running on Windows 7, is that right?

Not to worry, I will be glad to help. 

Kudos to you for trying to troubleshoot the issue on your own.

Are you able to make a copy on the printer? This would let us know that the printer is working fine. 

Request to follow the procedure mentioned below to uninstall the printer completely and then restart the computer couple times before installing it back on the computer. 

Uninstall the printer from "programs and features" which can be accessed by doing a right-click on the Windows button (Please have the printer Off and disconnected during uninstallation.)

Check in device manager, if the printer is listed there, please delete it. (Right click on the Windows button to access device manager)

Go to devices and printers, select any printer listed there and you will get some options on the top. 

Click on print server properties. 

You will get a popup, click on the drivers tab and delete all the HP printer drivers listed there, if any.

Delete all the instances of your printer listed in devices and printers.

Restart the PC.

Once the PC is on the desktop, press Win + R, it would bring a Run dialog box, 

Type %temp% in the run box and click Ok or hit the Enter button.

It would bring up the temporary files folder. Delete the files in the folder (You might not be able to delete all the files, ignore them).

If possible, delete the printer from the registries using Regedit or using any other 3rd party application.

Restart the PC again. 

Download the latest full feature driver from www.hp.com/drivers and install it on the computer.

Connect the printer to your computer only when the setup prompts for the printer. 

Let me know if this helped. 

[mab518]

Thank you for the response.  But it did not resolve my issue.

Yes, I am able to make copies with the printer.

I tried the steps you provided, and the new step I hadn't tried before is to clear my temp folder.  However, I still get the same result.  Upon re-install, I get to the step to add the device, plug in the usb, and the device is detected and it is waiting for device setup to finish, but the progress stays at 0/8 and it eventually errors out saying Device setup has failed to complete.

Device Manager does still recognize the usb device as a Photosmart C4200 series despite previously removing all references to Photosmart from my registry, but it fails to load the driver.

What else could be preventing the installer from adding a device it was previously able to add?

[Chimney_83 · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the reply and trying the suggested steps. Did you try the exact procedure to uninstall the printer? 

Did you uninstall the printer from programs and features?

Delete the printer from device manager?

Delete all the HP printers from Print server properties? (Devices and Printers)

Restart the computer and clear the temp files.

Restart the computer and then install the printer software.

If the issue persists even after following the exact procedure, recommend you uninstall the printer again using the method suggested.

Instead of installing the printer software from hp website, try to set up the printer using Windows built-in driver. Please refer to this HP article for assistance. 

Let me know how it goes. 

[mab518]

Thank you.  Yes, I followed all of the steps you provided, as I stated before.  But the additional step you mentioned is what made the difference.  I had Windows update the driver after I uninstalled the software and now I am able to use the printer even without the HP software.

[Chimney_83]

Thanks for the reply and glad that the issue is resolved. Please do try to scan a document as well. Without the full feature software installed on your computer, refer to this HP Article to install or use other apps to scan from the printer. 

Please do post your technical queries on our Forums for assistance.