Print job endlessly cycling in queue and will not print or cancel

[15298]

This was a new printer setup using a  HP i7 laptop. After following setup procedures correctly and printing the alignment page,  all the lights on the printer panel were flashing  and beeping indicating a critical driver issue according to Google search. I unplugged printer and replugged and tried to print a document which started the endless cycling of the print queue which would not print or cancel until i unplugged printer and restarted the laptop.

Then I went to printers, properties, advanced,  driver drop down menu, changed from Microsoft IPP class driver by selecting HPDeskjet 2800 series PCL-3(V4), APPLY.   Seems to be working ........for today anyways! 

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @15298 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thank you for sharing such a detailed account—it really helps narrow things down. You’ve already done a lot of the right things, and switching from the Microsoft IPP Class Driver to the HP-specific PCL-3 (V4) driver was a smart move. That change often resolves compatibility and communication issues, especially with newer printers on Windows 11.

To help ensure your setup remains stable and doesn’t fall back into that frustrating print queue loop, here are a few additional steps to lock in reliability:

 

1. Set the HP Driver as Default Permanently

Sometimes Windows may revert to the IPP Class Driver after updates or reboots.

• Go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.
• Select your printer > Printer properties.
• Under the Advanced tab, confirm HP DeskJet 2800 series PCL-3 (V4) is selected.
• Uncheck “Enable bidirectional support” (if checked), then click Apply.
• Back in the main printer window, click Set as default.

 

2. Disable Windows Automatic Driver Updates for Printers

This prevents Windows from replacing your selected driver.

• Open Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings.
• Under the Hardware tab, click Device Installation Settings.
• Select No (your device might not work as expected) and click Save Changes.

 

3. Clear Print Queue Manually (if it happens again)

If a job gets stuck again, here’s a quick way to clear it without rebooting:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll to Print Spooler, right-click it, and select Stop.
3. Open File Explorer and go to:
   C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
4. Delete all files in that folder.
5. Go back to services.msc, right-click Print Spooler, and select Start.

 

4. Keep Firmware and Drivers Updated via HP App

To avoid future surprises, use the HP App to manage updates:

Download or open from: https://www.hp.com/in-en/printers/hp-app.html

Add your printer and check for firmware or driver updates under Printer Settings > Advanced Settings.

 

5. Optional: Use HP Print and Scan Doctor for Quick Fixes

If anything goes off track again, this tool can help reset the print system and fix stuck jobs.

• Download from:
  https://support.hp.com/in-en/help/diagnostics

It’s great to hear it’s working now—let’s keep it that way. If anything changes, you’ve got a solid foundation to troubleshoot quickly and get back to printing without the chaos.

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye