Printing to different HP printers broken after Win 11 update

[Stevej824V]

After a recent update from Windows, my customers computer will no longer print to either an M611 laserjet or a 2430.

When installing, Windows doesn't automatically see the printers and the HP installation software runs but then Windows reports the printer as installed but driver not found. I've tried various methods of removing the printer and reinstalling it. I've removed all the recent updates and tried all the repair methods in Windows but it will no longer use these printers.

I've even tried using the HP Universal driver but that has it's own issues. It will print but randomly create a multi page job out of single lines of text.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Raj_05]

Hi @Stevej824V,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like you're dealing with a complex printer issue that was likely triggered by a recent Windows update. Here are several steps you can take to try and resolve this problem.

Update or Roll Back Printer Drivers:

• Download Latest Drivers: Visit the HP support website and download the latest drivers for the M611 and 2430 printers.
• Roll Back Driver: If the latest drivers do not work, try rolling back to a previous version of the driver.

Remove Existing Printer Drivers Completely:

• Remove Printer from Devices and Printers: Go to Control Panel -> Devices and Printers, right-click the printer, and select "Remove device."
• Delete Driver Package: Open Print Management (search for it in the Start menu), go to Print Servers -> [Your Computer] -> Drivers, right-click the driver, and select "Remove Driver Package."

Use HP Print and Scan Doctor:

• Download and run the HP Print and Scan Doctor to troubleshoot and resolve issues with the HP printers.

Check Windows Update History:

• Review Updates: Go to Settings -> Update & Security -> Windows Update -> View update history. Check if there are any recent updates related to printing and uninstall them if necessary.
• Pause Updates: Temporarily pause updates to prevent automatic reinstallation of problematic updates.

Install Printers Manually:

• Add Printer Manually: Go to Settings -> Devices -> Printers & scanners -> Add a printer or scanner. If Windows doesn’t find your printer automatically, select “The printer that I want isn’t listed” and add it manually using the printer’s IP address or hostname.
• Use Built-in Windows Drivers: During manual installation, choose “Windows Update” to let Windows find the driver for you.

HP Universal Print Driver (UPD):

• If you must use the HP UPD, ensure you are using the correct mode (PCL6, PCL5, or PostScript) that matches your printer’s capabilities.
• Adjust Printer Preferences: Sometimes adjusting printer preferences and settings within the driver can resolve issues with print jobs splitting into multiple pages.

System File Checker (SFC) and DISM:

• Run SFC: Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run sfc /scannow to check for and repair corrupted system files.
• Run DISM: Run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth to repair the Windows image.

Check Print Spooler Service:

• Restart Print Spooler: Open Services (type services.msc in the Run dialog), find the Print Spooler service, and restart it.
• Clear Print Spooler Files: Stop the Print Spooler service, navigate to C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS and delete all files, then start the Print Spooler service again.

Reinstall Windows Updates in Safe Mode:

• Sometimes, installing updates in Safe Mode can resolve conflicts. Restart your computer in Safe Mode and attempt to reinstall the necessary updates.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue with the printers on your customer's computer.

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. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Alden4

HP Support