Trouble Installing Easy Start on Windows 7

[m_ridzon]

I have a Windows 7 PC, Service Pack 1, 64-bit.  I am having trouble installing EasyStart for my 9018E printer.  I downloaded the Win7 executable from 123.hp.com.  I get stuck at a screen midway through the process.  The "connected printing service" screen gives me two buttons at the bottom, "accept all" and "manage options."  The former is greyed out as shown in the image below.

I click "manage options," but on the new screen, the "continue" button is greyed out (image below).  So I'm at a dead-end and cannot finish installation.  The buttons I need to move forward are greyed out.  Does anyone know how to get around this?

[Echo_Lake]

@m_ridzon

Thank you for posting on HP Support Community.
 

Don't worry as I'll be glad to help, I have a few troubleshooting steps we could try to fix the issue:  

1. Disconnect the printer from the computer or network.

2. In Windows, search for and open Add or remove programs.

3. In the list of installed programs, click your HP printer name, and then click Uninstall. If your printer name does not display, select HP Smart, and then click Uninstall.

4. If a User Account Control message displays, click Yes.

5. Follow the instructions to complete the software removal, and then restart the computer.

   NOTE: If the uninstall fails, use the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter (in English), and then try uninstalling again.

6. In Windows, search for and open Control Panel.

7. Click Devices and Printers.

8. For each printer icon that represents the name of your HP printer, right-click the icon, and then click Remove Device or Uninstall device.

   NOTE: If no printer icons display, the printer has already been removed.

The printer software and driver is uninstalled.

Other related HP software might remain on the system. If you do not want a particular software title, uninstall it from Add or remove programs.

To reinstall, click here.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.
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!

[PeterA75]

My printer is ENVY 6420e.  I have the same problem with Easy Start freezing at the same stage.  I bought the printer because it claimed to be usable with Windows 7 but this is more than irritating.  "Expert" advice is predictably the uninstall/reinstall suggestion. This is incorrect because nothing is installed at the stage the software freezes.  The problem is with the software not working with Windows 7 - can it be fixed?

[m_ridzon]

@PeterA75, since posting this, I have had a few phone conversations with HP support.  The short of it is that there is no solution.  Although HP advertises Win7 support, that's not really true, unfortunately.  The technician was able to go into my Control Panel to "add printer," which effectively installs a generic printer driver.  So at this point, I would have had the very basic print functionality.  Other features (e.g., scanning) would not be available since those features are built into the EasyStart app, which as we know, will not install on Win7. 

In my scenario, I encountered another wrinkle.  Since my printer was second-hand from a friend, I learned that its "HP Instant Ink" cartridges would not function until I signed up for the instant ink program.  I was ready to do this since my calculations show a little cost savings.  However, the technician then informed me that I could not enroll the Win7 machine because the ink program is no longer supported on that machine.  The only alternative is to buy "non-instant ink" HP cartridges from a retailer.  But again, my Win7 generic printer driver would only allow basic print functionality. 

Bottom line for me...I'm going to stow the printer away in a closet for a few months.  I will soon be upgrading to a Win10 machine and these issues will hopefully go away for me.  It's unfortunate that I have to wait, but I got the machine for a good deal, and would like to use it one day.

[PeterA75]

@M_ridzon.  Thanks for the update.  I rather expected that result, but it's a shame that I'll only be able to use the printer with the two family Win10 laptops, which set up ok with the Easy Start app including signing up the instant ink program.

I have good reasons for sticking with my old Win7 desktop and will go back to using my old HP 5520 which still works as a scanner, even if it's given up the ghost on printing.

[hudlee]

Yeah hp easy start needs work. The mac version is buggy and the windows version is buggy breaks on win7. However I was able to work around this on windows 7 for my never stop laser MFP 1202w by installing the driver directly from hp's site by clicking:

1. Drivers

2. Basic Drivers

3. Download link on right

I was expecting a compressed folder with drivers like the old days. Instead I got this separate installer which didn't contain easy start so it worked on windows 7. I'm sure your mileage will vary with printer model. I miss the old days, great software WAS a main selling point of HP printers. Please put in the effort to make easy start work on older versions of windows. Please put in the effort to fix the bugs on the mac version. Please stop posting irrelevant generic solutions and admit when your software DOES NOT WORK AS ADVERTISED. I MISS THE OLD DAYS!

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software13/printers/120x/Basic_Webpack_x64-49.12.4681-NSL1200_UWL_Bas...

[SamBasha]

I had the same issue. There is a way around. click the small "x" at the upper right corner, as if you want to abort. It will show you a warning message. you will find in the message an option to install the driver alone.