Unfixable error message: "A problem has occured with one of the printer's critical files."

[NathanielS]

I have checked the other solutions and tried them all. New printer drivers do not work. All available downloads from HP result in a failure to discover the printer. Installing the driver manually led to a screen where it could not discover the printer. The pritner display will not go away from this message. This was a brand new printer given by me from a friend who is loyal to HP, and I put it away and used my old black and white printer for a year because it was so frustrating. Now I am paying for color prints at the library, and I want it to work. I have beat my head against it like a brick wall for many hours. HP gives me no contact options besides this. I am very frustrated with the company.

[Dragon-Fur]

@NathanielS 

Welcome to the HP Community Forum.

Looks like the model has perhaps been around since 2016.

The printer is out of Warranty -- it might have been so by the time your friend gave you the printer.

While lack of Warranty does not doom the printer, it does mean that you cannot submit a case to HP Support.

Even so, standard Warranty only covers setup support for a brief time right after purchase.

The information is provided FYI and meant to explain why you cannot submit a case to HP Support.

I get that you are unhappy with HP.

One problem with having tried "everything", is that it is likely what we can offer is simply a repeat.

This is an important distinction -- we don't know what you have done and you don't know what, if anything, you might have missed.

If the error is embedded in the printer itself, it is possible a Reset will fix the underlying issue.

This is likely already tried, in fact.  Offered FYI only.

 HP printer turns off unexpectedly or repeatedly

Steps 1-3

Part of the setup requirements are dependent on the Operating System / version of the computer or device you are using.

For example, the Full Feature Software is supported for Windows 7 through Windows 11 -- that does not mean the software is supported in your Operating System / version.

Reference

Details Page - Driver - For your Printer

>>> Full Feature Software - Web Pack Installation Package - Information - Download  <<<

HP OfficeJet Pro 8210 Print and Scan Driver and Accessories 

Printers that "sit for a year" likely do not have a usable ink system - any ink left in the printer has long since dried out.

I would guess that everything included installing a fresh set of HP ink cartridges.

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HP Printer Home Page - References and Resources

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When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

NOTE:  Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories:  Alerts, Access to the Print and Scan Doctor (Windows), Warranty Check, HP Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, Lots of How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, Manuals > User Guides, Product Information (Specifications), Supplies, and more

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