Windows 11 printing problems

[Bill4742]

This printer works fine with my old Win 7 Professional computer, but continues to give trouble with my new Windows 11 HP all-in-one computer. It has worked, then stopped now will only print in monochrome.  HP Print & SCan Doctor  reports no problems. It looks like a driver problem, how do I fix it? 

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

@Bill4742 

Welcome to the HP User Community.

The printer software is supported in Windows 11.

Yes, could be a problem with the driver (printer software).

It might be possible to clear the issue by simply uninstalling > reinstalling the full driver printer software.

If you have tried that, and the problem continues, add the steps in the Check and Remove Section in the sample.

Full Feature Software / full driver printer software - Installation Package - Information and Download

HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Wide Format All-in-One Print and Scan Driver and Accessories

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Details / How-to / Examples

Preparation

Printer Software – Blocked in Security Software

Check your Security Software to make sure the printer software is not being blocked.  Most Security software will allow you to make an exception for applications / software you want to use on your computer.

If you make changes to the security software setup, Restart your computer and log in.

Create Restore Point (Optional)

Before making any changes to your system, always create a Restore Point!

Stop / Exit all programs:  Browsers, games, Applications, etc.

Control Panel > icon view > System > System Protection

Click (Highlight) your main disk (C) > Select Create a Restore Point

OR

(As available)

Create a restore point now for the drives that have system protection turned on

Create

Apply or OK to exit the menu after the Restore Point is complete.

Windows Updates

Before you install / reinstall printer software, do check and run Windows Updates. 

Settings > Update and Security > Windows Updates

If you install any Windows Updates: After the update is installed, Restart the computer and log in.

NOTE:  If an update is already pending, install that update > Restart the computer and log in

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>>> Check / Install the Full Feature Software / full driver printer software

The full driver provides the foundation on which other programs and printing software depend.

The driver includes HP Scan – HP Scan supports scanning / saving / printing your scan content.

Preparation - Install Full Driver Printer Software

If you have not done so,

In addition to the HP Smart application,

Install the Full Feature Software / full driver printer software for the printer.

HP Smart and other print software / applications benefit from having the full driver installed.

Make sure your VPN is switched Off when installing software.

Printer Software Check - Is the printer software installed?

Notes

When the full driver printer software is installed,

Find the printer software listed in Control Panel > icon view > Programs and Features.

The installation of the full printer software adds two shortcut icons to the Desktop.

The Printer Assistant is named for the printer and provides access to Print , Scan , and Tools

HP Scan is named for itself and provides a direct call to the HP Scan software.

Programs_and_Features_Printer_Desktop_Icons_5

Next...

Printer software installed and  listed >> Software is out of date or is not working

The Detailed Procedure – “All the bits and extra steps”

Consider using this method when there are problems reinstalling the software.

Start - “All the bits”

Printer Software – Blocked in Security Software

Check your Security Software to make sure the printer software is not being blocked.  Most Security software will allow you to make an exception for applications / software you want to use on your computer.

If you make changes to the security software setup, Restart your computer and log in.

Uninstall Existing Printer Software (Full Feature Software)

Uninstall HP printer software and drivers

Reminder:  Windows > Uninstall HP printer software, and then check / remove the printer from your Devices and Printers list.

Control Panel > icon view > Programs and Features >

Find / Select > Uninstall the printer software

Restart the computer and sign  in

NOTE:  If software will not uninstall, appears to be removed and is “still hanging around” after you uninstall / Restart...

Microsoft:  Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed

OR

Revo Uninstaller (Free version)

then

Restart the computer and sign in

Check and Remove Section

Reminders

• After all checks > If any changes are made > Restart the computer and log in
• Can't stand it?  Do the first one and ignore the others - see how it goes

Check / Remove - Printer Drivers – Lurking in Devices and Printers

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers

Left-Click on any unwanted Printer found in the Printers list

(Top Ribbon) Click Print Server Properties > tab Drivers

Select each unwanted entry > Remove > OK to exit menu

Back in Devices and Printers > Right-Click on the printer > Remove Device

Check / Remove – Printer folder/files in C:\ ProgramData

Open File Explorer > Navigate to C:\ProgramData > Open folder Hewlett Packard

Delete any Printer related folders / files

Check / Remove - Printer Software – Lurking in the Device Manager

Control Panel > icon view > Device Manager

Expand category Printers

If any unwanted printer name or “Unknown Device” is listed,

Right-Click on the printer / device > Uninstall

Expand category Imaging Devices

If any unwanted printer name or “Unknown Device” is listed,

Right-Click on the printer / device > Uninstall

Check / Remove  - Printer Software – Lurking in the User Account

Clear HP / files in Temp folder

Windows key + X + R (Run command) > type %temp%

Delete the files in the Temp folder (Ignore files that cannot be removed)

Open File Explorer > Navigate to C:\Users\YourAccount\AppData\Local\HP

Remove / Delete any folder named for the printer you wish to remove

Manual Queue Reset

Optional – Add this procedure if there are continuing issues…

Windows 10 / Windows 11

Windows Start > Search for “Services”

Optionally Right-Click and Pin to Start / Taskbar > Open Services App

Windows 10

Control Panel > icon view > Administrative Tools > Services

Next,

Scroll down, find, Right-Click, and Stop Print Spooler Service

Open File Explorer (formally Windows Explorer)

Navigate to the folder and Delete any files found in folder C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS

Start Print Spooler Service

End Check and Remove Section

After all checks are completed > Restart the computer and log in

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Next,

Install a fresh copy of the Full Feature Software / Full Driver printer software

Restart the computer and log in

Basic Instructions - Install the Full Feature Software / Full Driver printer software

Preparation

• If using VPN, shut it off to install software

• Not working?  If the printer software is still / already installed, Uninstall the printer software  from Control Panel > icon view > Programs and Features > Restart the computer and log in – Reference Uninstall HP printer software and drivers

Check:  After the printer software is uninstalled, check that the printer is not still lurking in Devices and Printers.  If found, Right-Click on the printer and "Remove"

• Reminder:  If using USB cable between printer and computer, disconnect the cable before installing software.  Later... Connect the cable when instructed (near the end of the installation procedure).

Installation

• Download and Save the Full Feature Software installation package or the Easy Start Software
• Open File Explorer
• Navigate to the folder in which you saved the installation file  (likely Downloads)
• Right-Click on the installation package and “Run as Administrator”
• If using Easy Start > When asked, opt for "Full Driver" (exact wording might vary).
• If using Easy Start > Skip any extra software / offers you do not want (wording varies).
• After the software is installed, Restart the computer and log in

NOTES

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Preparation > Check / enable the printer as the “Default Printer”

Settings > Devices > Printers and scanners

UNCHECK (clear box) Let Windows manage my default printer

Select (Left-Click) your printer from the list of printers > Manage > Set as Default

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HP Printer Support Home Page - References and Resources – Learn about your Printer  - Solve Problems

 “Things that are your printer”

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), more

Open

HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Wide Format All-in-One Printer series 

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Helpful = Yes to say Thank You

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"

[Bill4742]

The download of the Full Feature Software driver did the trick and the printer works well now, (it has even got rid of the jaggies which afflicted A3 drawings).  All seems OK with the printer but the scanner does not respond immediatly when a document is inserted into the feeder as it used to on the old computer.  The OfficeJet 7740 says 'no computer found' when I try to scan but, obviously, there is one attached because it prints OK. Do I need another driver for the scanner?

[Dragon-Fur]

@Bill4742 

Good news, then.  You are welcome.  Smiling.

There is no separate scanner software - at least not in the context you might be asking the question.

That said,

There are additional Scan applications and software that can be used on the computer for various scan operations.

For example,

HP Scan and Capture

Available from the Microsoft Store (formally Windows Store) - Requires Windows 8 or higher

Download-Save-Install   HP Scan and Capture

NAPS2 – “Not Another PDF Scanner” (Free – Donations gladly accepted by the NAPS2 organization)

• Download-Save-Install >  NAPS2 
• Not another PDF Scanner – free program scans PDF files and image(s) as .jpeg or PDF file(s).
• Not always simple “Plug and Play”, nonetheless, this free software is powerful and configurable.

HP Smart for Windows - Print and scan application - Requires sign in with your HP Account credentials

• “Get” the application from the Store  >  >>> Open and Read >>> HP printer setup (HP Smart app)

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@Bill4742wrote:

All seems OK with the printer but the scanner does not respond immediately when a document is inserted into the feeder as it used to on the old computer.

Does this comment mean:

The printer does not immediately sound the "ding" when the document is placed in the ADF.

If yes, then the sensor that recognizes the content in the ADF is not sensing the paper(s).

Likely Cause

• Could be a dirty ADF path.  Clean the ADF (Troubleshooting link later in this message)

Other Ideas...

• Could be the ADF does not like the paper.  Less likely - certainly possible.  Not all paper is "equal".   Try different paper to test.
• Paper stack might have just missed the sensor.  Try removing and then replacing the paper stack into the ADF .

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Next,

@Bill4742wrote:

The OfficeJet 7740 says 'no computer found' when I try to scan

If you are trying to scan from the printer control panel to the computer,

The action of having reinstalled the printer software on that computer would normally make a difference -

That is, the computer, now installed with the printer software, would be recognized as a destination.

What to do?

>>> If you have not done so, clean the ADF and reset the printer.

Troubleshooting guide

Automatic document feeder does not pick paper or feeds too many sheets

What else?

Not sure, though some of what I might do depends on the circumstances.

For example, If the operation just recently stopped working,

>>> Restart everything, including the router that controls the network.

"Meh - Comments"

If the Scan operation is failing when you are using software on the computer to complete the ADF scan,

It is less likely that the "whole computer" would not be detected - more likely, in fact, that the scan might complain of a destination "not found".  For example, if you are trying to scan to a folder, that folder must include appropriate permissions to accept the content.   Check the folder permissions on the destination path.  Meh.  Not likely a cause of the failure in this scenario.

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Helpful = Yes to say Thank You

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"