Windows cannot print due to a problem with printer setup

[GordonN]

I am unable to print Word and PDF documents on my HP Photosmart B209a-m printer and get the error message in the subject above. This is a fairly recent thing although must admit I haven't tried to print a Word document for a couple of weeks.

I can scan documents, I can print Excel and other applications, just not Word or PDFs.

The printer is USB connected to my Notebook. I have tried deleting the printer and reinstalling from HP site and downloaded all the latest drivers. I've tried uninstalling the latest Windows update, all to no avail.

I've used the HP diagnostics tool, according to that, everything is fine with the printer, I cannot print an external Test Page, but was able to print the internal Test page.

I've seen many people with the same problem but none of the suggested fixes have worked with me, appreciate any advice/suggestions on how to fix

[sandytechy20]

@GordonN

Welcome to the HP support community.

Did you uninstall the printer from the root level?

If not, follow the below steps:- 

Perform root level uninstallation to remove all the printer related software's.

• In Windows, search for and open Programs and Features.
• Select your HP printer.
• Select Uninstall.
• In Windows, search for and open Devices and Printers.
• In the Devices and Printers window look for your HP Printer. If you see it listed, right-click on it and choose "Delete" or "Remove Device.”
• Open up the run command with the "Windows Key + R" key combo.
• Type printui.exe /s and click OK.
• Click on Drivers tab.
• Look for HP Printer driver. If you see it click on it and click Remove at the bottom.
• Select OK.
• Remove all instances of the same.
• Select Apply and OK on the Print Server Properties windows.
• Close Devices and Printers. 
• Restart the PC again.

Download and install printer full feature driver

Click here to download the driver.

I hope that helps.

To thank me for my efforts to help you, please mark my post as an accepted solution so that it benefits several others.

Cheers.

[GordonN]

Thanks for the suggested solution, however, followed the instructions to the letter and still get the same result and still unable to print Word documents

[sandytechy20]

@GordonN

The issue could have been caused by the security settings changed on the user profile. 

You may either create a new user, login with the new user profile to install the printer or Turn off the UAC from the control panel and Restart the PC. 

Here are the steps to configure UAC settings: 

Open User Account Control Settings by clicking the Start button and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type uac, and then click Change User Account Control settings. 

To turn off UAC, move the slider to the Never notify position, and then click OK.  

if you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. You will need to restart your computer for UAC to be turned off. 

[GordonN]

Thanks again, but I did try this yesterday and it didn't resolve the issue, so I reverted the UAC back to where it was

[GordonN]

So I went back and followed the instructions to remove the program, drivers, printer etc as per your first response. Restarted PC and then changed UAC settings to "Never", restarted PC again, then installed the software from scratch again.

Unfortunately, same result. I created a brand new profile and signed in under that profile, but same results. Short of unplugging and throwing printer away and getting a new one, have run out of ideas how to fix this

Thanks for your support

[Betty0610]

 Let's create a TCP IP port

1. Print a Configuration Page to get the printer's IPv4 address (you can also tap on the wireless icon on the front panel of your Printer to get the IP address)

2. On your PC, go to Control Panel, from Devices and Printers, right-click the printer and left-click Printer Properties, select the Ports tab.

3. Click Add Port, select Standard TCP/IP Port, then select New Port and follow the wizard.

4. Type in the proper IP address for the printer.

This video resource will show you how to do it:

Create & Use TCP IP port

Let me know if this helps.

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the Accepted Solution and Kudos buttons, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!

Thanks!

Have a great day!

[GordonN]

I printed the configuration page, Wireless is disabled because I use a USB connection, there's no IP address showing on the print configuration page.

I right clicked on the properties of the printer under devices and settings, and for the printer "about" it shows an IP address of 70.91.312.0 already there.

But because the print configuration doesn't show me an IP address, I can't add the port as you suggested in your response

[GordonN]

When I left click on the printer preferences, it shows the following under Port and Description - Port USB001 and Virtual Printer Port for USB and then the printer name under the printer column

Hope this helps - from what I have been reading, the IP address should print where it's currently showing USB001

It's not a network enabled printer, it's just directly connected to my laptop via a USB cable

[TEJ1602]

@GordonN

I would suggest you try the Windows built-in drivers. Follow the steps below:

•    Go to Control Panel - Devices and printers - Click on "Add printer" and follow the on-screen instructions.

•    When the page prompts for the drivers, select "Windows update". The driver list will be updated.

•    Click HP, Hewlett Packard, or Hewlett-Packard in the Manufacturer pane, and then click the name of your printer in the Printers pane.

Refer to this document HP Printers - Installing and Using the Windows Built-in Print Driver for help

Keep me posted.