i have a program installed on my W10 pc that ASOLUTELY ONLY prints through HP Smart Printing

[ze69]

hi!

i have a program installed on my W10 pc that ASOLUTELY ONLY prints through HP Smart Printing "virtual printer".

if i choose any other printer (have both 9012 and 7740 at the office) it just doesn't work and the option is to always print to pdf and then open and print the pdf created (loss of time!)

that has happened for years, then suddenly i don't know how but this device called HP Smart Printer started showing up on the printers list and just like magic, it gets the job done and allows me to print directly from the program!

but.......... my hdd started failing and when replacing it i had to set everything up again and now i have no idea how to get the printer to show up again, only have the usual HP smart app

program is coviges.exe 8just saying because you'll probably ask. yeah, pretty sure no one knows about it. it's a billing program specific for our supermarkets brand in portugal. that's not the point, i just need to get HP Smart Printing "printer" again, please! how can i make it show up again?!

[Dragon-Fur]

@ze69 

Welcome to the HP Community Forum.

There is a lot here -- apologies for extra verbiage, missing bits, or confusion resulting from excessive "wordiness".

Preface

I have not found the exact mechanism that explains when and how HP Smart installs the HP Smart Printing driver.

I have included some ideas that might kick this all back into place so it works as expected.

Start

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Check to see if the Full Feature Software is installed for both your OfficeJet Pro 9012 and the OfficeJet Pro 7740.

If the full driver is not installed for both printers, take care of that first:

Install the Full Feature Software / full driver printer software.

NOTE

Installation of the printer software is generally not difficult.  That said, in the case of these two printers, one printer (7740) supports installing from the Web Pack Installation package OR Easy Start Software; the printer (9012) wants to install using the Easy Start Software.  I've included installation information later in this message in section References / Resources.

Example - Full Feature Software - Installed / Listed in Programs and Features

Programs_and_Features_Printer_Desktop_Icons_9

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Next,

In a perfect world, once the full driver printer software is installed (and the computer has been Restarted), HP Smart Printing will show up and start working.

If the full driver printer software is (now) installed,

At the least, the software supports printing from other software programs and applications.

For example, it is possible that your billing program software might work.

Next,

Assuming the world is not perfect,

If HP Smart did not / has not / will not magically add the driver on its own,

Resetting the HP Smart Application might help.

Consider

Restart everything, including the router that controls your network.

No Joy?

Reset HP Smart Application - Windows

Reset the HP Smart application - This action removes the app data.

Open Settings > Apps > Apps and Features

Search and Find HP Smart in the apps list

Open Advanced options > Reset the app

Restart the computer and log in

Open HP Smart > Sign in > Add Printer(s)

HP_Smart_Win_Apps-and-Features_ Reset_3

If the app Reset does not work by itself,

Next,

Uninstall the HP Smart App from Settings > Apps > Apps and Features

Restart the computer and log in

“Get” a new copy of the HP Smart application from the Microsoft Store

Open HP Smart > Sign in > Add Printer(s)

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What else?

Printer Properties - Driver Selection

The drivers supported (loaded) for your printer are listed in Printer Properties.

Available printer drivers can also be selected during job setup.

Example - Printer Properties > Tab Advanced > Driver selection

9025_Printer_Properties_Advanced_Driver_List_8

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Driver Selection - Current Job Setup

Assuming the HP Smart Printing driver is listed in Printer Properties,

The driver can selected when the current job is configured for submission to the printer.

Example - Word - Document Print - HP Smart Printing

HP_Smart_Win_Word_Smart-Printing_Sample_3

Example - HP Smart - Simple PDF Print - HP Smart Printing

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References / Resources

Printer Software

Details

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Printer Software – Full Driver Installation – Details / Examples

Depending on the printer and the Operating system / version, and for a supported Printer model / series, there are generally two methods to install the full driver printer software.

Easy Start Software is a wrapper that will find and install your printer software – If you want to install the full driver software, you do need to select the "Full Driver" when the option is presented.

The Web Pack Installation Package method uses the full driver installation package for your printer.  This method is dependent on the Web Pack package being available for your system / OS.

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(9012)

Method - Use the Easy Start Software to Install HP Smart and / or the Full Feature / Full Driver Software

Easy Start Installation Package - Information and Download / Save

• Open  Home Page - HP Easy Start >> Click to open Category Software and Drivers 
• Download and Save the current version of the Easy Start Software installation package  to install your print software

 Easy Start can be used to install your printer software or the HP Smart application.

If the HP Smart Application is (already) Uninstalled, Use Easy Start OR Get a new copy of the application from the Microsoft Store

If you want to install the full driver printer software, choose the "Full Software and Drivers" option during the Easy Start installation procedure.

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(7740)

For your 7740 printer

>>> Web Pack Installation Package - Download and Save <<<

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

Method - Use the full Web Pack Installation package to install the Full Feature / Full Driver Software

Find, Download-Save-Install

• Open your printer Home Page > Support Website   
• Open Category Software and Drivers > If the Installation package is not listed on the mail level, check in sub-category Software-Utility
• The title  of the package might include the words “Full Feature”, “Full Solution”, “Print and Scan Driver”, or similar wording.
• 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).
• After the software is installed, Restart the computer and log in

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

Preparation

• 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

• >>> After the printer software is uninstalled, check that the printer is not still lurking in Devices and Printers.  If the printer is listed, Right-Click on the printer and "Remove" > Restart the computer and sign in.

Continuing

• If using VPN, shut it off to install software.  NOTE >> If you don’t know what this is, you are not using a VPN – ignore this part.

• 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).

Next,

Installation

• Download and Save the Full Feature Software Web Pack installation package
• 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 a USB printer cable to connect the printer to the computer, connect the cable when instructed to do so, near the end of the installation procedure
• After the software is installed, Restart the computer and log in

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Example - Windows - Parts to the Printer Software

Parts_to_Printer_Software_7

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HP Printer 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), Supplies, and more

Open

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

and

HP OfficeJet Pro 9012 All-in-One Printer 

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People who own, use, and support HP devices.

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Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"

[ze69]

hi @dragon-fur and thanks for your prompt and detailed reply!

tried everything you mentioned but no luck

uninstalled everything

installed (full) both printers and then hp smart

restarted

still, just regular hp smart app and 9012 + 7740 printers are present. no trace of HP Smart Printing "printer"

absolutely no idea how it appeared before but it was working like a charm, so annoying i can't get it back in a non-random way

i can still access the old hdd. is there any driver or some other dark magic i can grab from it to make it work again?!

[Dragon-Fur]

@ze69 

You are welcome.

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Update --

Confirming:

Before you uninstalled HP Smart,

You completed the HP Smart Reset, yes?

Reference

Current version of HP Smart = 141.2.441.0

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Original Content

There is one additional driver for the OfficeJet Pro 9012 --

HP Universal Scan - Full Feature Software and Driver 

Universal Scan adds the OCR libraries into HP Scan for supported printers.

Not related to what you are asking at the moment; certainly something you can -- and perhaps should -- install.

When I get a minute, I will take another look.

Are you running Windows 10 or Windows 11?

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People who own, use, and support HP devices.

Click Yes to say Thank You

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"

[ze69]

yes, i did the reset and only then unistalled for the hp smart app.

running windows 10.

(also did install the scan utilities just in case)

thanks for your time and patience!

[Dragon-Fur]

@ze69 

You are welcome.

So far, I cannot find a definitive reason why HP Smart Printing would not be installed / added.

True that I am running Windows 11 machines and that my account environment is certainly different.

I have different printers and a different network.

What?  The fact that this all works for me and not you is useless information in the context of your setup...

On the user account side of this setup, some of the effective controls for using the HP Smart driver end up in AppData.

Discussing it in detail is worthless -- I understand only some of what is going on.

Do any, some, none of the following.

First thing, 

Check your security software logs (if you have such) -- see if you can find a spot where the security software is blocking the installation of the HP Smart Printing Driver.  No, I cannot tell you what to check.  Yes, this can make a difference.  Most security software can be told to make exceptions for software the security would normally block.

Side Note

I avoid asking people to edit their Registry -- personal choice -- "your system" and all that.

I won't participate in the possibly destruction of your Registry. 

That said, editing the Registry is a powerful tool when used correctly.

Start...

Uninstall the full driver software from Control Panel > icon view > Programs and Features

Uninstall the HP Smart Application from Settings > Apps > Apps and Features

Check for Windows Updates (likely nothing there)

Check to make sure that there are not any printer software pieces still hanging around.

Check and Remove Tasks

Check_and_Remove_Section_2

Check / Delete the files and data inside your AppData Temp folders.

There is a Temp folder on the main level of each:  Appdata\Local, Appdata\LocalLow, and Appdata\Roaming.

Leave the Temp folder itself in place - go into the Temp folder and delete the data inside.

Next,

If you have not done so -

That is if you do not already have a "spare" admin account that you keep on the system as an emergency access account,

Create an additional account on the computer -- 

If you want to control the name of the top level account,

     Create the account as a "local" account (No Microsoft account attached)

     Provide the account with a decent password

Next, Edit the new account to change it to an administrator type account -

Next, If the account is "local", change the account to sign in with a Microsoft account

NOTE:  You can switch the account type back to local later, if desired.

Restart the computer.

Decision time...

Log into the new account -- Wait for the setup to configure your personal Windows environment for you.

OR

Log into your own account.

What? 

• There is a medium chance that just clearing the Temp data contents out of your own account will help unblock whatever is going on.
• There is also a chance that the "new" account will behave differently (better?).
• There is a fair chance that none of this will make a difference and that the block is in the Windows File system (which is unfortunate if true since most of Windows is locked to poking at it).

Decide - log in - Continue...

Install the Full Feature software for one of the printers, perhaps the 9012 so you can use Easy Start.

Restart the computer and log in.

Check which software parts are installed.

Windows 10: 

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers

Open and view the shortcuts on your Desktop

Next,

Install HP Smart

Restart the computer and log in

Check what is installed again -- add a check for Settings > Apps > Apps and Features

What else?

Most likely:  I am missing something.

When all else is said and done, if HP Smart Printing installed and worked before, it should work again.

Our least favorite solution:  Reload Windows

What?

Reloading the OS generally works, irritates most people, and is worth considering if you cannot find another way through the maze.

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People who own, use, and support HP devices.

Click Yes to say Thank You

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"