Laptop cannot find HP3830 printer.

[josepha58]

My Toshiba Satellite Pro circa 2022 cannot locate the HP3830 printer. It defaults to "Print to pdf". If I remove that, then it Defaults to "Print to OneNote". Nothing is wrong with the printer. It is plugged in, connected by USB port to the laptop. The Drivers are current as of Nov 2023. This should be such an easy fix, i.e. Change the Default printer to the HP3830 which shows up as an icon in the Control Panel under Devices and Settings. However, there is NO option to Change Default.

Why do they make this so hard? It was working fine and then I had to unplug the printer to move it and now the laptop can't find it. Please help. Thank you. 

[josepha58]

After 2 hours of struggling with it, I figured it out on my own. Online help is TERRIBLE. This is how I did it:

Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add a Device > 

Select the Bottom button: Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings.

Use an Existing port: USB001 (in my case I am connected by USB cable to the printer).

Manufacturer: Find and Select the Maker of your Printer and find the Model number.

At this point you can THEN select 'Set as Manual Printer'.

OMG

I will NEVER again buy a Microsoft device or an HP printer. NEVER.

Finally, I was almost SCAMMED by some firm in India, which tells you they have X number of technicians standing by to help you, and wants $1 by Credit Card. The small print then states $40 per month afterwards! 

This is just HORRIBLE. Why? HP used to be a very reputable firm. I don't know about now, since they seem to allow this.