Can't find Windows 10 driver for Photosmart 2710

[clarer1]

My Windows 7 computer has died so I'm now on Windows 10. I can't find a driver for my Photosmart 2710. HP website says drivers for the 2710 are in Windows and while my W7 could find it, so far, W10 can't track it down.

I plugged the printer into computer by USB and tried to install. Couldn't find driver. I've tried the option for "my printer is a little older." No joy. The next option seems to be to set it up manually, but I don't know what the settings are: I don't even understand the first set of options about choosing a port. There's a virtual USB port listed but no other USB.

I haven't had a chance to see if I can install via the WiFi network yet. But I didn't succeed in getting the printer working over wireless with the old computer so assumed that's more complicated and less likely to work than USB.

I'd be grateful for help. I don't expect to get all the printer's functions working (they didn't on WIndows 7) but it still does what I need it to, so am reluctant to buy a new printer.

Thanks,

Clare

[greenturtle]

Hi,

Thanks for using the forum.

You can use the in-OS drivers.

Here's how :

Add a Printer

The HP Photosmart 2710 can indeed be used with Windows 10. You just have to manually install the printer and use the compatible driver that is built into Windows.

Here's how. Just follow this simple step by step procedure and your printer will be up and running very quickly.

1. Plug in the printer and connect it to your computer
2. Turn it on
3. Right click the start button and click the following:
4. Control Panel
5. Devices and Printers
6. Add a printer
7. Click The printer that I want isn’t listed
8. Add a local printer with Manual Settings
9. Next
10. Use an existing port
11. DOT4_001 (HP Print Device)
12. Next
13. Under Manufacturer Select HP
14. Under Printers Choose HP Photosmart 2710 series Class Driver
15. Next
16. Select Use the Driver that is currently installed or replace current driver (it doesn’t matter which)
17. Next
18. Printer Name appears click next
19. Do not share this printer
20. Next
21. Print a test page
22. Close
23. Finish

See you don't need to throw away your expensive high quality printer. You just have to know how to set it up with the new OS.

Let me know if this helps you!

[clarer1]

Thanks very much for your help. I didn't have time to try out your suggestion straight away and then something odd happened: when I was ready to give it a try, I opened Devices and Printers and there was the Photosmart! I don't know how it appeared there. I had been trying every way I could think of to install it and it hadn't appeared. Very odd. But it seemed to be working fine, the few times I have needed to print since then.

However, this last week, I've begun to do some work in Excel. I got may page layout set out nicely with the spreadsheet fitting my page nicely. Suddenly it shifted to a different page size and the page layout icons greyed out. (I wasn't connected to the printer at the time.) Looked in Devices and Printers, right-clicked on the Photosmart and clicked Troubleshoot. Which said the spooler wasn't working and proceeded to fix it. My layout buttons came back and I was able to restore my layout.

But this kept happening, over and over again. Aargh!

I tried connecting the printer (USB) but same thing. Message saying spooler had stopped and to restart "the machine." Does that mean restart printer or restart computer? I tried each in turn, still happening.

So next I decided to have a go installing the driver again, this time using your instructions. Got as far as trying to print test page: wouldn't work. Spooler had stopped.

Another odd thing: I right-clicked each of the printer installations in turn - the old one that had appeared seemingly all by itself. And the new one where I'd followed your instructions. The old version shows options for scanning as well as printing. The new one, only printing.

And both keep getting the spooler problem.

I found this and followed pctech33'ss instructions. Didn't make a difference.

And now the spooler doesn't seem to  be recovering at all, so at present I can't get the Excel layout right and can't print at all.

Help!

How do I sort out the spooler problem?

(And any ideas why one of the versions has links to set scanning properties and the other doesn't?)

Thanks.

[Linda770]

When I try to add a new printer the HP Photosmart 2710 series Class Driver does not show up in the list.  I have done the windows update to the printer names and it still does not show up.  All I see is the HP Photosmart Series 2700.  How can I make this work for me?

[greenturtle]

Hi @Linda770

Spoiler

 All I see is the HP Photosmart Series 2700

You should be able to use that.

Thanks.

[Linda770]

Agreed, but it still won't add telling me I am missing a driver.

[greenturtle]

Hi,

Have you tried the steps in the previous post to add your printer?

If it's in the OS, you should be able to add printer.

Thanks,