Lost my Printer Drivers (after a Windows 10 update)!

[chugbug]

Hello,

After the recent Windows 10 updates (that installed on Christmas day), I lost my (custom installed) printer drivers. No big deal I thought, just ONE MORE MIcrosoft inconvienience-- I'll just reinstall them. But when I open the printer properties panel, I found that the ENTIRE ADVANCED TAB where I needed access for reinstalling the drivers is now GRAYED OUT and totally unaccessable! I not only lost my custom drivers, I also lost the ability to my second (optionally installed) printer tray! YEA, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Now I need some assistance to reinstall them (I was given specific instructions for installing them, so I don't want to mess it up worse by trying to install them differently (like a regular driver) without confirmation first.
This is a PERFECT EXAMPLE of why we should be allowed to choose for outselves when and what updates to install on OUR computers! I checked the Windows Update history and there's NOTHING there that would even hit it should have changed the printer drivers, nor did I do anthing that would have affect them being changed (such as allowing HP control of my PC to automatically updated drivers), but clearly something changted them.

What I HAD... I'm using an Officejet Pro 8100 printer purchased two years ago next February with the optional second printer tray installed. I've also been using Officejet 8600 drivers in order to be able to print my graphics files correctly (those drivers were recommended on this forum after I posted having printing issues after first installing it. Those drivers were working FLAWLESSLY in all my PC's (running Windows XP, 8.1 and 10), but now with the options missing,everytting is printing through the top tray (where I have THICK paper). I no longer have the option to choose what try to print to (tray 1 or 2), and I have to switch paper whenever I want to print on different paper (I always had THICK paper on the top (tray 1) and regular paper on the bottom (tray 2) because it wouldn't print the thick paper from the bottom tray.

To use the 8600 drivers, I was given specific instructions (on this forum) on to install them in the "NEW DRIVER" section of the ADVANCED TAB in the Printer Properties. Now that I don't have access to that tab, I need to know if there's a way to gain access again (my prefered method) OR an alternate method of installing them (such as just installing them as though I'd be installing the (8600) printer)?

It's pretty self explainatory that the ENTIRE tab area is GRAYED OUT, but in case there are any doubts, I've attached is a screenshot showing how it looks.

I apprecate any assistance you could offer.

Cordially...Chugbug

[chugbug]

I did a little more snooping around in my printer settings and found an "EVENTS" tab that clearly shows there were changes made to the settings on the SAME DAY (Christmas day) as the Windows 10 updates installed.

NOTE (in case anyone is wondering): I couldn't find any options in the printer panels for an option to "uninstall" or reverse those new settings.

See below:

[chugbug · Accepted solution]

OK, now this is really WEID!  

I tried for the past 24 hours to gain access to the panel in question, including restarting Windows at least a half dozen times to no avail.  But now this evening after I dug around the various tabs again, INCLUDING clicking through the SECURITY  and Permissions panels (but not making any changes), AND posting my issue here, everything in the Advanced panel was suddenly accessable once again!

I reinstalled my 8600 drivers again, then reset my (default) printing preferences (Tray 2 / Plain paper), and all is good again (kumbaya...)!

Good thing I took a screenshot of it (grayed out) or I may not have believed it myself!

Happy Holidays!  Chugbug

Screenshot showing access with my 8600 drivers installed: