remove failed, driver unavailable I can't uninstall.

[walterbutler]

I am trying to uinstall deskjet 1000 on windows 8.1, so that I can reinstall it as it's not been working right.

When I right click on printer icon in DEVICES AND PRINTERS I get REMOVE FAILD, DRIVER UNAVAILABLE.

I tried it with the usb cord in and usb cord out and I get the same response no matter what?

[X-23]

Hey @walterbutler,

I would like to assist you today in getting your Deskjet 1000 Printer properly uninstalled and reinstalled on your Windows 8.1 computer. At this point it does appear that you have a pre-installed generic Windows plug and play driver loaded and that is what it giving you problems removing it.

First, I'm going to provide you with some steps to properly remove your print driver:

Please ensure that your USB cable is disconnected prior to running these steps.

Method 1: Remove through Print Server Properties:

Ensure that you do not have any print jobs in queue waiting to be printed to the Deskjet 100. If there are jobs in queue then right click on your Deskjet 1000 and select 'See What's Printing'. If anything shows in the folder that opens then right click and Cancel the jobs. 

1. Open your Start screen. You can do this by selecting your windows start button on the bottom of your computer screen. Or you can select the Windows button on the bottom left hand side of your keyboard to the right of the Ctrl button.
2. Once you're in your Start screen you need to type 'devices and printers' and select on the Devices and Printers option that populates
3. Once Devices and Printers opens, left click on any printer you have showing in the folder and then select Print Server Properties at the top
4. Under Print Server Properties select the Drivers tab at the top
5. Under the list of drivers select the Deskjet 1000 and then select Remove at the bottom
6. Select 'Remove driver and driver package'  and see if that will delete
7. If 'Remove driver and driver package' fails to delete then select 'Cancel' and instead choose Remove and select 'Remove driver only'  to see if that will delete.

If this method still fails to remove the driver then please continue on to Method 2.

Method 2: Remove driver using the Microsoft Uninstall Tool:

Fix problems that programs cannot be installed or uninstalled

1. Click on the link above to access the Microsoft Uninstaller Tool
2. Once the website opens click on 'Run Now' on the right hand side
3. Allow the tool to run.
4. When given the option you need to select 'Uninstall'
5. A list of programs should populate, look for your Deskjet 1000 and remove that
6. Once the tool has completed reopen Devices and Printers to ensure that the printer is now gone.

Once the printer is successfully uninstalled from your computer you can run the installer.

How to Install:

Keep you USB cable disconnected during this process.

HP Deskjet Full Feature Software and Drivers

1. Select the link above for your Full Feature Software and Drivers for Windows 8.1
2. Select the Download button on the top left
3. Save the Download to your Desktop
4. Once the Download is complete, Run it
5. The installer will now extract and will automatically launch the installer screens once the extraction is complete
6. Follow the on screen steps to properly install your USB printer
7. Do not plug in your USB cable until the installer screen prompts you to

Once the install is complete, try to print.

Please let me know if these steps resolve your issue. Good luck! 🙂

[walterbutler]

thanks.

The first process failed.

The second is asking for a 38 digit product number.

I saw the hp video saying where the product nubmer is suppose to be but it is not there.

How do I find the product number please?

[walterbutler]

thank you but the second process is asking me for the 38 digit product number. 

I looked on the printer and there is no 38 digit number though I did see the sn, model number but notihng that was 38 digits.

I have deskjet 1000 j110 series

serial number n21724gp7

model number vcvra-1003

I have windows 8.1 

Lenovo thinkpadw530 i7 quad core.

Thanks for the tool but the list did not show the hp so I selected, NOT ON LIST but it is asking for the 38 digit product number. 

[X-23 · Accepted solution]

Hey @walterbutler,

Thanks for getting back to me on this.

I'm sorry to hear that method 1 and 2 both failed for you. The Microsoft removal tool shouldn't ask for the 38 digit number so don't worry about that. You would have only been able to remove the printer if it had shown in the populated list. However, good news is, because the printer neglected to show in the list of software and drivers to uninstall from your windows computer than your computer doesn't actually see the product as installed. This could be a 'ghost' key in your registry that is causing the printer to display, but not actually 'be' there.

What I would recommend is to temporarily ignore the copy of the printer that shows in the Devices and Printers folder and instead skip to the step I provided you on 'How to Install' in the previous post.

Let me know if the Software and Drivers for your printer allow you to install them from scratch. Reinstalling may correct the 'ghosted' copy of your printer showing. However, if you're left with two copies of the printer, then I will see if we can manually remove that another way.

Good luck! 🙂

[walterbutler]

Ok I really appreciate your help.

It's fixed without having to do anything further than what I did yesterday.

??

Not sure how it got fixed.

I just went into printers and devices and the icon for the deskjet 1000 J110 series (Copy 1) was showing?

I had deleted the icon previously to your advice yesterday and previous to going through the steps YOU outlined.

I went through the steps you had outlined previously and like I said they did not work and it was asking for the 38 digit product number.

I checked devices and printers today after getting your message and surprise, the deskjet 1000 was showing with the (Copy 1) after it. Not sure why it has, (Copy 1) showng but it's working.

Oddly enough there is a NP1B2963E (HP LaserJet Professional P 1102w) also showig with a large check mark in a green circle?  I don't know if that was there before or if it just started to show in devices and printers?

I have selected the deskjet 1000 j110 as the printer of choice but the green circle/checkmark on the other laserjet I mentioned has not gone away.

I guess I'll not worry as the 1000 j110 is printing.

Not sure how it got fixed but thanks a ton!!

was showing with a (1) preceeding it.