Cannot print Windows 10 to wireless HP Envy 7640 All-in-one. I NEED THIS FIXED PLEASE.

[KJ-san]

Hello.  

I NEED HELP PLEASE. 

I am in college full time, and I cannot print to my HP Envy 7640 All in one.  This is so terrible, I actually have to email my term papers to my cell phone and use the HP Smart Print App to print them out.   ALL printing won't work, MS Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat, Notepad, trying to print off of a web page like a coupon code, even the HP Print Doctor can't print. 

At first this was limited to only MY HP Envy 360 Laptop, but now my wife's HP Envy 360 Laptop stopped printing too. 

The printing error issue issue happens EVERY TIME Microsoft does an update.  The HP Print & Scan Doctor would tell me to "Uninstall and reinstall"...  It worked for the first 12+ times, but that does not work anymore. 

NOTE:  I can still scan. I use PaperPort 14 to scan & save documents, and the HP 7640 works as advertised (but it can't print).

I've done everything on the following links:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/help/windows-10-support-center-printing

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printer-Setup-Software-Drivers/Printer-won-t-print-after-recent-Window...

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printing-Errors-or-Lights-Stuck-Print-Jobs/HP-Envy-7640-Windows-10-tou...

https://support.hp.com/us-en/help/printscandoctor-printing-problems?jumpid=re_r11839_en/win10micro/p...

And I STILL cannot print.  Right now, my devices show everything is installed, set to default, and online:

But when I try to print, I get the generic error message with no reason as to why:

And when I try to print again:

Here's the fun part:  When I "Cancel all Documents", the printer goes back to being "Green, online, and Ready".

The HP Print & Scan Doctor's Test Print does NOT work, but the "Print Quality Diagnostic" on the next screen DOES come out...  

I have even tried to "stop all Windows updates", but Microsoft still sends out a "Force-Reboot" command and I come back to a computer that has restarted, installed the updates, killed all of my school screens, and of course, I can't print again.

My older Win7 and WinXP laptops (retired to controlling my CNC's) print and scan perfectly....  How pitiful is that? 

What can I do to

A) Solve these current Printer Error problems for both mine and my wife's laptops, and 

B) Keep it from crashing every time there's an update (which sometimes comes more than once a week)

I would call for support, but this started happening after the warranty period ended (go figure).

Thank you in advance.

-Ken J.

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

@KJ-san 

Welcome to the HP Community.

Kudos for persistence - it is too bad nothing has helped so far.

Nice to have the "Restart the Printer" out of the way (unplug while switched on > wait > plug in and boot printer)...

I am wondering if Windows Updates has corrupted something in the printing software hierarchy.

It is possible, too, that "something" along the way has damaged your Office installation.  Not likely, but worth looking at later if there are still issues.

If you have not done so,

Consider / Add the following to your checklists...

Change the connection type to TCP/IP

Method - Create TCP IP port (InkJet Printer)

Find printer's IP /  IPv4 address

Print a Configuration Page

OR

Tap on the wireless icon on Printer Control / Display Panel

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers

 Right-Click on the printer > Left-Click Printer Properties

 Select Tab Ports  > Add Port

 Select Standard TCP/IP Port > New Port and follow the wizard.
 Use / Enter IP address for the printer.

Example - How-to “Create TCP Port” Contributed by greenturtle

Video:  Create & Use TCP IP port
“Note that you can ALWAYS revert back to the original port that the HP software installed by selecting the HP port within the Ports tab (in Printer Properties)”

========================================================================

That might actually be enough..

No joy?

Continue

• Preparation to go 'round again...
  
• Uninstall printer software and remove any left over bits
• Run Windows Updates (with Caveat)
• Restart the computer and log in
• Install the Full Feature Software / full driver

Note that none of the following is likely much different than what you have tried.

That said, if there is a detail here that was missed earlier, it might be the "winner".

Start...

Because you are having odd issues with Windows Update possibly crushing the printer software,

The usual "order of events" is changed.

====================================================================

Create a Restore Point (optional / recommended)

Create Restore Point (Optional)

Before making any changes to your system, always create a Restore Point!

Stop / Exit all programs:  Browsers, games, Applications, etc.

Control Panel > icon view > System > System Protection

Click (Highlight) your main disk (C) > Select Create a Restore Point

OR

(As available)

Create a restore point now for the drives that have system protection turned on

Create

Apply or OK to exit the menu after the Restore Point is complete.

====================================================================

Remove / Uninstall the printer software - check and remove "bits"

Start - “All the bits”

Printer Software – Blocked in Security Software

Check your Security Software to make sure the printer software is not being blocked.  Most Security software will allow you to make an exception for applications / software you want to use on your computer.

If you make changes to the security software setup, Restart your computer and log in.

Uninstall Existing Printer Software (Full Feature Software)

Control Panel > icon view > Programs and Features >

Find / Select > Uninstall the printer software

If software will not uninstall, appears to be removed and it “still hanging around” after you uninstall / Restart...

Microsoft:  Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed

OR

Revo Uninstaller (Free version)

Check and Remove Section

Reminder: After all checks > Restart the computer and log in

Check / Remove - Printer Drivers – Lurking in Devices and Printers

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers

Left-Click on any unwanted Printer found in the Printers list

(Top Ribbon) Click Print Server Properties > tab Drivers

Select each unwanted entry > Remove > OK to exit menu

Back in Devices and Printers > Right-Click on the printer > Remove Device

Check / Remove – Printer folder/files in C:\ ProgramData

Open File Explorer > Navigate to C:\ProgramData > Open folder Hewlett Packard

Delete any Printer related folders / files

Check / Remove - Printer Software – Lurking in the Device Manager

Control Panel > icon view > Device Manager

Expand category Printers

If any unwanted printer name or “Unknown Device” is listed,

Right-Click on the printer / device > Uninstall

Expand category Imaging Devices

If any unwanted printer name or “Unknown Device” is listed,

Right-Click on the printer / device > Uninstall

Check / Remove  - Printer Software – Lurking in the User Account

Clear HP / files in Temp folder

Windows key + X + R (Run command) > type %temp%

Delete the files in the Temp folder (Ignore files that cannot be removed)

Open File Explorer > Navigate to C:\Users\YourAccount\AppData\Local\HP

Remove / Delete any folder named for the printer you wish to remove

Manual Queue Reset

Details…

Control Panel > icon view > Administrative Tools > Services

Scroll down, find, Right-Click, and Stop Print Spooler Service

Open File Explorer (formally Windows Explorer)

Navigate to the folder and Delete the files from folder C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS

Back in Services …

Start Print Spooler Service

End Check and Remove Section

After all checks are completed > Restart the computer and log in

====================================================================

Run Windows Updates with the following Caveat:

Before you "check for updates" again...

Settings > Update & Security > Advanced Options

Under "Receive updates for other Microsoft products when you update Windows"

If "ON" then  Clear / Slide to OFF

Go back to the main Update & Security menu

Check for Updates

If any Windows Updates are installed, Restart the computer and log in

====================================================================

Install a fresh copy of the Full Feature Software / full driver printer software

OK..

Because you have pounded on this thing for a while,

(And) because you likely now know more about loading printer software than anyone should need,

I will add a bit more to your store of knowledge about the subject.

Oh, No.

It's OK.

Read...

If I have made the confusion worse, let me know and I'll simplify the process ...

Here goes...

Looking in Category Software and drivers for HP ENVY 7640 e-All-in-One Printer series 

We find...

This printer supports the "Easy Start Software" wrapper installation method

And / OR

This printer software includes the older "standard" method to download-save-install the installation package

Eeek!

Which method?

Either method should work - Read and then choose.

Commentary:

In general, I'd pick the Easy Start method to try / use first, only because this method usually works and it is "generally" a better choice IF there are sudden, lurking issues using the simpler Download and Save method due to a lost package or odd download fumbles.

Idea 2:  Unless you are really married to the Chrome browser, consider using a browser other than Chrome.

==============================================================================

The full driver provides the foundation on which other programs and printing software depend.

Preparation

If you have not done so,

In addition to the HP Smart application,

Install the Full Feature Software / full driver printer software for the printer.

HP Smart and other print software / applications benefit from having the full driver installed.

Printer Software Check

Notes

If the full driver printer software is installed, you will see the printer listed in Control Panel > icon view > Programs and Features.

The installation of the printer software adds two shortcut icons to the Desktop.

The Printer Assistant is named for the printer and provides access to Print , Scan , and Tools

HP Scan is named for itself and provides a direct call to the HP Scan software.

Programs_and_Features_Printer_Desktop_Icons_4

Next...

Printer software not installed - OR - (still) installed but not working?

NOTE:  If the printer software shows installed but is not working as expected,

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

Restart the computer and log in

Reminder:  If using USB, disconnect the USB printer cable between the printer and the computer before installing software.  (Re)Connect the USB cable when instructed to do so near the end of the installation procedure.

Install a fresh copy of the Full Feature Software / Full Driver printer software

Restart the computer and log in

Method - Use the Easy Start Wrapper to Install the Full Feature / Full Driver Software

For printers that support the option,

Use the Easy Start wrapper to install and configure the printer software.

• Home Page - HP Easy Start 
• Open Category Software and Drivers 
• Topic: Software-Utility 
• Download-and-Save  the current version of the Easy Start wrapper to install your print software 
• If using USB:  Disconnect the USB cable between the printer and computer before installing the software.

• Right-Click on the downloaded package and "Run as Administrator" to start the installation

• When asked, Select to install the “Full Driver” / “Full Feature Software”
• If using USB:  Connect the cable when instructed to do so (near the end of the installation process).
• After the software is installed, Restart the computer and log in.

Notes >> Easy Start... The Journey

1. Full Administrator Rights are required to complete the HP Software installation.
2. About 2/3 of the way through the setup, you will be given the opportunity to select the software - select the "Full Driver" set (as opposed to the basic driver or other application).
3. You can skip / ignore suggestion(s) that you add the HP Account – you’ll need the account at some point, for now, you can skip this suggestion (as many times as it insists it’s a good idea) during the full driver software installation.
4. If you see it, you can skip / ignore suggestion(s) regarding Instant Ink subscription.  Instant Ink subscription is NOT mandatory.
5. Full driver includes print and scan functions supported by your printer and provides the printer features on which other applications / software might depend.

=================================================================================

OR

Method - Use the Standard "Download and Save" Installation package > Install the software

Basic Instructions

• Download and save the Full Feature Software installation package

Your software website - Instructions and the download package:

HP ENVY 7640 e-All-in-One Printer series Full Feature Software and Drivers 

• Open File Explorer
• Navigate to the folder in which you saved the installation file  (likely Downloads)
• Reminder:  If using USB cable between printer and computer, disconnect the cable before installing software.
• Right-Click on the installation package and “Run as Administrator”
• If using Easy Start > When asked, opt for "Full Driver" (exact wording might vary).
• After the software is installed, Restart the computer and log in

=================================================================================

References / Resources

Adobe Reader DC – Install Whether You Use It or Not

If you have not done so,

Reinstall / Update your PDF Reader (Adobe Reader DC /Optional  Foxit Reader)

HINT:  Watch out for and UNCHECK unwanted extra software

NOTE:  Adobe Reader DC software can be installed even if you do not normally open / view / print PDF files directly from the Adobe Reader DC software.

HP Printer Home Page - References and Resources – Learn about your Printer  - Solve Problems

 “Things that are your printer”

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), more

HP ENVY 7640 e-All-in-One Printer series 

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

The Community is a separate wing of the HP website - We are not an HP business group.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You.

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"

[KJ-san]

To Dragon-fur and Greenturtle:

Thank you so much for the fresh set of eyes! 

Since printing was INOP for all programs (MS, Adobe, Brave, Nuance, etc.), I was focusing on the communications between the Printer, HP software, & the Print Spooler so much that I didn't even think of looking at the TCP/IP interface...  AND THAT WAS IT!!!

Evidently , sometime in one of the the last few Windows10 updates, the TCP/IP interface became corrupted!  When that happened, Windows didn't know how to "look around" for a working port, and neither the HP Print & Scan Doctor or the (completely worthless) Windows Troubleshooter recognized this type of failure.

By using Greenturtle's method that you posted on "Creating a new & operational TCP/IP interface" in the Printer properties window, I got my Printing back online, and just in time for Mid-Terms this week!

Thank you so much!!   You guys ROCK!!!

-Ken J.

[Dragon-Fur]

@KJ-san 

You are most welcome.

Nice that it was the easy fix this time.

Smiling.

Good Luck at mid-terms.

Relax and let your inner warrior accept the challenge.

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

The Community is a separate wing of the HP website - We are not an HP business group.

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You.

Question / Concern Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"