HPNetworkCommunicator.exe application error every 61 seconds

[Elrond13]

I recently purchased a brand-new Windows 10 computer (64 bit) for my home office. My OJ 8600 Plus is on the wired network. I installed it using the full version of the printer software from this website. A few weeks ago, I noticed that about once a minute, I would lose focus on whatever application I was using for a couple of seconds. If I am typing, a few letters will not register in the application. Then focus comes back and everything continues like normal.

After considerable digging, I found that the Event Viewer Application log is showing an error from HPNetworkCommunicator.exe every 61 seconds. Sometimes I'll get a set of two errors a second or two apart; other times it's a single error. It displays an event ID of 1000, task category (100), and the following description:

Faulting application name: HPNetworkCommunicator.exe, version: 28.0.1315.0, time stamp: 0x507e96b6
Faulting module name: ntdll.dll, version: 10.0.16299.64, time stamp: 0x493793ea
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x000000000001299d
Faulting process id: 0x46f4
Faulting application start time: 0x01d3b7efe5ed58e0
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\HP\HP Officejet Pro 8600\Bin\HPNetworkCommunicator.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll
Report Id: 93f0fd11-c076-4359-90cd-fb1798e662c1
Faulting package full name:
Faulting package-relative application ID:

The application only shows in the task list for the couple of seconds that it's generating the error, then it's gone until the next minute, though HPNetworkCommunicatorCom.exe is always visible in the task list.

I've completely uninstalled and reinstalled the full version of the printer software (OJ8600_1315-1.exe), and rebooted several times. Sometimes the error doesn't recur for a while after I reboot, but I have no idea what causes it to start. My most recent reboot saw the error recur as soon as the system had started.

While I'd prefer to really fix this, I'm wondering if the simplest solution is just to turn off HPNetworkCommunicatorCom.exe, which seems to be the application that is starting HPNetworkCommunicator.exe. Does anyone know what I would lose if I disabled that?

[Jeet_singh]

@Elrond13,

Thanks for engaging in HP support Forums! This is a wonderful location to converse with the community, get assistance and find tips! I understand you are having issues related to your HP Printer. Don't worry as I have a few suggestions which should help you resolve this issue.

To provide you with an accurate solution, I'll need a few more details:

Have you recently made any changes on the printer before the issue started?

How is the printer connected? Ethernet/USB/Wireless

Have you tried to run HP Print and Scan Doctor?

In the meantime, let's try these steps here: Perform a Hard reset on the printer:

Hard reset on the printer, router, computer and other devices on the same network.

The following steps temporarily disconnect network and Internet connections and require restarting your computer. Complete any tasks or downloads in progress before continuing.

1. Press the Power button on the printer to turn it off.

2. Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.

3. Disconnect the power cord from the wireless router.

4. Turn off the computer.

5. Wait for 30 seconds.

6. Reconnect the power cord to the wireless router.

7. Wait for 30 seconds, or until the router is fully on and ready

8. Turn the computer back on.

9. Wait for the computer to reload

10. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer.

11. Turn the printer back on.

I would recommend a clean install of your printer as suggested below:

First, unplug the USB cable from the printer if present.

Go to Control panel – Programs and feature – Select all the HP OfficeJet printer entries and uninstall them.

Now go to Control panel – Devices and printer – Select all the printer entries and remove the device.

Restart your computer.

Click the bottom-left Start button on desktop, type device manager in the search box and tap Device Manager on the menu.

Once in device manager, click on the view tab in the top & choose “Show hidden devices”.

Then from the device manager list, check the entries under “Printer” – If there are any entries, please right click and choose “uninstall” – In the confirm device un-install pop-up, make sure you select the box which says “Delete the driver software for this device".

Also, check the entries under "printer queue" and "imaging devices" and repeat the same exercise. Delete any printer entry or any entry which says “Unknown device”.

Once done, close device-manger. Then press the "windows key" + "r" to get the "Run" window open - Type "printui.exe /s" (there is a space between .exe & /) and press enter.

Under print server properties, go to drivers - remove any entry there as well.

Again, go to run window, type – “c:/programdata” – Go to Hewlett Packard folder, remove any printer related folders & files.

Open run again, type “%temp%” and press enter to get the temporary files. Delete all the files here. Skip the items which cannot be deleted.

Now restart your computer again.

Open the Run window again, type “services.msc” and press ok to get services window.

Scroll down to “Remote Procedure Call (RPC)” – right-click and go to properties. Make sure the service is started and startup type is “Automatic”.

Now scroll up and go to “Function Discovery Provider Host” – right-click and select properties – Change the startup type to “manual” and start the service.

Repeat the same exercise on “Function Discovery Resource Publication” as well.

Now click on this link: http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/COL40120/bi-108858-4/OJ8600_1315-1.exe to download and install the printer software.

Connect the USB cable only when prompted and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.

Please let me know if this resolves the issue, or if you require further assistance!

Eagerly waiting for your response!

I hope you have a good day ahead,

And Feel free to ask your queries as this forum has some of the best people in the world available and ready to help.

Regards,

[Elrond13]

Thank you for the response. I didn't try a hard reset on the printer, since the problem was not with the printer itself; the error occurs if the printer is completely turned off. But I completely removed anything I could find on my computer that related to HP (good thing I'm not on an HP computer!), including all the instructions you gave. I had a problem reinstalling the printer; at first the installation software wouldn't make the connection, even though the printer's web page displayed when I used the IP address in a browser. However, uninstalling and reinstalling again fixed that. But now with the printer working, the error is back in the application event log just as it was before.

[A4Apollo · Accepted solution]

Hi @Elrond13, I am the Mr.Robot. It looks like you were interacting with @Jeet_singh, but he is out of the office today, so I'll take over from here.

I appriciate your efforts for writing back to us.

As you mentioned the issue still persists after trying out the steps.

Try disabling the scan activation by following the steps below:

1. Open the HP software by clicking on the desktop icon or by opening it from the programs folder <All Programs>HP>Product>

2. Navigate to the Heading Scanner Actions in the software and click on the link titled Manage Scan to Computer

3. Disable the activation and uncheck the box to automatically restart the activation when you log back in.

Keep the scan deactivated unless you need to scan, at which time simply enable the activation by reversing the steps above.

Set ink alerts to show only when you print if it is not already. To do this, open the HP software and click on estimated ink levels.

The printer toolbox appears - Select the advanced settings tab

On the advanced settings tab, make sure the default is set to 'Only show me ink alerts when I print'. 

If the solution provided worked for you, please mark accepted solution for this post.

Let me know if this works!

Have a great day ahead! 🙂

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

[Elrond13]

I'm disappointed that I have to disable Scan to Computer, but I probably don't do a scan more than once a week, so the cost is relatively modest. The steps indicated shut down HPNetworkCommunicatorCom.exe, so it's not trying to activate HPNetworkCommunicator.exe, and the focus change glitches are gone. Thanks for the help.

[A4Apollo]

Hi @Elrond13! Thanks for writing back to us.

I am glad I was able to answer your query.

If you have any queries in future related to any HP products, you can always reach out to us.

We will try our best to help you out.

Take care,

Have a great day! 🙂