My HP Officejet 5255 printer will intermittently not print

[JamesArmstrong]

My HP Officejet 5255 printer will intermittently not print when I connect it with USB to my Dell Inspiron 5554 laptop. The printer shows as ready, the computer shows as “printing” with a bar chart across the screen, but I only get an error message:  “Printer cannot print document”.  If I restart the computer with the printer connected, the document in the queue starts printing shortly after reboot but before I log in.  I mostly use Microsoft Office 2019 (local install, not cloud) with WORD, EXCEL, and OUTLOOK.  Both Word and EXCEL documents will not print.

This problem started after I recently updated the Dell BIOS (Ver: 1.18.0) using Dell SupportAssist.  I migrated to Windows 11 from Windows 10 some time ago,  and I  have done a couple of BIOS updates since then with no problems. The recent BIOS update, however, created a few other problems that I have resolved.  This is my only remaining issue.  

I have run HP Print and Scan Doctor a few times – currently, it has all green checkmarks.  I have updated the printer firmware, reloaded the driver, done a hard restart of the printer, and installed and reinstalled the printer, but it has not solved the problem.  My spooler service shows as running in automatic.  I purchased a new printer cable to rule it out as an issue.  I have also run “Repair Office” a couple of times from the Control Panel Uninstall option.

Because the printer can and does print the documents, I think the problem is with Windows.  But I am wondering if anyone else has been experiencing this problem.

[Jay_G24]

Hi @JamesArmstrong,

Welcome to the HP Support Community

I'd like to help!

I understand you are unable to print from a computer.

Let's try and uninstall the printer software from the root level on your PC and install the full feature printer software.

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

• Go to Control panel – Programs and feature – Select all the HP 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" and press enter.
  • Under print server properties, go to drivers - remove any entry there as well.
  • Again, go running window, type – “c:/programdata” – Go to Hewlett Packard folder, remove any printer related folders & files.
  • Once done you can try cleaning out your temporary files and cached files. You can try using automated applications like some cleaner software's that you can download from the internet.
  • 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
  • Windows image acquisition stop and restart the service 

Install all the available Windows updates

If it is been a while since you updated your Windows, that is the main reason why Windows says your HP printer driver is unavailable. Here are the steps how to do a Windows Update to install all accessible operating system update.

If you are accessing Windows 10, then these steps are for you.

1. Hit the Start menu and write an update. After that, click on the “Check for updates” option.
2. Tap on the “Check for updates” option.
3. After clicking on that option, Windows will install the updates automatically.
4. When Windows completes all its updates, start your computer again and attempt to print a file to check if your printer works.

Reinstall the drivers from the Software and drivers page

If the error persists, Try installing the printer with a windows built-in driver

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

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

Click the “Yes" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping

[JamesArmstrong]

Thanks for your prompt reply and suggestions.

I  have followed your instructions, and I was able to print a file after I finished.

Under the "printui.exe /s, print server properties",  I only deleted the single HP driver that was listed, did not delete the Microsoft entries.  Was this correct?

Since my problem was intermittant, I will let you know in a week or so if the problem is fixed.

Jim Armstrong

[Jay_G24]

Sounds good.

Keep me posted

[JamesArmstrong]

The fix you suggested did not work.

More than one-half of the time, my HP printer will not print when I connect with the USB.  If I have something in the queue, it will always start printing after I restart my computer, but prior to log-in.

Thanks for taking time to help me. 

[Jay_G24]

Troubleshoot the printer USB connection

Check the USB cable for damage and recommended length, and then restart your printer and computer.

Turn off the printer and the computer.

Disconnect the USB cable from the computer and printer, and then inspect the cable.

If the cable is damaged or longer than 3 m (9 ft 10 in), replace it.

If the cable is undamaged and shorter than 3 m (9 ft 10 in), connect the cable to a different USB port on the computer. The port should be USB 2.0 or greater. If you are using a USB hub or docking station, connect the cable directly to the computer.

Connect the cable to the printer.

Turn on the computer, and then wait for the start up process to complete.

Turn on the printer, and then add the printer (Mac) or wait for the computer to install the new device (Windows).

Let me know how this goes 

[JamesArmstrong]

I had purchased a new, short USB cable when this problem started, so a cable issue can be ruled out.  Per your suggestion, I have tried both of the USB ports on my Dell Inspiron:  USB 2.0 and USB 3.1.  Nothing so far has worked to solve my problem. 

I only print documents one or two times per day.  I work at my desk and walk to the printer where I  plug in my USB cable. The printer may print properly 2 or 3 days in a row, and then on other days not print with the error message  "printer cannot print document".   When the printer fails to  print, I can invariably restart my computer with the USB cable inserted, and whatever document is in the queue will print prior to login. Very strange to me that this is intermittent and unpredictable.

Unless you have other ideas, and because I have a workaround, I think we can consider my case to be closed.

Thanks for your help.

[Jay_G24]

Could you add the printer with a windows built-in driver and check if the issue persists?

Let me know!

[JamesArmstrong]

In your previous reply, I noticed your request for me to install a windows' driver. but it looked complicated and I skipped over it.  With your second request I have decided to do it, if I could get though the procedure.

I found a driver using Windows Update (HP DJ 5200 PLC-3), installed it, and successfully printed a test page.

I will try it for a couple of weeks and see if my intermittant printing problem is solved...or not.  Will let you know.

Thanks for your patience.

[Jay_G24]

Sounds good.

I will follow up in a few days to check on the printer status.

Let me know!