Printer preferences contains unusual characters

[David138]

I have been using my Photosmart Plus B209 a-m AIO with Windows 10 without issues, until recently I have started seeing the following when I choose Printer Properties:

And this when I choose Printing Preferences:

The dropdown lists are empty so I cannot change paper source, print quality, etc etc.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the HP drivers repeatedly, including performing a L4 uninstall, but the issue remains.

Please help, currently I cannot use my printer!

[sandytechy20]

@David138

Welcome to the HP Forums. I would be happy to help you with your HP Photosmart Plus B209 printer. I understand that Printer preferences contain unusual characters and you have already done some preliminary troubleshooting like uninstalling and reinstalling the driver up to level 4.

Don't worry though as I have a few steps to determine the issue and find a solution as well,

Uninstall the printer driver again.

1. Search Windows for programs and features, and then click Programs and Features in the list of results.

2. In the list of installed programs, click your HP printer name, and then click Uninstall or Yes.

3. If a User Account Control message displays, click Yes.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the software removal.

Click here and run the Microsoft troubleshooter to uninstall the driver.

Remove the printer from the devices list.

1. Make sure the printer is turned on and in a ready state.

2. If your printer connects to the computer with a USB cable, disconnect the cable from the printer.

3. Search Windows for devices, then click Devices and Printers in the list of results.

4. Right-click the icon for your printer , click Remove Device, then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the printer removal.

   If multiple icons exist for your printer, remove them all.

Then reinstall the printer software.

Click here and download the full feature driver and install it.

If that does not fix the issue.

Download and run HP Print and Scan Doctor for Windows to fix this issue.

Click here to download the software.

Let me know if that helps.

Cheers.

[David138]

Hello,

I worked through the steps in your reply, but unfortunately both the printer preferences and printing properties still show the foreign characters and the drop down boxes are still empty. Please advise what else I can try to fix my printer!

Thanks

David.

[sandytechy20]

@David138

Thanks for the reply.

I appreciate your time and effort.

I request you to contact HP Phone support for further assistance on this.

Cheers.

[David138]

Unfortunately the warranty has expired on my printer so I am not able to use phone support.

Do you have any solution to this problem?

Thanks!

[sandytechy20]

@David138

Thanks for the response.

I understand the situation.

Need not to worry, I will help you in fixing this issue.

This is a driver issue, 

So let us uninstall the previous trace of drivers installed previously first.

You will have to run L1 uninstallation restart the computer, L2 uninstallation and restart the computer, L3 uninstallation and restart the computer and then L4 uninstallation and restart the computer.

Follow the below steps.

• Press Windows + R, Run window will open.
• Type %temp% and hit enter.
• Search for file name which starts with 7z(example: 7zS6E4B)
• Right-click on it and click on open.
• Search for the folder named "util" and open it.
• open the folder named "ccc".
• Scroll down and you will find uninstall_L1.bat,uninstall_L2.bat,uninstall_L3.bat and uninstall_L1.bat.
• You will have to run all the files one by one from L1 to L4 and make sure you restart the computer everytime you run a file. 

Once it is done.

Click here and download the full feature driver for the printer.

and install the driver.

Then restart the computer once again and check the printing properties.

and try to print.

Let me know if that works.

Cheers.

[sabretooth04 · Accepted solution]

---

@David138 wrote:

Unfortunately the warranty has expired on my printer so I am not able to use phone support.

Do you have any solution to this problem?

Thanks!

---

I have no idea, but see if this helps.

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printer-Software-and-Drivers/Strange-characters-Wrong-language-in-Prin...

Read the last response.

[David138]

Thank you sabretooth04, that actually worked! I have no idea why, but it worked.

Problem solved.

[sandytechy20]

@David138

Thanks for the reply.

Good to know that issue is resolved.

Feel free to contact us in feature if you need assistance.

Cheers.

[DanielG12]

I also got the same problem with Printer Preferences showing weird characters and blank drop down boxes after reinstalling Windows 10. It was related to the printer driver. Updating it with latest HP driver did not fix the problem. So I had to install another Windows printer driver.
I have a PC running Windows 10 with French language, connected to a HP Officejet 6500 E709n printer through Ethernet.

Here is how I managed to fix the problem:
- Go to Settings
- Select Devices
- Select "Printers and scanners" on the left pane
- Select your printer in the list, and press "Manage" button
- Select "Printer Properties" on the left pane
- Select the "Advanced" tab in the printer properties dialog
- On the Driver line, press the "New Driver..." button
- In the "Add Printer Driver Wizard", press Next
- Select one of the printer driver that matches yours in the list. Mine was "HP Officejet 6500 E709n Series Class Driver"
- Press "Next" button, then "Finish" to install the new driver
- If the driver you selected does not fix your problem, try another one in the list also matching your printer