multiple instances of printer in scan doctor (previous solution of no help)

[circe801]

i had a scan-to-computer issue that is now gone.

during attempt to fix issue, uninstalled, removed, reinstalled.

ran print & scan doctor--found multiple instances of same printer showing as installed.

found this: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/HP-Connected-Mobile-Printing-and-Cloud-Printing/Scanning/m-p/7037156#M...

followed instructions, did not work...

PRINTER folder it instructed to empty was already empty

as i said, removing from devices in 'devices and printers' did not help, nor did removing it from settings--where, in both cases, only one instance of an installed printer was found.

not sure if that's an issue.

every time i uninstall/reinstall, yet another instance of the printer is created. 

now scan works--but the multiples are still there--and why, i don't know.

how can i: remove those multiple instances since above solution did not work?

note again that the solution in the above link DID NOT WORK, so please don't suggest it, as it still does not work.

very frustrated.  please help!!

thanks!

[greenturtle]

Hi,

Thanks for using the HP Support Community.
Can you try this:

* *Note that if there are other printers installed, these will need to be reinstalled after this.

Step 1. Uninstall the HP Software from your PC. Please follow the steps provided to uninstall the printer software in the link:
Uninstalling the Printer Software (Windows)https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c02259020
Also, please follow the steps provided below to completely remove the printer software from printer properties.
Steps to remove printer driver files from Print Server Properties:

Step 2. Open the Print Server Properties dialog window by doing one of the following:
• Click the Start menu and in the search field type 'printui /s /t2' (without the quotes), and then press Enter or click it in the search list.
• Open “Devices and Printers” (not Win10)
• Select any printer and then click "Print server properties" at the top of the window.
• Click on the Drivers tab.
• Click on each printer driver and click on Remove

For Win10:
• Press WINDOWS-R on the keyboard to bring up the Run window, type in 'printui /s /t2' (without the quotes), and then press Enter or click OK.
• Click on the Drivers tab.
• Click on each printer driver and click on Remove
• From the Start menu or the Start screen:
• Open “Printers and Scanners”
• Click on each Printer and click “Remove Device”

Step 3. Backup your registry before making any registry changes, the following resource will show you how:
https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c03485724

Step 4. Update the registry using the Reg file below
Note: this will change some printer related policies for your PC):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/avbv56zdgwv7600/kernel.reg?dl=1

Step 5. Right click the Start menu and select Run. Type Services.msc and press OK.
Locate and stop the Print Spooler service

Step 6. Browse to c:\Windows\System32\spool\drivers.
Rename W32X86 to W32x86.oldRename x64 to x64.old
Note: if any of these folders fail to rename reboot your PC and then continue following the steps starting from Step 5.

Step 7. Restart PC.

Step 8. Finally, reinstall the HP Software.

Hope that helps!

[circe801]

hi, greenturtle.  thanks for the effort, but it did not work.

now i have seven instances.

now i am thinking this may be somehow causing my scanner problems?

there has GOT to be a solution to this.

anyone?