HP Printer Driver Unknown Installation Error

HP All-in-One Products, HP Deskjet, and HP Photosmart Printers – ‘Printer Driver Unknown’ Error Message Displays During the Printer Software Installation.

Here’s how to fix it. I ran into this problem with Windows XP Professional and the HP PSC 1510 All-In-One printer driver installation.

This has been one of my top ten computer time wasters of all time. I’m embarrassed to say this took me about 10 hours to solve. I could not find any documentation on the web for it, and those who had fixed it said they forgot how they did it. I must have done 30 or so searches on related terms, about 10 downloads from the HP site with uninstall and reinstall, and at least 20 searches on the HP website for support documentation. I finally found this info on about page 8 of an obscure Google search. Go figure. I would bet that if you found my page here on Google you have probably already wasted at least an hour on this problem. Let me know if I’m wrong.

So here you go. If this fixes your problem please post a note that it worked and helped you out.

QUICK INSTRUCTIONS – FIX THIS IN 3 MINUTES
(Below see link to HP help page, and full detailed instructions)

Here’s the fix:
HP HELP PAGE

* First uninstall your current HP installation.*

Step one: Uninstall the printer driver and software

1.
Disconnect the universal serial bus (USB) cable from the computer.
2.
Insert the printer software CD into the computer.
3.
A prompt to uninstall the software displays. Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the software.
4.
Restart the computer.

Step two: Turn off the Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) programs and other background programs
When the computer is turned on, a software group called the Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) programs automatically loads. These programs activate some of the computer utilities such as the anti-virus software but are not required for the computer to function. Occasionally, TSRs prevent the printer software from loading so that it does not install properly.
In Microsoft Windows 98, Windows ME, and Windows XP, use the MSCONFIG utility to prevent TSR programs and services from starting up.

1. Click Start and then click Run. The Run window opens.
2. In the Open: box, type msconfig, and then click OK. The MSCONFIG utility window opens.
3. Click the General tab.
4. Select Selective Startup.
5. If there is a check mark next to Load Startup items, click the check mark to remove it.
6. For Windows XP systems only – Click the Services tab and place a check mark in the Hide All Microsoft Services box. Select Disable All.
7. Click Apply and then click Close.
8. Click Restart to restart the computer.

Unplug your USB printer cable and reinstall. That’s it!

Visit the HP Help Documentation Page for this error.

Here’s the text from their page in case the URL for this changes:

Issue
The printer software installation stops and the Printer Driver Unknown error message displays on the computer. This document applies only to products connected with a USB cable.
Figure 1: Printer Driver Unknown error message
Solution: Follow the steps below to resolve this issue.
NOTE: These instructions do not apply to Windows 2000 because the MSCONFIG utility used in Step two does not exist in Windows 2000.
Step one: Uninstall the printer driver and software

1.
Disconnect the universal serial bus (USB) cable from the computer.
2.
Insert the printer software CD into the computer.
3.
A prompt to uninstall the software displays. Follow the on-screen instructions to uninstall the software.
4.
Restart the computer.

Step two: Turn off the Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) programs and other background programs
When the computer is turned on, a software group called the Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) programs automatically loads. These programs activate some of the computer utilities such as the anti-virus software but are not required for the computer to function. Occasionally, TSRs prevent the printer software from loading so that it does not install properly.
In Microsoft Windows 98, Windows ME, and Windows XP, use the MSCONFIG utility to prevent TSR programs and services from starting up.
NOTE: This step does not apply to Windows 2000 because the MSCONFIG utility does not exist in Windows 2000.

1.
Click Start and then click Run. The Run window opens.
2.
In the Open: box, type msconfig, and then click OK. The MSCONFIG utility window opens.
3.
Click the General tab.
4.
Select Selective Startup.
5.
If there is a check mark next to Load Startup items, click the check mark to remove it.
6.
For Windows XP systems only – Click the Services tab and place a check mark in the Hide All Microsoft Services box. Select Disable All.
7.
Click Apply and then click Close.
8.
Click Restart to restart the computer.

Step three: Install the product software
Listed below are several options for installing the product software. If the product software CD is not available, HP recommends downloading and installing the product software from the HP Website at www.hp.com.
Method one: Install the product software from the CD

1.
If the product software CD is still in the computer CD drive, remove it and re-insert it in the CD drive.
2.
If the software installation does not start automatically, follow the steps below.
1.
Click Start and then click Run. The Run window opens.
2.
In the Open: box, type D:\setup.exe, where D is the letter of the CD-ROM drive.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the software installation.

Method two: Download the software from hp.com

1.
Go to www.hp.com and click Software and driver downloads.
2.
Type the model number of your product in the Search box.
3.
Select the operating system of the computer to which the device is connected.
4.
Click the downloaded software to start the software installer.
5.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.

Step four: Use the MSCONFIG utility to enable the Startup software

1.
Click Start and then click Run. The Run window opens.
2.
In the Open: box, type MSCONFIG and then click OK to start the MSCONFIG utility.
3.
On the General tab, select Normal Startup to automatically enable all features the next time the computer is started. In Windows XP, click the Services tab and select Enable All.
4.
Click Apply and then click Close.
5.
Click Restart to apply the changes to the computer.

*********

*Note to HP Web Staff: Yes, this information is indeed on your website, but it is near-impossible to find while searching support documents, and it is not linked to from the “Troubleshooting” section for the 1510 printer. I am betting other customers are having this same problem. We all love the story of Hewlitt and Packard starting the business in a garage, but we enjoy to a lesser degree troubleshooting these problems. :)”

82 thoughts on “HP Printer Driver Unknown Installation Error”

  1. Thanks a million for this fix. I think I wasted more time than you on this. I even called the Geek Squad and after looking at it they told me I needed a new printer. Thankfully I’m persistent and eventually found your instructions. Worked like a charm.

  2. Hi Pete,
    Thanks for letting me now it helped. I make quite a few geek posts like this and it’s nice to know that they are helpful. I went to the Geek Squad too! After spending four hours on it I took it to the Geek Squad and waited in line over thirty minutes. That was more frustrating than finding a fix, so I took it all back home and worked on it more. And thank you for letting me know it took you a long time too, now I don’t feel quite so lame. 🙂

  3. I followed your steps for my HP 1401, but windows is still popping up
    telling me it cant install it. I’m about to chuck my computer from a 12
    story building, can you help me?

  4. I’m not a computer tech, but my guess is you didn’t uninstall completely first. See the link to the HP HELP DOCUMENTATION PAGE – their support page is delineated better so will be easier to follow all steps. Go through all their steps slowly, especially the uninstall portions.

  5. Thank you very much for your help… I was about to dump my printer. After wasting my time for much longer than you…
    Vitoria. Spain

  10. Dear Dan Watson,
    Please respond as to your printer’s current status. I need to know if Bristol, Indiana should be marked on my map. hehe

  11. Thanks millions. I spent a few hours on the same problem with an HP PSC 1510. I downloaded the latest software. I did come across this fix earlier in the day on an HP website and tried a few other fixes. I was searching for that again, but I found your fix before I found their’s again.

    Fortunately I did not have to uninstall the software again. I just disconnected and restarted in the mode suggested and it worked. I am smiling.

    Thanks again

  12. HP 920C USB and Parallel did the same thing. HP 712C Parallel did it too. I was going crazy Repaired Windows XP, Updated Bios Installed Re-Installed Downloaded Drivers All of this several times. I appriciate you posting this VALUABLE information. Wished I’d found it days ago. Thanks!

  13. THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!! Bought printer (1 hour). A really “geeky” friend of mine unpacked my HP all-in-one printer, tried to install the software and printer (2 hours). Concluded the printer wasn’t communicating with the computer (defective merchandise). Packed it up, returned to store for refund (1 1/2 hours). Frustrated (2 days). Bought Epson Stylus CX6000 All-in-one printer (one hour). Unpacked, set up, tried to install driver, same error message, tried other approaches, same results, pissed off now (4 hours). Let go for a night (time out). Called the other “geek” who built my computer for me and explained situation, no answer, will come check it out later(10 min.). More time contemplating how it would feel taking a sledge hammer to the monitor (8 hours). Sudden brainstorm (instantanious). Went to computer and did a search: “troubleshooting printer driver error message for windows xp”, and VOILA, there you are (5 min.)! You have no idea how happy I am to have found you and how incredibly smart I suddenly feel!!!!!!!! OK, another beer and……….dinner! LOL!

  14. thank you so much. i didnt have to waste much time at all found your info and bam it worked. cant thank you enough.

  17. I spent days with this problem. Calling people, asking people, 2.5 hours(dial-up) downloading from HP what I thought to be the unknown driver and another hour on the phone with HP who ended up telling me that my computer was the fault. I called Staples and luckily the person who answered the phone told me to search and see if this problem existed with someone else. There were pay websites and you. I owe you. If you want, I’ll send you a complimentary copy of my new book: The Ring Master.
    Thank you, again and again.

  18. Jack Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    February 5th, 2007 at 9:12 am
    to whoever posted the solution to the Printer Driver Unkown, a huge thank you. I was going completely nuts. I don’t know how I stumbled onto your “fix”, but it saved the day big time! I had uninstalled my printer to see if that resolved a problem i was having and was planning on re-installing. When I got the error message, not only didn’t I have a functioning printer, BUT i could no longer open my writing software program (I am a newspaper columnist). For a few hours I was out of my mind. Then I came across your solution, and to my amazement, it worked!!!

  19. I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! After spending most of the night and morning trying to get my printer to work I was going a little crazy trying to figure out what I was doing wrong. It kept telling me ‘driver unknown installation error”. So I uninstalled and reinstalled several times and nothing would work. Finally, I went online and found your site where others had the same problem as me. I wrote down your notes and tried it myself and…..viola!!!!! I have a printer!! Whooooo Hooooo! You are wonderful, amazing and brilliant! Thank you so much from Iowa!!

  20. I am trying to fix this problem for a friends computer, your solution works great, however I am here for the third time redoing the installation. What is causing the printer to dissapear from the installed printers. It’s a HP OfficeJet 6210 All-in-One. If anyone can help thanks and free beer is available in kentucky as well.

  21. Double check the software is actually un-installed, use the Windows control panel to fully un-install the software. Let me know if that helps.

  22. Thank you so much for posting this for others to use! I spent hours on this, including a couple of frustrating, time-wasting on-line chats with HP. I tried your solution and my printer works fine now. One question though, should I go back into MSCONFIG and undue the changes or leave it like it is?

  23. I’ve left mine as it is just because I don’t want to waste any more time on it. Maybe someone can give us additional information on this.

  25. Just to let you know it works with other multifunction devices other then HP. I work for a rival company and we use the selective startup to fix this issue with ours too. Just wanted to post this in case anyone else reads it with a C4n0n unit (no company name used) hehe cause it works for our Multifuctions too.

  26. I am trying to install a HP PSC 2350 but the install stalls half way through, No error message tho, just Stalls. Using XP. Any ideas?

  27. Thanks a bunch for this info. Like many others, I’ve spent WAY too much time trying to get my HP All-In-One printer to connect. After hours trying to get relevant info at HP (and deleting/installing drivers repeatedly) I followed these instructions and – voila! – all better. I did get one small shocker towards the end – when plug-n-play took over, it asked where the drivers were and I let it go look – computer froze up. When I rebooted, HP icon was there and all is functional. Remarkable. Thanks again.

  28. Where do I find the update printer installation for 1401 all in one printer. I have misplaced my disk and was told it can be done by downloading?????

  29. Is there anyway of downloading the disk I need- without wainnting for moderation???

  30. I updated my windows vista and after doing so i realized my printer was not responding. How can I remedy this?

  31. OMG! I am so glad I found this post. You have not a clue what I have been through over this. I re-installed windows (had to buy an external hd to do this.) Then did the ‘driver dance’ as most everyone else. then I lost my XP desktop completely. Nothing just black. You would think that it might be easy, plug and play is a misnomer. I will never buy an HP printer again. Their support sucks and so does their software. You are awesome for posting this…that is what I love about the internet. Maybe if we all had Apple computers and Cannon printers we could have more time doing what we do and less time spent playing tech sleuth!

  32. Thank you! Thank you! I thought my pc was really messed up. I thought about reinstalling windows untill I found your page. You made my wife happy which in turn makes me happy. Thank you again!

  35. THANK YOU!!! I too wasted many hours on this one and your solution is the one that finally worked.
    I have been putting up with these bloated, buggy, crappy HP drivers for years. Their hardware may be great but if I can’t access reliably it then it’s worthless to me. After this experience I’ve decided enough is enough.
    I will NEVER buy another HP product.
    I will prohibit my employees from purchasing HP equipment on the company dime.
    I will steer my clinets away from HP, even for servers.

  36. Gracias por esta informacion, la verdad que ya me traia bien asoleado este problema y mas los usuarios, ya que siempre se quejaban que no podian imprimir.

    Bueno, con esto ya quedo.

    Saludos!

  37. HELP HELP HELP SOS SOS i have spent 70hrs with hp tech & still cannot install on my new toshiba laptop. I have tried all of your steps & the ones from the website. NO go. there has to be someone to help me. before i comit harry carry. i have spent this much time i am not ready to toss it yet. cant afford to. help sos please geeks unite to help me!!!!!!!!!!!

  38. Just got this message today:

    Thanks so much for you solution to the problem. You were correct, I spent over 2 hours trying to fix the problem and the person I was supporting spent over two days on the phone with HP support and they could not fix it.

    I was able to get the printer to work but still got the error message. After following your steps – it all worked. Thanks again.

  39. Askland, thanks for posting this. We also spent numerous hours first trying to fix it ourselves, and then with HP support, and then after spending 2 hours on the phone with the tech who was from ?Mexico and another from Argentina, we were still left without access to our printer. Then in a moment of brilliance we found the solution on your website. Thank you so much!!

  40. Well I spent 2 hours on this before looking on line. The selective start up did work.

    thanks for taking the time to write this tutorial.

  44. had to try this fix a few times to get it to work (PSC 1210 all-in-one). i’m guessing that i did not follow the instructions to the L E T T E R the first 2 times…make sure you do and it should work fine. thenks for the hard work in finding this fix 😀

  45. Unbeleaveable, I spent 3 hours on the phone with HP only at the end for them to tell me they wanted me to pay 50 bucks to go further. I did a google search and this was the first thing I clicked on and I ahd the problem fixed in 2 minutes. thank you so much I was at my wits end.

    I also did not uninstall, I made the change rebooted and then just clicked add a device from my start up disk.

  46. i have an HP Deskjet 3745 that won’t install successfully. after doing the msconfig thing, it worked!!! thanks a lot!!! merci beaucoup!!! maraming salamat!!!

  47. I’ve been trying to install my HP printer for 3 months! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!

  48. Thank you very much! Not my strong point! I was very frustrated until I just followed your “fix”! It worked and made me feel brilliant! (Well, maybe not brilliant…but much better! YOU’RE brilliant!) Thanks for taking the time to help others!

  49. Thanks for the post,
    unfortunately it did not work for me. I have spent many hours on this and am done. Thank God this is not my printer because if it were, I would throw it away and buy an Epson, Lexmark, or ANYTHING else other than HP. HP makes great printers with absolutely the worst software and support possible.

    “%1 not a valid WIN32 application”

  50. Amazing! I was having impenetrable problems with my printer before I came across your post. Thanks so much!

  51. Thanks so much. This was a tremendous help. After two months, I finally have a printer that works!

  52. I didn’t think that the joy of receiving a new printer from my kids for Xmas would turn into such a nightmare. After following loads of advise on how to solve this problem, including this “fix” – I still cannot install the software.

  53. Thanks for this fix – worked like a charm…the 2nd time. During re-installation the first time I tried to connect the printer DURING the software installation when it prompts/asks you if the hardware is connected. This ended up in an error again. The second time i installed the software completely, changed the msconfig settings back and then restarted. Only after step 4 was fully completed did I connect the printer and everything worked perfectly.

    You saved me hours of headache’s – thanks so much for this!

  54. i just got through installing a hp psc 1401 on a computer upgrade for a friend of mine and your directions were right on. thank you so much. i was pulling what little hair i have left out. just make sure that one uses the hp uninstaller program on the cd first because windows add-remove won’t uninstall clean. i had tried to install without following your ‘startup’ suggestions and it not only did not install but it left files that prohibitted further installation tries to succeed.

  55. Great advice. It works! Also, don’t forget to download the latest bug fix from HP. There are known bugs with the original install, which causes problems later. Perhaps that may be the problem with other installs that go “south” after initial success.

  56. Thank you sooooo much for this fix!! I was about to do a total reinstallation with XP Sp2. After installing Sp3 for XP, I couldn’t install the printer(HP F2240). You saved me 20+ hours of not only trying to fix the issue, but from doing a full backup, an ntfs format, and a reinstall.

  57. Thank you very much!!!! It worked! I had a very long chat session with HP support before I found your website and even they couldn’t help. You made me save so much time and lots of energy!!

  59. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! MY HUSBAND HASN’T HAD A PRINTER IN MONTHS. HE SPENT 4 HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH HP CUSTOMER SUPPORT, AND THEY STILL COULDN’T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE FINALLY BOUGHT A NEW PRINTER, AND YOU GUESSED IT….THE SAME PROBLEM. I FINALLY DECIDED TO GOOGLE “WHAT DOES PRINTER DRIVER UNKNOWN MEAN?” AND IT BROUGHT ME TO THIS SITE. IT WORKED!!! I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL MY HUSBAND GETS HOME FROM WORK TO SHOW HIM HE HAS A PRINTER AGAIN!!!!!

  60. Hi everyone,

    I have the same problem, only my printer is not connected with USB to my notebook, but a traditional bigass “printer cable”.
    Would this help me too?

    Ben

  61. Thanks so much. I was about to buy another printer when I came across your website. You have performed an invaluable public service.

  62. Thank you very much! I encountered this problem on Windows Home Server
    SP2 but thanks to your website I solved the problem and probably saved a lot of time (that i can spend on various other windows installation problems…).

  63. Thank you for this post. It worked beautifully and I certainly wasted about 3 hours going to the HP website, and everywhere else until I found your post. Thank you.

  64. Thank you very much for the information. I attempted to us the tools on the HP Support website to no avail. Also tried their Live Chat twice; both ending in frustration, and also tried the Help Telephone service which informed me that they no longer support the PSC 1210 and recommended purchasing another printer. All in all I probably spent 3-4 hours on problem before getting your information. Like you said, fixed in 3 minutes.

    Again, thank you.

  65. I have hp windows installation error when I install hp psc 1610v all-in-one printer downloaded software

  66. I am helping a friend that just got a new computer and new printer..and when we were setting up his printer we were getting that same error during the installation of the printer software. We also couldn’t figure out what the problem was. I am getting ready to go over there soon to work on it again but decided to do a search first and found your article on this. I sure hope it works! I printed it out on my non-HP printer..lol…to take over to his house. I wasn’t looking forward to calling tech support and being on the phone with them forever to get nothing solved. Thanks for putting this information on the net!

  67. Omg! I can’t thank you enough. Printer was working FINE, no issues and all of a sudden stopped working. UNinstall, REinstall, over and over. 100 reboots and a couple hours of working later I found your page. YOU ARE AWESOME! Because of you I can finally get some sleep tonight!!! Thanks so much!

    This was on a HP Officejet 6110 by the way

  69. Why would HP sale a product and not have the solution incorporated in a software update. I would think that something like this will impact sales; as I am contemplating returning my printer.

  70. Same here. Thank you so much. This is the second time I use your page, thankfully I’ve it on my bookmarks and you still keep it online!!!

  71. Thank you so much for this post! I had been trying to correct this issue for quite some time, and I can’t tell you how happy I was to find this page. After spending hours on the HP site, this was a real life saver. I appreciate that time you took to put up the instructions!

  72. I think it’s very funny that people are getting HP tech support on a musician website. Perhaps HP should respond in kind and start giving piano lessons? 🙂

  73. I am having a similiar problem with my newly bought “HP Photosmart Pls B209a” multi-function printer.

    The problem I am having is that I cant enven install the software. The problem is descibed by HP as “Installation stalls at step one of four”, see the link below.

    This is the “solution(s)” HP has provided to the problem:
    http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00836418&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN#N2190

    Of course, the “solution” doesn’t work. As you can see, HP is quite aware of the problem but instead of offering a definitive solution, what they have offered are some trial and error procedures that are to be executed by the end-user.

    I have executed ALL the proceudres and still no success in installing the software.

    Does anyone out there have any other solutions or ideas….anything, I would really appreciate it.

  74. That should have read:

    I am having a similiar problem with my newly bought “HP Photosmart Plus B209a” multi-function printer.

    (I missed the “u” out of the word “Plus” above)

  75. Sometimes my laptop loses the wireless connection to the wireless print server. If that happens, hold the reset button for about 5 seconds and release. The printer will print a settings report including the IP address. Edit the Printer properties and update the IP address if it changed.

  77. Hello
    I am facing the same problem but slightly different ,I have purchased a new Hp 1050 j410a all in one printer .After the installation the scanning was good ,it photocopier was good but the it was not printing any pphotos when i try to print them feom my photo gallery .However In the HP printer window under the maintainence task it was printing the alingnment page .I have done the option no 1 that is stated first on this page ,i.e by doing msconfig and hide all microsoft products ,and by disabling TSR but the problem remains the same .I have uninstall it about 10 times and reinstall it .Please if somebody help me on this
    shivam

  79. The installation wizard showing that usb connection was sucessfully completed and device driver was sucessfully installed .

  80. my hp printer k209a is having problem with paper feeding . printer rollers keep on moving but they never take in the paper . I have got it repaired (That guy changed the whole take up unit inside) but the problem reappeared after few days . What to do

  81. I purchased an HP Deskjet 3050A series all-in-one and I’ve tried all the solutions I can find INCLUDING the one you have listed here. I have Windows Vista and the solution you provided does not work at all. I’ve spent hours on the phone with HP. I’ve emailed Microsoft numerous times. I’ve emailed every PC helpdesk that I can find. I need help on this as I’m a grad student and I really can’t afford this problem right now.

  82. I spent several hours and pulling out a few hairs trying to figure out why HP 2355 driver wouldn’t install using the orginal HP PSC 2355 disk software and also tried the HP website software. So I decided to call HP support center hoping they would help correct this issue. HP support center transfered me 5 times before I finally spoke to the PSC 2355 printer support. That itself took 30 minutes. After spending any hour on the phone with HP support asking be to do the very samething I did before calling them. Still couldn’t get the PSC 2355 driver installed unknown driver. Now they said I need to upgrade my printer and sorry they couldn’t help resolve my issue. I came across this website and did extactly what step to take and behold the PSC 2355 drive was installed and printer works great. WOW. Thanks for the information and saved me a few $$$$’s as well. I like HP product’s but hate when I have to call for support. Thanks again.

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