USB printing help!

[Anthony]

I installed my HP DeskJet 3930 using the included CD. It is hooked up to my
PC via a USB port. The computer recognizes the printer is installed and
connected, but I cannot send any information to the printer. When I click
"Print" nothing happens.

I called a tech support center and they said the driver is not installed.
What do I do?

 

[Rich Barry]

Anthony, what does it show in Device Manager. Rt click on MyComputer>select
Properties>Hardware>Device Manager.
If your Printer shows up there with a yellow mark next to it then you have
to reinstall the driver. Go to Control Panel>Add/Remove Programs and
uninstall the Printer Software. Disconnect the printer and restart.
Reinstall the software
and when it asks to connect the Printer do so. You can try a different USB
slot also.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Is the printer showing in Device manager? If so insert the CD that came with
the printer into your CD-ROM (Keep your finger on the 'shift' button while
the CD drive is accessing the CD to prevent it auto running) Now go to
device manager and, assuming the printer i listed, Right click on the
printer option and select 'update driver' Point the update wizard to your
CD-ROM with the printer CD in and let it re-install the printer from the CD.

Alternatively, do a system restore to the day 'prior' to you installing the
printer (after backing up anything important). Restore the system, then
re-install the printer.

As is usual I suppose the tech support center were too busy drinking coffee
to actually help you install the printer driver

--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Byte]

Did you connect the printer to the PC BEFORE installing the software?
You must install the software first during which you'll be prompted when
to connect it and when to turn it on to install the drivers.
Uninstall & Reinstall Printer (disregard the heading)
http://www.coribright.com/windows/Article_One.htm

 

[Anthony]

I did an HP Printer Check online at HP.com and it said my printer driver is
updated. The printer light is continuously blinking, and I don't know what
the error is.

Does having the wrong type of ink cartridge installed affect the printer's
performance?

 

[Anthony]

I am using the most recent driver. I did an HP Printer Check online at HP.com
and it said I have the correct driver. The light is blinking continously and
I don't know what the error is.

 

[Anthony]

"Printer" is not even listed in the Device Manager. I have the correct driver
installed and the computer recognizes the printer is connected. Why isn't the
printer listed in Device Manager?

 

[Jim]

I installed my HP DeskJet 3930 using the included CD. It is hooked up to my
PC via a USB port. The computer recognizes the printer is installed and
connected, but I cannot send any information to the printer. When I click
"Print" nothing happens.

I called a tech support center and they said the driver is not installed.
What do I do?

This problem can happen if you connect the printer before downloading the
software from the CD. In this case, HP is correct. You are using the
generic USB driver for a device that requires a specific driver.

You can test to see if this is the case by uninstalling the printer and the
printer software. Next disconnect the printer. Then download the printer
software from the HP CD. At the proper time during the installation, it
will tell you to hook up the printer.

All should be well after you have done this.

Nearly all printers must be setup by installing the printer software first.

Jim

 

[Anthony]

I have the correct driver installed. I did an HP Printer Check online to
verify this.

 

[Unknown]

Delete the driver, disconnect the printer then reinstall the driver. Do NOT
connect the printer till after
the driver is installed.

 

[Ian D]

I installed my HP DeskJet 3930 using the included CD. It is hooked up to my
PC via a USB port. The computer recognizes the printer is installed and
connected, but I cannot send any information to the printer. When I click
"Print" nothing happens.

I called a tech support center and they said the driver is not installed.
What do I do?

The flashing light indicates a problem with the printer. This is well
covered in the manual. If you don't have a manual, the full PDF
manual can be downloaded here:

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00392271.pdf

 

[LVTravel]

From the manual for your printer:

The Power light can flash for several reasons: The printer cover is open.
The printer is out of paper. A problem exists with the printer, such as a
paper jam or a problem with a print cartridge.

If an error message appears
Read the error message that explains the problem and its solution.
If no error message appears
Check the status of the printer by using the printer tools. To gain access
to the tools
open the Printer Properties dialog box, click the Services tab, and then
click the
Service this device button.
Use the printer tools to perform the following tasks: View estimated ink
levels. Clean the print cartridges. Calibrate the printer. Print a test
page. Perform other functions as needed.


Make sure you have the correct printer cartridge installed in the correct
slot. The tri color cartridge goes in the left slot and the black in the
right slot and you have removed the plastic (pink) cover on each cartridge.

 

[Jim]

I have the correct driver installed. I did an HP Printer Check online to
verify this.

Nobody said that you don't have the correct driver, and I certainly do not
doubt that you have downloaded the correct one.

However, if you connect the printer before installing the driver, XP loads
its USB driver and it will not
load your new driver. Hence, even if you have the correct driver where it
should be, XP will always use its driver.
You circumvent this behavior by following my suggestions. Didn't the HP
manual describe the correct installation procedure?
Jim

 

[Elmo]

"Printer" is not even listed in the Device Manager. I have the correct driver
installed and the computer recognizes the printer is connected. Why isn't the
printer listed in Device Manager?

The printer is probably listed under USB devices.

 

[Rich Barry]

Anthony, if none of the suggestions has helped. Try using a Parallel
Connector if your Computer still has one. You will
have to remove the Printer software and reinstall it using the parallel
drivers. I had to do this with my HP 5730 Scanner.
For some reason the USB circuitry on the Scanner went flaky.

 

[Opinicus]

I have the correct driver installed. I did an HP Printer Check online to
verify this.

Please answer this question:

Did you attach the printer to the computer before or after the first time
you installed the software from the CD?

 

[M.I.5¾]

I have the correct driver installed. I did an HP Printer Check online to
verify this.

No disrespect but: you keep repeating this, but I don't think you quite
understand what people are trying to tell you. If you connect the printer
before installing the software, Windows will at best, install the printer
using a generic Windows provided driver, or at worst install it as an
unknown device. If you then install the HP provided printer drivers, they
will install onto the target machine. However, the printer will still be
linked to the generic driver or flagged as unknown even though you have the
correct driver installed.

The question is: did you connect the printer before installing the HP
provided software? If so, then the only way out is to uninstall the printer
from within device manger, disconnect the printer, and then uninstall the HP
software. Then reinstall the HP software, but *don't connect the printer*
until you are prompted to do so. Even if you believe that you installed it
correctly, it would do no harm to carry out the above procedure just to make
sure.