USB Printer Support does not start  

My Computer is a Dell XPS13 - L321X running Windows 7 Pro 64.

I purchased a new printer and could not get it to function. I called the people I purchased it from, and the manufacturer, and they were unable to install properly despite 3 hours of remote access to my system and multiple tiers of tech support attempting to solve the problem. Giving up, they advised to send the printer back as perhaps the USB Board in the printer was bad.

A printer that had previously been installed functioned properly when being attached/removed. I deleted the drivers for a fresh install, and now it is giving the same response as the new printer.

The new printer installed properly on another Win 7 pro PC - so I've isolated the issues to my machine.

Specific Symptoms

When plugging in the printer (with or without brand specific drivers installed), windows attempts to install, and fails. The printer will be in Control Panel>Hardware and sound>Devices & Printers in the "Unspecified" category (separate from Devices or Printers & Faxes) with the label USB Printer. Installing drivers makes no changes ("Drivers not successfully installed - No Driver Found" even if directly pointing to drivers)

Device Manager shows the printer under "Other Devices" as "USB Printer" with a yellow caution symbol indicating a problem. In the Property dialog, it says, "The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28) There is no driver selected for the device information set or element."

Typically USB Printer Support should show in Device Manager under USB Controllers, but it does not. I think this is part of the problem. However, I don't know if this is missing or whatever triggers it's start (after plugging in) is missing.

Things already tried:

• Drivers uninstall, reinstall multiple ways
• Software updates galore
• Rebooting
• MS & Dell Fixit style programs
• replacing all the USB controller drivers (everything under the Universal Serial Bus controllers node in Device Manager)
• Anything to do with print spooler (is set automatic, is running appropriately, can print to wireless printers)
• Replace both the usbstor.inf and usbstor.PNF drivers as per http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...d-48fe55bc1279 as well as usbprint.sys, usbprint.inf, and usbprint.pnf as recommend various places including here - USB Printing Support driver - cannot install Canon MP470

cyclops said:

Just found this using Google
It might be worth a shot downloading this from driver location
Make sure you are trying to install it to USB0001 printer port
Attachment 375896

I'm actually not in need of those drivers - that reference I assume was from a link to a forum post that happened to have a very similar situation to my own- symptomology, not those specific drivers.

Further, this occurs with any printer being installed from scratch - not just one. Something more system related instead of a specific manufacturer driver pack...

Pick a printer you believe should install on that PC and let's stick with that one for testing. Tell us the specific make and model.

1. Remove printers from USB ports
2. Skim through CtlPnl->Programs and Features. Uninstall any/all printer entries found there. REBOOT
3. Rename file C:\WINDOWS\inf\setupapi.dev.log to C:\WINDOWS\inf\setupapi.dev.old.log
4. Re-Install the printer driver (provide a link to the driver install file you're using and tell me printer make/model)
5. Don't plug printer USB in until after prompted or after install finishes (whichever is first)
6. What error(s) do during printer install?
7. Windows should have created a new C:\WINDOWS\inf\setupapi.dev.log. Zip and upload to next post