Windows 7 - Device and Printers does not see all printers

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit

Control Panel -> Devices and Printers show some printers (PDF995 and Microsoft XPS Document Writer) but it does not show my HP OfficeJet 4500. Applications (like IE or Firebird) show it in the list of printer and can print to it.

Edit: I forgot to mention, I am running in the Administrator account and both the laptop and the printer on the same WiFi router. The printer showed up in Device Manager after I clicked Display Hidden Devices (kind of silly to hide devices from the Administrator.)

Hi theoldwizard1,

Navigate to:
Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Devices and Printers
Try refreshing the page a few times and see if the printer appears.

If that doesn't work, click 'Add a Printer'. Your computer should open a wizard that will take you through adding a new printer. Select either Local or Wireless printer and then click next. Your computer should then start searching for printers. If it finds the printer, follow the remaining steps until you've installed the printer as a new printer. If it doesn't show up, there should be an option to search for a printer. You can browse your computer, search by name etc.

Try both options and see what happens. Hope that helps.

Nope

Well, Windows 7 found the printer, but wanted to install it as Copy 1 (meaning there was already a printer with the same name installed). I cancelled at that point.

Then I ran the HP Uninstall script, rebooted and ran CCleaner Registry Cleaner (amazing what that always finds and cleans up). Finally, I used the "Add a Printer" option off of the Devices and Printers display.

I guess the answer id "Do it the Microsoft Way !"

Okay. Sorry I couldn't be of more help...