Unable to install printer drivers, uninstall old printer, update Windo

[columbia93]

My Mom has an HP laptop. She recently purchased a new HP printer and I have been trying for the last 4 days to get it to install/connect. I've been in touch with HP but the links they provide aren't resolving the issues.

First, using the CD that came with the printer: hangs up at around 85-90%. It doesn't not show up as installed. I copied the CD to the desktop, modified Setup.exe in CFFExplorer and Run as Administrator and it appears to completely install; however, when I go to Device Manager, it says no driver is found. I sometimes have the option to update and sometimes that seems to work but I can't access it through Add a Printer (which has the green bar run across the top, then pulsate and freeze).

Trying to install using the driver I download from HP results in no installing screen appearing but it does hang up in the background and the only way to stop it is to Restart. The same thing happens if I try to use HPs Wizard.

I've installed several HP printers through the years and not had this much trouble. That doesn't even include the dozens of times I've had to reinstall my own HP printer because of its contrariness!

Additionally, attempts to uninstall the old printer results in it hanging up/freezing soon in to the process, whether I try to uninstall from the Start menu, file or Uninstall program. I'm not even being able to get the Windows Updates to install - that process also just hangs up/freezes. FYI - I've not checked her machine in a while so there are many updates; however, when I just choose 1 at a time, it still sits at 0% and never moves.

FYI, the printer, when connected, is with the USB and I've tried all 4 USB ports on this just in case. Am still in touch with HP but they are sending me the usual links so I'm hoping perhaps someone here can think of something a little less ordinary!

Thx

 

[Anak]

Hi columbia93, welcome to 7F!

Printers are touchy animals, when installing any printer you have to follow the install procedures exactly as described by the manufacturer.

This may be the root cause:

FYI - I've not checked her machine in a while

Not that you haven't been able to check it, but there may be an accumulation of problems on your Mom's machine that also are stopping the update process.

I am trying to find one of 7F's tutorials on improving performance of a computer, but it boils down to cleaning out all detritus that a machine can accumulate of a period of time.
I did find this but there is another one: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129976-hard-disk-space-free-up-recover.html The first three options would help

Run Antimalware/virus scans, run a Check Disk then a sfc /scannow then try to uninstall that old printer driver, and if that works shut down the machine, and try to install the printer without the HP disk, when it looks, but asks if you have the disk say no and allow the OS to install what it has.
It is my understanding that HP Printer drivers already come with Windows 7.

But do the cleanup first and see if that helps.