WinXP keeps trying to install printer

R

RoyGBiv

New Member
I just helped a friend build a new computer. We installed WinXP professional, and all seemed OK. He worked with it a few weeks, and he contacted me because now everytime he turns on his computer, after starting up WinXP reports it has found new hardware, which it identifies as a printer and tries to install it.

He has one HP Photosmart printer attached to the computer. We have tried uninstalling it, deleting it, reinstalling it, etc, but even if it is not connected to the computer physically (it doesn't have wireless connections), the computer still says it has found new hardware and tries to install a printer.

When he transferred files from his old computer, he did use the file transfer/settings wizard. Thinking that maybe the new computer somehow thinks the printer connected to his old computer is attached to it due to these transfers, we have tried installing that older printer to his new computer. It made no difference.

So, even with these two printers installed and no other printer ever being attached to his computer (and even if every peripheral device is unattached to the computer) when it starts, it looks to install drivers for a new printer.

Any ideas???

Thanks for the help.

SMK
 
Did you follow the installation instructions when you installed the printer/printers? Sometimes windows will pop up wanting drivers and you click on cancel and let the printer install cd do all the proper installing of files. If you didn't click on cancel, that may be the problem.
 
Both printers were HP printers which do require that you not connect the printer before the installation CD works first. That is the way we did the installs. We also uninstalled and reinstalled both printers on several occasions.

One other thing. If we let the computer try to install the new hardware device it has found (which it just identifies as "printer"), it will not find the drivers and report an error. It gives you the choice not to install this device again in the future. We have tried clicking that button, but it still tries to install every time the computer starts.

Any other thoughts?

SMK
 
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