We have a HP 7310 Multidevice printer. We have it attached via a USB cable. The printer was working before but it stopped working for some reason. It will not communicate with the computer but it will recieve faxes.

So I deleted all the HP drivers for the printer and I am now trying to reinstall them. The problem is the computer is not detecting the printer. I downloaded the newest drivers from HP, one of them was over 200 megs. It will also not recognize the printer in the add printer option, it doesnt work with a manual add. Could the old HP drivers be causing these issues somehow?

Sounds like an USB problem; if your puter won't recognise your printer there's not a lot you can do with new drivers. Check if your USB controller is OK.

Sometime Windows XP will still record the USB device as being there even though the software has been uninstalled. Look in the registry for any enteries of the printer and delete them. Also try another usb port. Iv'e used these methods many times to fix simalar problems.
Good Luck

This is a well-known well-documented problem where Hewlett-Packard printers stop working after windows XP update 908531. See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918165 for a solution.

Maybe so, Maybe so, but I've had excatly the same Symptoms with all brands of printers and also from time to time with other usb devices. Sometime the registry thinks the units still there so it just won't install using the same ports. Some printers even include a special tool to clean out installation files. Quite often I've still found it easier to just go into the registry and delete the enteries manually. (if there still there)
Wouldn;t hurt to try the patch you mentioned. I've been working with PC's far to long to beleive there is always only one answer.
I only answered because I am trying to help, in the end I don't care how he fixes the problem as long as one of us has! helped.
I live to serve

So far no luck installing this printer. I tried deleting all the HP printer drivers I could find in the registry, but its a HP computer so there are alot.


The only way I can detect the printer is through the network, but even then the install doesnt work properly. It asks for 2 missing files and I can only find one of them. The other one which is srgb.icm I have to click cancel. It looks like it installs the printer but it does not show up under installed printer after the install.

Did you follow the link I gave you regarding windows update 908531? It puts a security block on the Network which disables HP printers with card readers. Fiddling around with the HP drivers instead of addressing the issue with the update may have damaged the HP driver install. UNINSTALL update 908531, go to Control Panel, Add/remove programs, tick "Show Updates" and uninstall Security Update KB908531. Turn off automatic updates, reboot. Now after the new boot WITHOUT 908531 uninstall then reinstall the HP printer drivers. It should work. I had this exact same problem with a Hewlett-Packard laser printer. After checking the link I provided you edit the registry accordingly then allow 908531 to be reinstalled.

I am in Add/remove programs but I do not see the option to show updates that you mentioned.

You need WinXP with SP2 for that option.

The srgb.icm can be found in C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386\driver.cab

Have you checked on the HP support Knowledgebase? We had a 7310 but had trouble with it right away. I don't remember our problem but we returned it for a 7410 and that has been working okay except for most mornings it seems to just flash it's display and lights and needs a reboot. It's a decent all-in-one but I would recommend a different series than the 7xxx. They seem flaky to me.

That's an obvious thought, Thank You. Has the 7310 been tried on a different computer with a fresh install? Are we SURE the 7310 doesn't simply have hardware failure?