Printers wont install, no virtual usb port in drop down list, + more

pleasant

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Jan 9, 2012
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18,510
Having the worst time getting printers set up to this computer.

It's on loan and 1 of the 2 printers has worked with the computer, so not sure what the deal is.

1st printer is a Brother MFC-J265W
2nd printer is an HP 3650 Deskjet

#1. No printer is installed currently
#2. I have no setup CD's for either printer
#3. Both plug into the computer (older Dell) via USB (1 side of the cord is firewire)
#4. Once the printers are plugged in the PC, the PC detects them starts up the Install New Hardware Wizard.
#5. I've tried installing drivers and needed setup software from the Brother and the HP site to no avail.
#6. A collage or error messages:

Brother printer:
a. the arguments are invalid
b. operation could not be completed. either the printer name was typed incorrectly, or the specified printer has
lost its connection to the server. for more information, click help.
c. the print spooler service is not running
d. could not start the print spooler service on local computer.
e. error 1068 the dependency service or group failed to start.

HP Printer:
a. Printer name is invalid

Both end up with the installation fail errors.





This is what I attempted:

went to control panel
admin services
print spooler
startup type (make sure it is on auto)
service status (on stopped), click on start - then apply.
*** this did not work ***

ran msconfig again,
did the following: which changed (in this order) hpdj - started, and another, but the other is now gone??

1. On the command prompt, type msconfig.msc
2. Go to services tab and startup tab. Make sure that all items that starts with hp???? should be enabled.
3. On the command prompt, type services.msc
4. Look for print spooler and stop this service.
5. Open a command prompt windows and type the following:
sc config spooler depend= rpcss
6. Go back to services.msc (item 3) and start print spooler service.
7. re-installe driver
*** did not work ***

Nothing has worked. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sorry for the info overload.. hoping it can help speed up any assistance.

Thanks!
~ Pleasant




 

pleasant

Distinguished
Jan 9, 2012
7
0
18,510
Update: I know this must be a hard one since no one has replied,...
I just found out that there were some items deleted by the previous owner (not sure what)
and ever since, no one has been able to install a printer.

I have another hard drive that I can try out, so will that help if I use that and do a restore
(old pc, so I wonder if that will cause some issues) or is it something that I need to check
that has nothing to do with the hard drive?