Windows 7 - Missing Drivers

Asked By Peter Ellison

23-Feb-07 01:59 PM

Hi



New PC with clean install of Vista, by the PC manufacturer

PC is a Shuttle XPC



When attempting to attach a new device, in my case a HP 940c printer.

What ever type of device I select from the "Add Hardware" dialog box,
nothing is listed in the next dialog where one would expect to see a list of
manufacturers. Just the message "No drivers available" or something like
that.



It has been suggested by someone in the Printers new group that the Reg key
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion  should be changed.



This key originally was set to  %SystemRoot%\inf

I have changed this to c:\Windows\inf; c:\windows\system32\DriverStore;
%SystemRoot%\inf



Now I do get a list of Manufacturers and can now find listed my HP 940c
printer.

But...  When it starts to install, about half way through it will stop, and
the message "Core program" is missing.



One point of interest, if I select Windows Update for the list of drivers,
HP is not listed....



I need help

Peter

23-Feb-07 02:25 PM

Just go to manufacturers website and download proper drivers for the
printer and install them directly

23-Feb-07 03:14 PM

I would think that this is a question for the manufacturer of the new PC.

23-Feb-07 03:54 PM

Nice try.
HP report that drivers are built into Vista and not avaliable from HP
Been down this road with HP support, they gave up and said it was a MS
problem.

Thanks any way

23-Feb-07 03:56 PM

Thanks for the advice.
And I will be chacing them.
But should you check the Printers and Fax new group, you will see other
users with similar problem to the one that I have found.

Peter.

23-Feb-07 04:13 PM

I was able to get my epson printer to work by downloading the xp drivers and
installing them. Vista then was able to recognize the printer and it works
fine.  That was my solution , take it for what its worth.

23-Feb-07 05:35 PM

Rany thanks for you help
I tried to load from the printer's XP disk, and Vista refused to load
them.....
Regards
Peter

23-Feb-07 05:48 PM

Click "Locate and install drivers software (recommended)" then "I dont have
the disc show me other options" then "Browse my computer for driver software
(advanced)" Chose the location "C:\Windows" and make sure the "include
subfolders" is ticked.

Dont forget to say thanks ;)

23-Feb-07 07:41 PM

THANKS

Yes I have tried that  trick, worked for a USB hub and an external
drive.......
but for my printer, the install still stops, when it can't find a file......
sad part is that Vista does not tell me which file is missing.

Thanks again for your help

Regards
Peter.

23-Feb-07 11:03 PM

If the install stops because it can't find a a driver for a  connected
printer disconnect the printer and start over again so that the install will
complete and then look for Vista drivers for your printer at the printer
manufactures Website. and reconnect the printer.

23-Feb-07 11:26 PM

Peter, can you check this filepath and see if the folder is listed on your
computer?

C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\prnhp001.inf_5641fa75  The
last digits may be different.  The prnhp001.inf_ bit is the important part.
The folder should be approximately 67MB in size.  It contains the inf and
drivers for the HP printers.  And yes, yours is listed.

--
Jane, not plain ;) 64 bit enabled :-)
Batteries not included.  Braincell on vacation ;-)

25-Feb-07 04:25 AM

Many thanks for your advice.

But because Vista has the HP drivers built in, HP do not have them available
on their web pages for down load.



BR

Peter

25-Feb-07 08:50 AM

Your problem is the same as ours here: http://tinyurl.com/2ml2eb

The solutions you have been given here will not work as it is a more
deep-rooted problem IMHO.

Gav

04-Mar-07 05:45 AM

I had the same "Core Program" problem with an HP Deskjet 845c.



After investigating a bit I've learned about the Printer drivers in Windows Vista, and what they call now "Package Aware Drivers" and "Core drivers".



What the HP driver was saying to you was that it couldn't find a "Core Driver" in your system. After taking a look at the HP .inf file "C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\prnhp001.inf_5641fa75\prnhp001.Inf" and found the "Core Drivers" required are UNIDRV and sRGBPROFILE.OEM.



I also had a look at the MS printer .inf "ntprint.inf" and discovered that sRGBPROFILE.OEM (and UNIDRV, and the other "Core Drivers") is described there, but it's not copying any file.



I found in the registry there where two entries for two "Core Driver" GUIDS finishing in ...F0 and ...F5 (UNIDRV and XPSDRV), they are located in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\PackageInstallation\Windows NT x86\CorePrinterDrivers.



So here comes the solution/cheat...



I exported the registry key for one of the "Core Drivers" and modified it to create one for the sRGBPROFILE.OEM GUID ({D20EA372-DD35-4950-9ED8-A6335AFE79F3}), then imported this file into the registry, and voila.... Now my printer is working:



This is the content of the .reg file:



_______________________________________



Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00



[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\PackageInstallation\Windows NT x86\CorePrinterDrivers\{D20EA372-DD35-4950-9ED8-A6335AFE79F3}]






_______________________________________





I hope this solves your problem....



Useful links:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa907640.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/xps/pkginstall.mspx

04-Mar-07 07:48 AM

Sorry, there was a problem with the .reg I included, this is the good one.



Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00



[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\PackageInstallation\Windows NT x86\CorePrinterDrivers\{D20EA372-DD35-4950-9ED8-A6335AFE79F3}]

02-Apr-07 11:52 AM

Here is the fix for the "Empty Printer List".



C:\windows\inf\INFCACHE.1 is most likely corrupt and should be deleted.

You will need to edit its file permissions to give Full Control to the

User Group before you will be allowed to delete it.



Credit to: Bob (of), Windows Vista Community, Hardware & Devices



I personally used this method and it works and works well. But I assume no liability or credit.

03-Apr-07 01:27 AM

WOW,



This solution worked for me. I spent 1 1/2 hours with Hp tech support and 20 minutes with Microsoft Vista tech support and neither one could help me. After I moved the infcache.1 to another folder I ran the add printer wizard and I was able to see my printer (Hp Photosmart 3310 All-in-one) and it detected it, I set it up on the USB port and printed a test page, then I went into device manager under other and clicked to update driver and it recognized the printer and completed installing the rest of the Hp software.



Thank you very much

03-Apr-07 01:28 AM

WOW,



This solution worked for me. I spent 1 1/2 hours with Hp tech support and 20 minutes with Microsoft Vista tech support and neither one could help me. After I moved the infcache.1 to another folder I ran the add printer wizard and I was able to see my printer (Hp Photosmart 3310 All-in-one) and it detected it, I set it up on the USB port and printed a test page, then I went into device manager under other and clicked to update driver and it recognized the printer and completed installing the rest of the Hp software.