Windows 7 can't find driver for shared printer hp LaserJet 3380

Anonymous
2010-01-04T18:55:42+00:00

When I try to add a shared printer to my Windows 7 laptop, as a network printer, Windows 7 successfully locates it on the network, but I get the following error messages:

Windows can't find a driver for hp LaserJet 3380 PCL 6.

The file '*.INF' on (Unknown) is needed.

The printer is attached to an XP desktop pc on my home network.

I tried attaching the printer locally via USB to the Windows 7 laptop and successfully loaded the printer drivers and I printed to it. But when I reconnected the printer to the XP computer I got the error messages again.

This is shared, not a network, printer, so attempting to set it up with the TCP-IP option does not work.

Printing to this printer was successful under Vista. I did a clean install of Windows 7.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Jim

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2010-01-04T20:04:01+00:00

The 32bit driver name is different than the 64bit driver name.  You will need to create a Local Port which will basically copy the print formated data to the xpmachine share.

Here's the KB how to perform this task

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/282842

on Windows 7

Add Printer

Local Printer

Add Local Port

\XPMACHINE\printersharename    (Make the share name one word or you have to "" quote the whole thing)

Select the driver installed when you connected the device to USB

complete the wizard

print test page.


Alan Morris Windows Printing Team; Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here: http://support.microsoft.com/search/Default.aspx?adv=1

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-05-22T23:38:30+00:00

    on Windows 7

    Add Printer

    Local Printer

    Add Local Port

    \XPMACHINE\printersharename    (Make the share name one word or you have to "" quote the whole thing)

    I followed this up to \XPMACHINE\printersharename  but got 'The network name cannot be found.'

    I am trying to connect our Windows 7 laptop to a Vista PC where the shared printer is attached -- I assume it should work the same.  I tried enclosing the printersharename in single quotes, in double quotes, and without quotes.  Without any quotes I get 'Access is denied'.  The Vista PC and printer are both visible in Windows Explorer from the Windows 7 laptop.

    I've setup a number of PCs to shared printers in the past with 2000, XP, and Vista but for some reason I am stuck with this Windows 7.  Am I doing something wrong?

    BTW, the PC with printer is Vista 32 and Windows 7 is 64bit.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-03-01T19:51:46+00:00

    I am having a real odd problem trying to connect to a shared printer on Vista 32 bit with windows 7 64 bit.

    I have followed the instructions and cannot connect to it through normal network printer as it says there is no driver for the device.   

    Then i try to create a new port to the shared printer on vista 32 and it gives me an access violation. 

     Privledges on he vista machine are totally open to 'everyone' and 'administrators', but it just will not connect.    This 1 minute operation has taken a lot of time and still stumped.   

    other computers (all 32 bit) running XP and Vista have no problem connecting to the printer, just the windows 7 64 bit that has the issue....

    Can Anyone Help??

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-02-06T06:41:56+00:00

    MS should add this and lots of more things to windows help ! 

    it worked !

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-01-07T16:03:50+00:00

    You should have the same failure just coping a file to the share

    Create a text file using notepad.  Keep the file simple.  One page that has TEST typed in.  Open a command prompt after you save the file.  Save the file to c:\windows , your going to spend too much time trying to find it in the My Documents location.  CD c:\windows <ENTER>.  Copy TEST.txt \\WIN7Machine\PRINTSHARENAME (this should be the same port name you previously entered.

    For the PRINTERS folder, there should be SYSTEM, CREATOR OWNER, the local admin on the machine, MACHINE\Administrators, and MACHINE\Users.

    I'd start with MACHINE\Users.  They should have Special permissions  Create file, Create Folder, Read attributes, Read extended.

    When an application changes this normally people just reset and allow Full Control but I do not recommend this.  Just return the settings to the default before the change.

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