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
    2010-02-02T00:35:29+00:00

    Any ideas on what I can try if I get a pop-up window stating 'Access is Denied' when I try create a local port on the xp machine.  I AM logged in as an administrator.

    I am trying to do the same thing as the original person who posted.

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-01-05T06:06:48+00:00

    There are several people on this forum who are well aware of this solution and hopefully others will read the successes and determine if this works for their situation.  The best solution is having the vendors have the same name for their cross architecture drivers

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

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-01-05T03:43:46+00:00

    Alan, Thanks. Your guidance worked! I was frustrated at spending 4 hours today trying to google the solution. Why can't your easy-to-implement solution be readily found on the HP or Microsoft sites? Most appreciatively, Jim

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