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
    2011-10-14T22:33:22+00:00

    I don't know if you still check this but you could help with this it would be great! 

    I did all this I even got it to link and got it to spool but it won't print it comes up as a remote downlevel document which I read is normal when you connect by making a local port. But I need to print soo any tips to get that final step?

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-10-06T21:47:44+00:00

    Thanks Alan.  I ended up using a slightly different technique (because I couldn't find the "driver installed when you connected the device to USB":

    1.  connect the printer directly to the laptop & let Windows automatically install the drivers

    2.  re-connect the printer to its PC

    3.  using Windows Explorer, find the name of the printer and its PC (e.g. hpLaserJ on PC1)

    4.  go to “Devices and Printers”, locate the printer as installed in step 1, right-click for “Printer properties”

    5.  in the “Ports” tab, click on “Add Port...” > choose “Local Port” > click on “New Port...”

    6.  enter the port name using info from step 3 (e.g. \\PC1\hpLaserJ) > click on “OK”

    7.  back on the “Ports” tab, select the new port created in step 6 > click on “OK”

    8.  (optionally) on the “General” tab, add the name of the printer’s PC (e.g. PC1) to the name of printer (e.g. make it “hp LaserJet 3020 UPD PCL 5 on PC1”)

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-09-26T19:57:10+00:00

    THANK YOU!!  I'd independently followed the same route as Jim1326 -- after getting the  '*.INF' on (Unknown) is needed' no matter how many different ways I tried to install it as a network printer,  I connected it via USB and found it installed simply. But as soon as I went back to trying to connect via the network it  wouldn't use that already-installed driver, even if pointed right at it. Creating the local port using your Windows 7 instructions worked perfectly -- thanks!!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-07-13T02:55:11+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

    I tried this solution with a similar problem.  I almost got it to work.  When I got to Print Test Page, there was a remote document in the queue on my Xp, but it wouldn't print. A regular  WORD document wouldn't even show up in Queue. 

    I have an XP with a connected Sharp AR-M160 printer, I have a Windows 7 - 64 bit on the group. I would like to operate the Sharp off the Windows 7 via my group.   I can see the Sharp on the Windows 7 computer, I have checked other files that share and they are working.  All computers are laptops.

    I hooked the Sharp up directly to the Windows 7 and it worked,

    I had earlier problems where when adding the printer remotely I got a " Driver not found, need *.inf file. error.  "   Then I tried your solution and got a bit farther. THanks for your help in advance

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