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
    2010-11-05T15:04:46+00:00

    Assuming you've properly set the printer sharing on the Windows 7 machine do the following to installe to the XP laptop(s):

    1. Download the XP printer driver.
    2. Run Add Printer on the XP machine and install as a local printer using the XP driver.  The defaulted LPT1 port choice is fine.  Tell Windows not to search for the printer.
    3. Once installed open Printer properties, Ports, Add Port, Local Port and enter the port name as \WIN7PCNETNAME\PRINTERSHARENAME.

    --

    "Cindybert" wrote in message news:*** Email address is removed for privacy ***...

    I have a very similar question to the one that started this thread, however, my shared printer is on my new Windows 7 Home Premium desktop, and I need to be able to print to it with our Windows XP Professional laptops. I can see the printer from my laptop, but I can't seem to find an .INF file that will allow it to be installed on my laptop. This used to work fine from our previous desktop system, which had WinXP. I see that the 64 bit and 32 bit drivers aren't likely the same, but I'm not certain if I should apply the same solution as was given for the .INF not found problem in this situation. Help?

    Thanks!

    Cindy

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-11-05T01:45:26+00:00

    I have a very similar question to the one that started this thread, however, my shared printer is on my new Windows 7 Home Premium desktop, and I need to be able to print to it with our Windows XP Professional laptops. I can see the printer from my laptop, but I can't seem to find an .INF file that will allow it to be installed on my laptop. This used to work fine from our previous desktop system, which had WinXP. I see that the 64 bit and 32 bit drivers aren't likely the same, but I'm not certain if I should apply the same solution as was given for the .INF not found problem in this situation. Help?

    Thanks!

    Cindy

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-10-16T03:10:27+00:00

    Alan,

    You sir are a lifesaver.  I have been trying to connect this printer between an Xp system and my new Win 7 system.  It has taken me 3 days to find this solution, I guess it is all in the wording when you search!

    I now am connected to my home network consisting of 3 xp and 1 win 7 systems......and they all can print!

    THANK YOU!

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-10-10T01:56:01+00:00

    I expect the 64bit driver you are using on Windows 7 to be set to Winprint in this case since the other print processors are from HP.

    What is the Windows 7 driver name you are using for the bizhub 163?  If you are using any KM driver that has XPS in the name, I would expect that not to work printing to Windows XP.   XPS is a printer language format supported on KM, Canon, Xerox, and a couple other vendors.

    Attempt to pick a driver for Windows 7 that is nearly the same name as the driver you are sharing from XP.  PCL or PS are different formats and will only work if the device has the language interpreter installed.

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

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