Devices and Printers Dialog Box Empty

enrico1970:

I'm still here (read my posts above) and trying to find a way out.

At this moment, I can tell you and everyone else this:

I start a new fresh windows 7 install on a new pc.

Create 2 user accounts

Config the intranet settings, and web access using my proxy server

install Office 2007

run Windows Update several times

Install kaspersky Internet Security 2010 (I thought this was causing the issue)

and everything work just great, without a single issue of D+P empty window (tried every twice or more after some and every step always after reboot)

Last Friday, I install a network plotter to use with AutoCad (Not installed yet) HP DesignJet T1100 (using windows update drivers)

Reboot and I have no trouble (Twice)

Reboot and select the other user (not the one of the Windows install or even the HP install) and I get a D+P empty window.

That was late in the evening, and I have no time to explore the issue at that time (btw I get VERY MAD).

Today (after 2 days holiday) I went back to that PC, and when I was able to get the window populated again, I simply Delete the HP T1100 plotter.

After Reboot (several times in both user's) I get the window populated all the times.

I'm still not sure if the plotter is the problem, or the plotter drivers of course, but some more tests will show me some more results.

I'm remembering back when I bought the T1100 plotter in 2007 to have strange issues with it in Windows XP. Users with it installed, disappear from the Network neighborhood after some time (1 hour or so after startup) and were not available in the network for the rest of the day. Only PC´s with the plotter installed have that behavior. I report to HP at the time, but after some months of callings, I give up. Maybe some 3 drivers versions ahead the problem was gone and I could install it in XP with no more troubles. Anyway, ONLY after a fresh Windows XP install the original drivers did not cause the issue. Installing new ones over or removing the initial drives from the printers server didn't work.

This is my story by now.

Next is yet to come...

PM

Hi, I just read your post,

first I got to say that I have the Hp designjet t610 plotter, wich is really similar to 1100, I guess that it is the same machine but less powerful.

For sure I know that has nearly the same driver.

However, tired of all my sufferings I have made a new installation starting from 0.

All went well since I installed the printers drivers (I got an hp plotter and 3 ricoh aficio multifunction)

The same problem appear but this time just after a reboot all went right.

So I install all my software , office 2007, autocad 2009, corel draw x4. I got to try again to install acrobat professional, because I tried twice to install itbut when I reach the end of installation (when the set up try to install the adobe printer)  the printers folder becomes empty and the installation goes crashing.

So the things remain until I make a reboot and a disinstallation of acrobat.

I didn't install this time acronis true image, because Ihave a old version and I'm not sure that it is compatible with w7.

For the rest now the folder is working, but I didn't install several old programs, and sitll I must install acrobat professional 9.

Let's hope a solution will come

enrico1970:

I'm almost sure the problem is HP drivers. Please note that after install my HP T1100 only at the 3th reboot the D+P window goes empty and in the user not used to the install.

Right after removing it the window get populated again as usual.

What I want to say is that the problem is (at least in my case) NOT ALWAYS happening... it comes and goes alone. I have 4 more windows 7 PC installed by me. They all except one have this problem, but not all the time, not everyday, not all at the same time. The one without trouble is the one I install using the install user as running user. I'm quite sure that if I open the second user, after a reboot I will have an D+P empty window. Of course they all have T1100 installed. Today, in my worst PC, the one that is giving me more problems, I uninstall HP T1100. I'll wait several days to see if that machine, together with my latest test PC will work everyday without a issue. If that's what will happen, then the problem is definitely a HP drivers issue....... again.

I'm glad you answer to this thread, and post that you have a T610. The difference is only the paper size... mine is a 44 inch.

Please: I want to ASK to ALL users reading this threat that have a plotter HP installed too, please could you post it here (i.e. model).

It would help to develop a solution.

Important notice: I must say that HP drivers could be the problem, as well as Microsoft...

There are solutions like Bluetooth and I.E dll registered files problems that have the D+P empty window issue too, so I still think Microsoft should look deep in this problem and search for a solution.