handle not valid on HP Laserjet 6p in windows 10?

David Julius 0 Reputation points
2026-09-13T14:10:47.5433333+00:00

Cannot reinstall HP LaserJet 6p on Windows 10 desktop due to 'handle is invalid' error.

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | Networking | Other
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-13T14:11:02.7033333+00:00

    Try this sequence for the HP LaserJet 6p on Windows 10:

    1. Update or reinstall the printer driver.
      • Open Start > Device Manager.
      • Expand Printers.
      • Right-click the HP printer and select Update driver.
      • If no update is available, select Uninstall device, then restart the PC so Windows can try to reinstall the driver automatically.
    2. If Windows still cannot use a suitable driver, install a compatible driver from the printer manufacturer.
      • Download a driver that matches Windows 10 and the correct 32-bit or 64-bit system type.
      • Install the driver and restart the PC.
      • Avoid drivers marked for older or unsupported Windows versions unless no newer driver is available.
    3. Remove and reinstall the printer.
      • Go to Start > Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
      • Select the printer and choose Remove device.
      • Restart the PC.
      • Return to Printers & scanners and select Add a printer or scanner.
      • If Windows does not find it automatically, use the manual install path and choose Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings.
    4. For a manual reinstall, specify the port and driver.
      • Select Use an existing port and choose the port the printer is connected to.
      • If it is USB-connected, select the USB port from the list.
      • When prompted for the driver, select Windows Update or Have Disk if a manufacturer driver package is available.
      • Select the printer manufacturer and model, then finish setup and print a test page.
    5. If printing problems continue, clear and reset the print spooler.
      • Open Services from the taskbar search.
      • Double-click Print Spooler and select Stop.
      • Delete all files in %WINDIR%\system32\spool\PRINTERS.
      • Go back to Services, open Print Spooler, select Start, set Startup type to Automatic, and select OK.
    6. If the problem started after a recent driver update, roll back the driver.
      • Open Device Manager.
      • Expand Printers or Print queues.
      • Right-click the printer > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver.
      • Restart the PC.

    The "handle is invalid" message can be consistent with a printer driver or handle problem. In driver validation guidance, an invalid handle exception is raised when a function passes an invalid handle to a system routine, and a handle can also become invalid if it is used after it was closed.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Daphne Huynh (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 1,305 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-14T06:27:47.29+00:00

    Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

    Thank you for sharing your concerns.

    The HP LaserJet 6P is a legacy printer, and HP does not list Windows 10 among the supported operating systems on its current driver page. Therefore, the original HP driver may not install correctly on Windows 10. The error may also be related to an incompatible or damaged printer driver, a Print Spooler issue, or files left behind by an earlier installation.

    Please try the following steps.

    1. Remove the existing printer and driver

    • Remove the HP LaserJet 6P from Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
    • Open Print Management by running printmanagement.msc.
    • Under Print Servers > your computer > Drivers, remove any existing HP LaserJet 6P driver package.
    • Restart the computer.

    If Print Management is unavailable, open Control Panel > Devices and Printers, select any printer, and then open Print server properties > Drivers.

    2. Reset the Print Spooler

    • Press Windows key + R, enter services.msc, and press Enter.
    • Locate Print Spooler, select it, and choose Stop.
    • Open the following folder: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
    • Delete any files remaining in the folder. Do not delete the folder itself.
    • Return to Services, open Print Spooler, set the startup type to Automatic, and then select Start.

    3. Add the printer manually

    • Open Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners.
    • Select Add a printer or scanner.
    • If the printer is not detected, select The printer that I want isn’t listed.
    • Choose Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings.
    • Select the appropriate USB, LPT, or TCP/IP port for the printer.

    4. Select an available compatible driver

    In the driver selection window, select Windows Update and allow time for the printer list to refresh.

    If HP LaserJet 6P appears, select it and complete the installation. If it is not listed, avoid forcing the original legacy driver installation. You may test an available generic or compatible in-box driver, although compatibility and full printer functionality cannot be guaranteed.

    If the error continues, please review the following locations for the underlying installation error:

    • Event Viewer > Applications and Services Logs > Microsoft > Windows > PrintService
    • C:\Windows\INF\setupapi.dev.log

    The setupapi.dev.log file records device and INF-based driver installation activity and may reveal the specific driver, file, or permission error that caused the installation to fail.

    Because this printer was designed for earlier Windows versions, the most reliable options are usually an available Windows in-box driver or a compatible generic driver. If neither works, the printer may not be fully compatible with Windows 10.

    Reference: HP LaserJet 6p Printer Software and Driver Downloads | HP® Support

    If you find this information helpful, please click Accept Answer. 

    Thank you for using Microsoft Q&A.

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  3. Senthil kumar 2,420 Reputation points
    2026-09-14T06:32:07.74+00:00

    Hi @David Julius

    First Uninstall your driver from settings->apps->installedapps-> your printer. then restart your PC. then try to install again the your printer driver. it should work.

    Thanks.

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