[Alex Ethridge]

This is a problem unique to certain HP printer models. It affects no other brands I know of and only certain models of the HP brand.

If HP USB printers are connected to the USB port while the OS is being loaded, or if one connects the printer to the USB port before loading the printer driver, the printer will then fail to be recognized regardless of any effort on the part of the user.

There is a fix for this that requires a registry edit; I know this because I did that registry edit a few years ago with help from HP's telephone tech support.

Does anyone here know what that registry edit is or where I might find information on it? I have searched the HP site and cannot find anything on it there.

Windows 2000 and HP Photosmart p1000

[Alex Ethridge]

I found the solution.

Here it is.

If you own one of certain HP priinters, scanners or cameras that suffer from this malady, you may go through the seventh level of hell correcting the problem without certain very obscure and detailed instructions.

The last time I did this little job was about 4 years ago and it cost the owner $35 from HP's tech support and two hours of time. At the time, HP had no web page explaining how to correct the problem and even today, a page does exist; but, it isn't identified in a way that any average person would understand what it is for.

The moral of the story is:

• Never, never, never connect any HP brand device, be it printer, scanner, camera or whatever, to a USB port before its driver is loaded.
• Always, always disconnect any HP USB device from the USB port before making a clean reload of the OS (like after wiping out the current Windows).

Not all HP devices suffer from this problem; but, its solution can be so difficult that it should be a common habit to leave them disconnected in the above circumstances.

To be clear, connecting the device at the wrong time takes less than one second to do the damage.

Below is a list of HP devices that may or may not have this problem; also it may not be a complete list:

Cameras:

• 215 digital camera
  120 digital camera
  C500 digital camera
  315 digital camera
  318 digital camera
  320 digital camera
  430 Series digital camera
  612 digital camera
  618 digital camera
  620 digital camera
  635 digital camera
  715 digital camera
  720 digital camera
  733 digital camera
  735 digital camera
  812 digital camera
  850 digital camera
  912 digital camera
  935 digital camera
  945 digital camera

Printers:

• P1000 printer
  P1100 printer
  100 printer
  130 printer
  230 printer
  1115 printer
  1215 printer
  1218 printer
  1315 printer
  7150 printer
  7350 printer
  7550 printer
  7260 printer
  7660 printer
  7760 printer
  7960 printer

Scanners:

• S20 photo scanner
  1000 scanner

[wahlroot]

When installing HP photosmart printer there should be a button to "Remove HP photosmart printer series soft ware". Click this button before installing. If you do not, it might not let you install. This should get rid of the registry keys. Do not plug in printer power and USB cords until it tells you to do it.

[Saga Lout]

Did you happen to leave this thing plugged in when you installed SP4?

If so, it may be easier to uninstall the pack then uninstall the printer software, put the pack back on and reinstall the printer without putting the USB lead in until prompted.

[boyoh53]

I have exactly the same problem with my Packard Bell scanner. For weeks every time I closed down and then re-booted the scanner was missing. I don't exactly know how it got recognised but eventually it did.
On Friday I had to disconnect everything for a small repair job and now it's back to the old ways. I wonder if the "fix" would apply to my scanner as well.
I'll have a look anyway.

[Alex Ethridge]

wahlroot,

No Kidding.

Saga Lout,

If the instructions I referenced work for your device (it is in the list of devices) I think this solution is easier--if you can follow the instructions well.

boyoh53,

It may or may not work; but, for sure the PID idendifier is different for all devices.