Introduction

Many HP products come with a driver built into the Windows 7 operating system (OS) or provided in Windows Update. For some products, these are the only drivers available for the product (click to view list ) and you do not need to download anything from www.hp.com.

For products that have a driver included in the Windows 7 OS, when you connect your computer to the internet and then connect the product to the computer using a USB cable, Windows 7 detects the hardware and automatically installs the correct driver.

Use the steps in this document to help you:

• If Windows did not automatically detect the device after you connected it using a USB cable,
• If you have a network product that needs to install the driver included in the Windows 7 OS or from Windows Update,
• To determine which LaserJet products must use driver included in the Windows 7 OS or Windows Update,
• To determine the level of scan software support with the driver included in the Windows 7 OS or in Windows Update,
• To determine whether the printer is already installed,
• To check that the HP device is set as the default printer,
• To use Windows Update to make sure that the latest drivers are available on your Windows 7 OS, and
• To install the driver included in the Windows 7 OS or from Windows Update using either a USB cable or on a network.

Before you begin

Use the following checklist before you begin to ensure a successful installation:

• Make sure the computer on which you want to install the driver is connected to the internet.
• If necessary, temporarily disable your firewall to use Windows Update.

  NOTE:

  You will need access to the internet to obtain drivers from Windows Update. Some companies may limit access to internet or to Windows Update. If you are unable to access the internet or Windows Update, contact your system administrator or IT Help desk.

• Make sure that the product is powered on and is properly configured.
• If installing on a network, make sure that you have the IP address or hostname for the product available (see your user guide for more information or for instructions on how to print a configuration page) and that the network cable is connected to the product.

Install the driver using USB cable

The following steps are intended for use if you have not previously connected the USB cable from the product to the computer. If you have already connected the USB cable from the product to the computer and cannot print, these steps might not resolve the issue. Try these steps anyway and then, if necessary, use the links to view additional support documents to help troubleshoot the issue.

1. Make sure you are connected to the internet.
2. Connect the cable to the product and to the computer and then wait while Windows 7 detects the hardware and automatically creates a new port and installs the driver.

   NOTE:

   If a Your devices are ready to use window is displayed and does not close automatically, close the window.

   NOTE:

   If Windows did not automatically detect the hardware, the device might already be installed. Try to print. If you cannot print, make sure the product is turned on, the USB cable and USB port are not damaged, and that the USB cable is connected properly to the computer and to the product, and then try again.

3. Try to print.

   NOTE:

   If you receive a Windows prompt to use Windows Update to find the device driver, make sure you are connected to the internet and then allow Windows to search for the driver.

4. Check whether the printer is already installed and make sure it is selected as the default.
   1. From the Windows desktop, click Start , and then click Devices and Printers or Printers .
   2. If the printer is not listed, then click Add a printer and skip to Step 4.
      If the HP printer is listed, make sure that it is set as the default (indicated by a green check mark).
      Figure 1: Devices and Printers with installed HP printer selected as default

      
   3. If it is not selected as the default, right-click the printer, click Set as default printer , select the HP printer, and then try again to print.
      If you can print, you do not need to complete the remaining steps.
5. Click Add a local printer .
6. Make sure you are connected to the internet, click Windows Update , and then wait for the update process to complete.
   

   NOTE:

   The Windows Update process can take some time to complete (depending on your environment this can take up to an hour or more). Do not interrupt the update process and be sure to wait for the process to finish. If your product is not listed in the search results, make sure you are connected to the internet and then try Windows Update again. If the Windows Update server is slow to respond or unavailable, try again later. If you have tried Windows Update several times and your product is still not listed, make sure your product is supported. For more information, go to Products Not Supported in Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions) (c02535920) (in English).

7. Select HP from the Manufacturer menu, select your product from the list of Printers, and then click Next .

   NOTE:

   If you have previously installed this printer model, you may be prompted to use the driver already installed. If so, select the driver already installed.

   
8. Use the default name or type a printer name in the Printer name field, click Next , and then wait while the print driver installs.
9. If prompted, select Do not share this printer and then click Next .
10. When the print driver has been successfully added, click Print a test page , or click Finish to complete the installation and close the window.
    

    NOTE:

    If you do not want this printer to be the default, clear the Set as the default printer check box.

    Your Windows 7 driver is now installed.
    If you were not able to successfully install the print driver included in the Windows 7 OS, there may be another driver option available for your product, or your product may not be supported. Go to www.hp.com to search for a driver download or go to support document Products Not in Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions) (c02535920) (in English) for more information.

Install the driver through a network

To install the driver on a network, or to install another driver type for a new or different product, use Devices and Printers (formerly the Add a Printer Wizard) AND Windows Update to automatically search for and install the latest drivers. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Make sure that you have the printer IP address available.

   NOTE:

   If you do not know or have the printer IP address, print a configuration page that contains the product IP address. For instructions see the user guide that came with the product.

2. From the Windows desktop, click Start , and then click Devices and Printers or Printers .
3. Click Add a printer and then click Add a local printer .

   NOTE:

   To connect through a network, use the Add a local printer option, NOT the network option (this is used primarily for wireless or Bluetooth connections).

4. Select Create a new port , select HP Standard TCP/IP Port from the drop-down list, and then click Next .

   NOTE:

   If prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

5. Type the printer IP address (or Printer host name), click Next , and then wait while the port is created.
6. Make sure you are connected to the internet, click Windows Update , and then wait for the update process to complete.
   

   NOTE:

   The Windows Update process can take some time to complete (depending on your environment this can take up to an hour or more). Do not interrupt the update process and be sure to wait for the process to finish. If your product is not listed in the search results, make sure you are connected to the internet and then try Windows Update again. If the Windows Update server is slow to respond or unavailable, try again later. If you have tried Windows Update several times and your product is still not listed, make sure your product is supported. For more information, go to Products Not Supported in Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions) (c02535920) (in English).

7. Select HP from the Manufacturer menu, select your product from the list of Printers, and then click Next .

   NOTE:

   If you have previously installed this printer model, you may be prompted to use the driver already installed. If so, select the driver already installed.

   
8. Use the default name or type a printer name in the Printer name field, click Next , and then wait while the print driver installs.

   NOTE:

   If prompted, click Install driver and follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete a network installation.

9. If prompted, select Do not share this printer and then click Next .
10. When the print driver has been successfully added, click Print a test page , or click Finish to complete the installation and close the window.
    

    NOTE:

    If you do not want this printer to be the default, clear the Set as the default printer check box.

    Your Windows 7 driver is now installed.
    If you were not able to successfully install the print driver included in the Windows 7 OS, there may be another driver option available for your product, or your product may not be supported. Go to www.hp.com to search for a driver download or go to support document Products Not Supported in Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions) (c02535920) (in English) for more information.

Products for which the In-OS is the best or only driver option

Use Devices and Printers to run Windows Update to obtain the driver included in the Windows 7 OS for the following older LaserJet products:

• HP LaserJet 4/4+, 4, 4M/4M+, 4ML, 4MP, 4MV, and 4Si Printer series

  NOTE:

  The 4L, 4LC, 4LJ, 4P, and 4V models in the LaserJet 4 series are NOT supported in Windows 7.

• HP LaserJet 5, 5M, 5MP, 5Si Printer series

  NOTE:

  The 5L, 5N, and 5P models in the LaserJet 5 series are NOT supported in Windows 7.

• HP LaserJet 6, 6M, and 6MP Printer series

  NOTE:

  The 6L and 6P models in the LaserJet 6 series are NOT supported in Windows 7.

• HP LaserJet 1015 Printer series
• HP LaserJet 1100 and 1200 Printer series
• HP LaserJet 1220 All-in-One Printer series
• HP LaserJet 2100 Printer series
• HP LaserJet 3015, 3020, and 3030 All-in-One Printer series (print-only support)
• HP LaserJet 3200 All-in-One Printer series (print-only support)
• HP LaserJet 3380 All-in-One Printer
• HP LaserJet 3300, 3310, 3320, and 3330 Multifunction Printer series
• HP LaserJet 5000 Series
• HP LaserJet 5300 Series (32-bit only) (64-bit is not supported)
• HP LaserJet 8100 Multifunction Printer series
• HP LaserJet 9040 and 9050 Multifunction Printer Series (32-bit only) (64-bit is not supported)
• HP Color LaserJet 8500 Printer series
• HP Color LaserJet 8550 Multifunction Printer series
• HP LaserJet 9055mfp and 9065mfp series

If your product is not listed here, go to www.hp.com to search for a driver download or go to support document How to Select the Correct Print Driver (c00751649) (in English).

What you need to know