If your printer has stopped working, and you’re seeing a Driver is unavailable error in Windows, then you’ve come to the right place.This frustrating problem is usually caused by an incorrect or corrupt printer driver, and it should be pretty easy to fix. Try these fixes.Fix 1: Reinstall your printer driver (RECOMMENDED)A corrupt or incompatible driver is the most likely cause of the driver unavailable error. It’s also the easiest problem to fix.
You just uninstall your current driver, then install the most up-to-date correct driver. Here’s how1) On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and R together to invoke the Run box.2) Type devmgmt.msc and click OK. (Don’t worry if your screens look slightly different from those illustrated below.
We’ve shown screenshots from Windows 10, but this fix works on Windows 7 too.)3) Find and right-click on your printer. Then click Uninstall device.4) Click Uninstall if you’re prompted to confirm.5) and install Driver Easy. It will automatically recognize your system, and find and install the correct printer driver for it, along with any other drivers that need updating. (Or, if you’d prefer, you can download and install the necessary driver manually. To do this, you have to visit your printer manufacturer’s website, locate the correct driver for your printer model and version of Windows, then download and install it.)6) Run Driver Easy and click Scan Now. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.7) Click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system.
You need the Pro version of Driver Easy to do this. Don’t worry; it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you don’t like it, you can get a full refund, no questions asked. (Alternatively, if you’re comfortable manually installing drivers, you can click ‘Update’ next to your printer in the free version to automatically download the correct driver. Once it’s downloaded, you can manually install it.)8) Restart your computer and try to print a file to see if your printer works.
If it does, congratulations, you’ve resolved your problem! If it doesn’t, move on to Fix 2 below. Fix 2: Install all available Windows updatesIf it’s been a while since you last did a Windows Update, that might be why Windows says your printer driver is unavailable. Here’s how to do a Windows Update to install all available operating system updatesHow to install updates on Windows 101) Click the Start menu and type update. Then click Check for updates.2) Click Check for updates.3) Windows will then install the updates automatically.4) After Windows completes all updates, restart your computer and try to print a file to see if your printer works.
How to install updates on Windows 71) Click the Start button, type update in the search box and click Check for updates.2) Click Check for updates.3) Click Install updates.4) After Windows has installed all the updates, restart your computer and try to print a file to see if your printer works.Hopefully one of the above fixes resolved your problem. If it didn’t, or if you found another fix entirely, please let us know in the comments below.
I have been having problems keeping my HP 6100 'on-line' with Win 10 (as have many people, evidently; I have seen no applicable/working answer on the internet - but that's really another issue I have to resolve later). On a new Dell laptop which came withWin 10, I had installed this printer and it worked (except when it thought the printer was off line); connection is wireless.
I uninstalled and re-installed the printer in trying to resolve that problem (this band-aid had worked for a short time on anotherPC). Now the installation results in the printer showing up in Devices and Printers with the status 'Driver is unavailable'; printer also shows up in the Network view of File Explorer.I've gone to HP's site, downloaded their latest driver, and get the result that all is ok.
Re: HP Wireless printer showing 'unavailable' status. In reply to Ralph Ramirez. Mar 2, 2016 I went to Control Panel, Troubleshooting, network & Internet, Printer and then followed the steps to make it show up. Windows 10 Spiceworks General Support. This is probably something dumb with Windows 10. When this machine boots and loads up the OS to the logon screen, the keyboard/mouse go dark. Bluetooth & other devices: I see the Dell MS116 USB Optical Mouse and Dell KB216 Wired Keyboard both showing 'Driver is unavailable'. Device Manager: Other.
Indeed, as part of that download sequence, I connect to the printer and can change settings.Windows disagrees.So I go to Device Manager, right click on the printer, and select Update Driver Software.; result is 'The best driver software for your device is already installed.' Devices and Printers disagrees (and apps that use a printer agree with Devices and Printers).Is there any way (other than switching to a Mac and another brand printer) to install this printer, with its driver?Thanks. Hi Paeyer,Welcome to Microsoft Community.Sorry to know that the drivers fails to install on Windows 10. I will certainly help you.This issue might occur if the drivers are incompatibile or incorrect.
I suggest you to install the drivers inCompatibility mode and check if it resolves the issue.A compatibility mode is a software mechanism in which a software either emulates an older version of software in order to allow incompatible software or files to remain compatible with the computer's newer hardware or software. Follow below steps:1. Go to your manufacturer’s website and download theDriver’s setup file for your computer.2. Press Windows Key + R on your desktop screen to go to run box.3. Type devmgmt.msc and hit Enter.4. Under Driver, expand, then right click Printer hub and selectUninstall.5.
![Driver Is Unavailable Driver Is Unavailable](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125398178/723234357.png)
If you are prompted to Confirm then Confirm.6. Go to the location where you had saved your downloaded setup files of the drivers and right click, then selectProperties.7. Select Compatibility Tab.8.
![Driver Is Unavailable Driver Is Unavailable](/uploads/1/2/5/3/125398178/619549281.png)
Place a check mark next to Run this program in Compatibility modeand select the operating systemaccordingly from the drop down list.9. Let the driver to install and then check the functionality.Hope this helps. If the issue remains unresolved, please get back to us and we would be happy to help. Vinodh Kumar.V Microsoft Community.