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Question

How do I remove old printer links in Windows 7?

by Nov 11, 2011 4:27PM PST

My home network has six laptops and desktops connected. Over time some have been replaced, others had upgrades to Windows and some had Windows reinstalled. Now some of the devices have a load of printer links to printers or computers which no longer exist. Using the Devices and Printers does not allow the printers to be deleted. Microsoft at one time had a hot fix for this, but I can no longer find that. Any suggestions please?

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3 Posts
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Answer
What happens
by Forum moderator Nov 11, 2011 8:54PM PST

when you 'right click' the entries in "Devices and Printers" from the Start Menu? Is there an option to delete? Does the option to "Remove device" appear in the menu bar when you highlight any of the icons?

If so what happens when you select either of those? Any error messages?

Are there any entries in the Control Panel > Programs and Features listing?

Mark

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Windows 7 - removing printers issues.
by isdavidc Nov 12, 2011 1:12AM PST

Hi Mark
Devices and Printers: regretfully, yes. The right-click option to delete is there, and the menu bar option. With both of these the result is that the application starts, looks as if it is doing something, but completes without any change to the list of installed printers. No error messages occur. Shutting down and restarting causes no difference after trying to delete.
The only thing that shows up in Programs and Features is the HP Driver package.
I forgot to mention that there are two HP 6500 E709N wireless printers on the network, one of which is USB connected to a PC but also worked wirelessly on two laptops.

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Answer
Back to HP?
by Forum moderator Nov 12, 2011 1:22AM PST

HP has had, from time to time, driver cleanup and removal tools.

Back to Windows 7 forum

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