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Question

how to get back PC control panel for hp officejet pro 8600 p

Nov 8, 2012 11:03PM PST

When I installed the printer, there was an icon on the desktop that rocked. It looked like a picture of the printer. When I clicked on it, many options came up . . . scan a photo, print something, copy something, scan to network folder, copy to email, etc. It was preferable to having to reach over and use the touchpad on the printer. Yesterday it said that updated info was available and would I like to download it. So I did. Now the icon is useless. I spent over an hour with HP tech support yesterday and they could not solve the problem. I am not sure that they even understood what was missing. Really embarrassed that I can't solve this myself, but I can't. Here is my system info:
Windows Edition: Windows 7 Home Premium (Service Pack 1)
Computer System: HP 120-1123w
Printer: HP Officejet Pro 8600 Premium (NET)
Driver Info: Provider-HP, Driver Date-8/12/09, Driver Version-9.0.0.0, Digital Signer-Microsoft Windows Harware Compatibility Publisher

Have done everything I can think of. Any help would be appreciated.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: control panel for printer
Nov 9, 2012 12:33AM PST

Seems easy. Remove the printer, add it again using the drivers from the original disk and don't update again.

Kees

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(NT) Tried that, but thanks!
Nov 9, 2012 3:13AM PST
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Answer
Icon/shortcut
Nov 9, 2012 2:32AM PST

It sounds as if the shortcut somehow got deleted. You should still be able to do the shortcut to the desktop, look in your programs list find the printer in the list, right click and send it to the desktop as a shortcut.

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Tried that, but thanks!
Nov 9, 2012 3:16AM PST

The window that opens from the shortcut does not display the same options as it did previously.

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Answer
I suggest...
Nov 9, 2012 2:49AM PST

Open the control panel, find the printers or the h/w and sound icon, then printers. Find the printer you want and click and drag to desktop(open area) and let go. That's the quick and fast way, otherwise, create a shortcut for it with proper details. This way ou have the updated info, etc., you already did to the printer. -OR- -f you don't like it at all, use the restore feature pick a date when it was OK(prior) and return to that dat. You will get update reminders, just ignore for that printer. Up to you.

tada -----Willy Happy

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Tried that, but thanks!
Nov 9, 2012 3:19AM PST

Restored back to 11/4, several days before the change, but it did not help.

There appears to be two versions of the software/driver, full and basic, but I can't tell which one is installed. The only information I have is that Windows selected the driver for Windows 7 version 9.0.0.0.

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Reload
Nov 9, 2012 4:28AM PST

At this point I'd take Kee's original advice, uninstall then reinstall printer software...

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Answer
Then what about HP's all in one cleaner tool?
Nov 9, 2012 3:44AM PST
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You're not alone
Nov 9, 2012 4:24AM PST

Same thing happened to me today... can't figure out how to restore the control panel either. Sad

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Answer
Fixed my problem
Nov 9, 2012 7:58AM PST

I spent 2 hours on the phone with HP tech support. Bascally uninstalled the printer and then reinstalled by downloading the full/complete package option off the website (not from the cd that came with the printer). The control panel is different than it was, but all the old options (and more) are there. We had to do more stuff to get everything to work properly (wireless), but I think that was specific to my additional problems, and not yours.