Question
How do I fix the issue with my printer “Unable to install printer. Operation could not be completed”
Solved Answers
If you are getting this error while you are installing a printer manually. Then most probably this error is due to the driver conflicting. Means you are installing a wrong driver or an outdated driver. So this issue can be easily fixed by uninstalling the incompatible driver and installing a proper driver for the printer. Lets see how to do this.
Before doing any changes it is better to create a restore point of the system and take a backup of the registry. Though chances are less that it will harm in any way, but always be at the safer side.
Step to fix this error “Unable to install printer driver”
- Start your computer in safe mode with networking.
- Delete all the files and folder out of these two location.
C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Printers &
C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers\w32x86 - Open the registry. Click Start, click Run, type regedit then press OK.
- Locate the following registry key.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86 - Only these subkeys should be there, delete rest of them (if you found any)
– Driver
– Print Processors - Expand the Version-x subkeys, and then delete all the printer driver entries.
- Locate the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors - You will see lot of subkey in this place, Delete rest of them. Only these subkeys should be there, delete rest of them (if you found any)
– BJ Language Monitor
– Local Port
– PJL Language Monitor
– Standard TCP/IP Port
– USB Monitor - Check the print spooler service, is it running or not. Start it if it is not running. click on Start and then click on run and type here services.msc and press OK or hit enter. find the Print Spooler service, and then click Start (if it is stopped).
- Please make sure printer spooler service has set as automatically mode, After made started the print spooler service.
- Restart the computer.
- Now try to install the printer with latest driver. It should be fixed now.
If you are still unable to install the printer driver, then try a automatic driver finder and updater software. Here is a list of best automatic driver software.