I hate Vista more every day, and I don’t even have it on any of my computers.
Problem:Elderly parents had Win98 machines up until a couple of months ago. I helped them order two identical Dells with Vista Home Premium…my first dumb mistake. A month later, dad decides he needs a laptop for looking up stats while watch sports. I help him order a dell laptop with Vista Home on it…my second dumb mistake.The two desktops are setup in an office.
I bought them a new HP c6180 All in one unit. This unit has built in network sharing so both of them could easily use the same printer as well as from the laptop.
I’ll admit all three of these machines came with the Norton Internet Security installed, and I’ve left it on the machines because of my parents history of clicking on EVERYTHING that comes along on-line with abandon, and thus causing me grief to straighten out the mess that ensues.
I also have left User Access Control turned on on all machines (grandkids visit ya know #-o).
Now to my problem: The freaking driver software for the HP c6180 will simply disappear from the system. Meaning, as far as the computer is concerned, the scanner and the printer has been un-installed from the system. This has happened on ALL THREE COMPUTERS several times. One day the printer and scanner exists on the systems and works just fine, the next day they go to use the printer or the scanner, and nada, it’s not listed any longer. And neither will the scanner. The entry even disappears from the Add/remove programs list. All the other crap software that gets installed with the HP software is still there and works.
I can run the install file for the printer, and one of it’s options is to Add Devices. So, some of the needed software is still there. It just appears that the printer and scanner drivers are being deleted. I can reinstall with no problems, all is rosy for anywhere from a day to several days, then boom, the drivers are gone.
Sometimes I can look in the Windows Event Log and see exactly when they are being deleted, it states as such. But other times, there isn’t anything in the log relating to the disappearing drivers.
I can’t see anything in the log, that to me anyway, would explain what happens just prior to this event.
On my mothers computer, this disappearing act has really happened frequently. But she also uses her computer the most. But I see no signs that either mom or dad are doing anything to cause this.
I did a complete un-install, then reinstall of the software yesterday. And it only lasted 24 hrs before the scanner & printer disappeared once again.
HP has been absolutely zero help. I’ve lost all faith in HP now as their tech support beyond sucks.
No one has access to the admin accounts on any of these machines but me. It makes it even more fun that I’m doing all this via remote log in, as I live 100 miles away from them.
Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it. Or if your aware of another message board that I might have better luck with, I’d appreciate being pointed in that direction as well.
Thanks.
