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HP Photosmart C5240 All-in-One Printer Troubleshooting

'Device driver software was not successfully installed' Message Displays in Windows 7 When Installing the Printer with a USB Cable

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Issue

When you try to install your HP printer in Windows 7, the following error message displays on the computer.
'Device driver software was not successfully installed'
Windows 7 is not able to install the driver for your printer. The driver is not located in Windows 7 or Windows Update is not enabled.

Solution one: Download and install the software from the HP website

Follow these steps to download the latest HP software, and then install it in Windows 7.

Step one: Download the software

Many products have more than one driver option on the downloads page. Choices might include a Basic type, and Full Feature type. If both options are available, the following information might help you decide which driver to download.
Basic typeFull Feature type

(Strongly Recommended)
HP does not recommend installing the basic driver unless you have one of the following reasons:

  • You plan to use the All-in-One for printing only.
  • You plan to scan with Microsoft WIA drivers, Twain drivers, or third party scanning software.


The basic driver is smaller and downloads more quickly. However, it does not provide the software needed by most users to copy and fax from the computer, and to use all the scanning features of the product.		For full use of all your product features: This driver provides complete product functionality for printing, scanning, copying, and faxing.

HP also includes valuable software to help you get the most out of your product. The software varies by product , but here are some examples:

  • HP Solution Center : This important tool allows you to control settings for printing, copying, and scanning. It also helps you with product maintenance, troubleshooting, software updates, and links to buy supplies.
  • Searchable help files tailored to your product
  • Image-editing software


NOTE: During the Full Feature installation process, you can choose a custom installation, where you select the specific software items that you want to install.
Follow these steps to download the software and driver for your product.
  1. Disconnect the USB cable from both the product and the computer (if you already connected it).
  2. Turn the product on.
  3. Browse to the Get Software and Drivers page: Get Software and Drivers
  4. Check the instructions on the page, and then click the Plus sign (+) next to the correct heading for additional instructions:
  5. Click the Plus sign ( ) next to Driver , and then click the driver that you want to download. If you need help deciding, see the information in the previous table.
  6. Read through the minimum system requirements and additional instructions. You can also click View directions ( ) for complete download instructions.
  7. Click Download . This option allows you to install the software at any time after the download completes.
  8. Click Save , and then browse to the location on your computer where you want to save the file.
  9. Click Save . The software downloads to your computer.
    Hint: Make a note of the place that you saved the file, in case you want to install it at a later time.

Step two: Install the software

Follow these steps to install the downloaded software and driver.
  1. When the download is complete and you are ready to install the files, click Open Folder , and then click the downloaded file. The file name ends in .exe .
    NOTE:If you closed the Download Complete screen, browse to the folder where you saved the .exe file, and then click it.
  2. You can accept the default location to save the files. Click Next , and then wait while the installer extracts the files to prepare for installation.
  3. When the Install Wizard starts, follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.
    For a Full Feature installation, you choose what type of installation you want. The following information might help you decide which installation type to use.
    Recommended Custom
    For full use of all your product features : This installation provides full product functionality. HP also includes valuable software to help you get the most out of your product.

    This installation type is designed to work for most users.    		A custom type of installation might be available for your product. This installation allows you to install the minimum software required or the preferred software.

    Use this type of installation only if the computer is low on hard disk space or you attempted a recommended type of installation and received errors. (Try to fix any errors before starting a custom installation.)

    CAUTION:To avoid unintended loss of product functionality, read the description of each software component carefully during the installation process.
    The Recommended type of installation allows you to get the most out of your product.

Solution two: Install the printer driver using Windows Update

Some HP printers do not have a Full Feature driver available to download. Windows Update searches for and installs a driver for your printer if one is available.
NOTE:Make sure the computer has an active Internet connection. Windows Update does not function if the computer is not connected to the Internet.
  • If you have not installed Windows 7, follow the instructions in method one to configure Windows Update.
  • If you have installed Windows 7, follow the steps in method two to configure Windows Update.
Click the plus sign () for more information.
When you install Windows 7, select Use recommended settings in the Help protect your computer and improve Windows automatically window.
Follow these steps to configure Windows Update to automatically search for and install a basic printer driver.

Step one: Adjust the settings to update the printer automatically

  1. On the taskbar, click the Windows icon ( ).
  2. In the Search Programs and Files box type change device installation .
  3. Click Change device installation settings . The Device Installation Settings window opens.
  4. If it is not already selected, select Yes, do this automatically (recommended) , and then click Save Changes .
    NOTE:Windows 7 might prompt you to restart the computer. Make sure that you bookmark this page so that you can quickly access again.

Step two: Install the printer driver

When you connect the printer to the computer, Windows 7 detects the hardware and automatically installs the correct driver. A notification lets you know when installation begins and when it is complete. You do not have to download any software or insert the printer CD.
Follow these steps to install the basic driver in Windows 7.
  1. Make sure that the printer power is off.
  2. Connect the Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable to the printer, and then to the computer.
    Figure 1: USB cable
    USB cable
  3. Turn the printer on.
    NOTE:Windows Update searches online for the most recent printer driver on the Windows Update site. If the online driver is more recent than the driver stored in Windows 7, the computer downloads and installs the updated driver.The Windows Update process takes place automatically. Therefore, you might not notice that the process is in progress.
  4. A Your devices are ready to use window might display on the screen. If the window displays and does not close automatically, click Close to close the window.
Your basic Windows 7 driver is now installed. Some functions might not be available, but you can use the following workaround procedures instead.
The basic driver in Windows 7 is enough for printing from a software program, scanning documents, and importing and viewing images on a memory card. Also, using your All-in-One printer, you can fax a printed page.
Use these steps to print from a software program.
  1. Open the document to be printed in the software application in which it was created.
  2. Click File , and then click Print .
Video of printing from a software program
Watch the following video for a demonstration of printing from a software program with Windows 7 operating system.
If you have trouble viewing the video or to view the video in a different size, click here to play the video on YouTube .
Use one of the following methods to scan a document if your printer supports scanning.
  1. Click the Windows ( ) icon.
  2. Click All Programs .
  3. Click Windows Fax and Scan .
  4. Click New Scan , and then click Scan .
Video of scanning with Windows Fax and Scan
The following video demonstrates how to scan with Windows Fax and Scan in Windows 7.
If you have trouble viewing the video or to view the video in a different size, click here to play the video on YouTube.
  1. Click the Windows ( ) icon, click All Programs , and then click Accessories .
  2. Click Paint ( ).
  3. Click the drop-down arrow in the upper-left corner, and then click From Scanner or Camera .
  4. Make sure the correct device is selected, click OK , and then click Scan .
Video of Scanning with Paint
The following video demonstrates how to scan with Paint in Windows 7.
If you have trouble viewing the video or to view the video in a different size, click here to play the video on YouTube.
Although you cannot fax a document directly from your computer, you can still fax a printed document from the printer if your printer supports faxing.
  1. Print the document you want to fax.
  2. Place the printout on the flat surface or feeder slot in the same way you would for scanning or copying a document.
  3. Fax the paper version of the document by using the faxing buttons on the control panel of the All-in-One.
If your printer has a memory card slot, follow these steps to access images on a memory card.
  1. Insert the memory card into the appropriate memory card slot on the product.
    NOTE:If the memory card is already inserted, remove it, and then reinsert it.
  2. On the Autoplay window that opens, click Import Pictures , View Pictures , or Open folder to view files .
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Video of importing and viewing images on a memory card
The following video demonstrates how to import and view images on a memory card in Windows 7.
If you have trouble viewing the video or to view the video in a different size, click here to play the video on YouTube.