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HP Officejet J3640 All-in-One Printer Troubleshooting

Installing the Printer Software in Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard for a USB Connection

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Introduction

This document explains how to install the print driver
A print driver is a software program that allows the computer to run the printer. HP offers a variety of print drivers and software on the CD you received with your printer and the HP website. The available choices vary by printer.
and software for your printer for a USB cable connection.
Click the plus sign () for more information.
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The following information can help you decide which installation method to use.
NOTE:The CD that came with your printer might not have the full feature driver for OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard.
The current full-feature HP software package for your product is available on the HP Software & Driver Downloads page. The download includes the HP print driver, HP Utility, and HP Installer to walk you through the installation steps. Depending on your product, the download might also include HP Scan software and the HP fax driver.
HP recommends this installation method for all new and older products.
Additionally, HP recommends that you use this installation method in the following cases:
  • You no longer have the product software CD
  • You updated your operating system to a version that released after your HP product released
NOTE: Updated full-feature HP software might not be immediately available on the HP Software & Driver Downloads page after the public release of a new operating system. A release delay might be required for full testing and quality assurance of the final version of the operating system. If the software is not available, you can download the latest software using Apple Software Updates .
Installing with the product CD is a quick and easy method. The CD includes the HP print driver, HP Utility, and HP Installer to walk you through the installation steps. Depending on your product, the CD might also include HP Scan software and the HP fax driver. This software is current to the date of the product release.
Important : If you try installing the product on a computer running a newer version of the operating system that released AFTER your HP product released, the CD installation method might not work . Visit HP Software & Driver Downloads to install the latest product software for the newer operating system.
Apple Software Updates is a quick and easy software download method available directly through the Mac.
You do not need to download a driver from the HP Software & Driver Downloads page if you use Apple Software Updates. This download method includes the HP print driver. Depending on your product, the download might also include HP Utility, scanning software, and the HP fax driver.
NOTE:If your product supports scanning, the software that you use to scan might be different than the software you used before installing Snow Leopard. Depending on your product driver update, use Preview , Image Capture , or the Scan icon from the print queue to scan.
Additionally, HP recommends that you use this installation method in the following cases:
  • You no longer have the product software CD
  • The updated full-feature HP software is not immediately available on the HP Software and Drivers page after the public release of a new operating system
  • You updated your operating system to a new version that released after your HP product released
NOTE:Older HP software might not be compatible with Snow Leopard . Do not try to install software that supports earlier versions of the Mac operating system, either from the original printer CD or from the HP website.
Follow these steps to install the software from the HP website.
NOTE:Before you begin, make sure that the printer is turned on and in a ready state, and that you have a USB cable.

Step one: Uninstall any existing software for your printer

You might encounter installation issues if an earlier version of the printer software is installed on the Mac.
    I used the product CD, or I installed the software from the HP website
    1. From the computer desktop, double-click the Macintosh HD , and then click Applications .
    2. Click the Hewlett-Packard folder.
    3. Double-click the HP Uninstaller , and then click Continue .
    4. Select the printer to uninstall, and then click Uninstall .
    5. When prompted, type the Administrator name and Password, and then click OK .
    6. Click the Trash icon on the Dock, click the Empty button, and then click OK to empty the trash.
      NOTE:By clicking OK , all items in your trash will be permanently deleted from your computer. To delete one item in the trash, click that item to highlight it, and then click OK .
    I used Apple Software Update
    1. From the computer desktop, double-click the Macintosh HD icon.
    2. Double-click the Library folder.
    3. Double-click the Printers folder.
    4. Right-click the HP folder, and then select Move to Trash .
    5. When prompted, type the Administrator name and Password for the computer, and then click OK . Wait for the authentication to complete.
    6. Double-click the PPDs folder.
    7. Double-click the Contents folder.
    8. Double-click the Resources folder.
    9. Find your printer in the printer list, right-click on your printer, and then select Move to Trash .
    10. When prompted, type the Administrator name and Password for the computer, and then click OK . Wait for the authentication to complete.
    11. Click the Trash icon on the Dock, click the Empty button, and then click OK to empty the trash.
      NOTE:By clicking OK , all items in your trash will be permanently deleted from your computer. To delete one item in the trash, click that item to highlight it, and then click OK .
    12. On the upper-left corner of the desktop, click the Apple icon ( ), and then click System Preferences .
    13. Double-click Print & Fax .
    14. In the Printers list, click your printer, and then click the Minus button ( ) to delete it.

Step two: Install the software

  1. Turn on the printer.
  2. Click this link: Get Software and Drivers .
  3. Check the instructions on the page, and then click the Plus sign ( ) next to the correct heading for additional instructions:
  4. Click the Plus sign next to Driver , and then click the driver that you want to download.
    NOTE:HP recommends the Full Feature type of download, if available, to take advantage of all your printer features.
  5. Read through the minimum system requirements and additional instructions. You can also click View directions for complete download instructions.
  6. Click Download . The Welcome to the HP Software window automatically opens with the HP Installer icon, and an HP Software icon displays on the desktop.
    Figure 1: Example of the HP Installer icon
    Image: Example of an HP Installer icon.
    Figure 2: Example of the HP Software icon
    Image: Example of an HP Software icon.
    NOTE:If the Welcome to the HP Software window and HP icons do not automatically open, click the HP download file icon in the Download folder on the Dock.
    Figure 3: Example of the HP download file icon
    Image: Example of the HP download file icon
  7. Connect the USB cable to the printer, and then to the Mac.
  8. Double-click the HP Installer icon to open the software installer.
  9. When prompted, select your printer, and then click Continue .
  10. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
The CD that came with your printer might not have the full feature driver for OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard.
If the CD that came with your printer supports Snow Leopard, follow these steps to install with the printer CD.
NOTE:Before you begin, make sure that the printer is turned on and in a ready state, and that you have a USB cable.

Step one: Uninstall any existing software for your printer

You might encounter installation issues if an earlier version of the printer software is installed on the Mac.
    I used the product CD, or I installed the software from the HP website
    1. From the computer desktop, double-click the Macintosh HD , and then click Applications .
    2. Click the Hewlett-Packard folder.
    3. Double-click the HP Uninstaller , and then click Continue .
    4. Select the printer to uninstall, and then click Uninstall .
    5. When prompted, type the Administrator name and Password, and then click OK .
    6. Click the Trash icon on the Dock, click the Empty button, and then click OK to empty the trash.
      NOTE:By clicking OK , all items in your trash will be permanently deleted from your computer. To delete one item in the trash, click that item to highlight it, and then click OK .
    I used Apple Software Update
    1. From the computer desktop, double-click the Macintosh HD icon.
    2. Double-click the Library folder.
    3. Double-click the Printers folder.
    4. Right-click the HP folder, and then select Move to Trash .
    5. When prompted, type the Administrator name and Password for the computer, and then click OK . Wait for the authentication to complete.
    6. Double-click the PPDs folder.
    7. Double-click the Contents folder.
    8. Double-click the Resources folder.
    9. Find your printer in the printer list, right-click on your printer, and then select Move to Trash .
    10. When prompted, type the Administrator name and Password for the computer, and then click OK . Wait for the authentication to complete.
    11. Click the Trash icon on the Dock, click the Empty button, and then click OK to empty the trash.
      NOTE:By clicking OK , all items in your trash will be permanently deleted from your computer. To delete one item in the trash, click that item to highlight it, and then click OK .
    12. On the upper-left corner of the desktop, click the Apple icon ( ), and then click System Preferences .
    13. Double-click Print & Fax .
    14. In the Printers list, click your printer, and then click the Minus button ( ) to delete it.

Step two: Install the software

  1. Insert the product CD into the CD drive of the computer.
  2. The Welcome to the HP Software window automatically opens with the HP Installer icon and an HP Software icon displays on the desktop.
    Figure 4: Example of the HP Installer icon
    Image: Example of the HP Installer icon.
    Figure 5: Example of the HP Software icon
    Image: Example of the HP Software icon.
  3. Connect the USB cable to the printer, and then to the Mac.
  4. Double-click the HP Installer icon.
  5. Click Continue , and then click Agree to accept the Software License Agreement.
  6. When prompted, select your printer, and then click Continue .
  7. When prompted, select the installation option, and then click Install .
    NOTE:The HP Recommended software provides full support for your printer.
  8. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Follow these steps to install the software using Apple Software Update.
NOTE:Before you begin, make sure that the printer is turned on and in a ready state, and that you have a USB cable.

Step one: Uninstall any existing software for your printer

You might encounter installation issues if an earlier version of the printer software is installed on the Mac.
    I used the product CD, or I installed the software from the HP website
    1. From the computer desktop, double-click the Macintosh HD , and then click Applications .
    2. Click the Hewlett-Packard folder.
    3. Double-click the HP Uninstaller , and then click Continue .
    4. Select the printer to uninstall, and then click Uninstall .
    5. When prompted, type the Administrator name and Password, and then click OK .
    6. Click the Trash icon on the Dock, click the Empty button, and then click OK to empty the trash.
      NOTE:By clicking OK , all items in your trash will be permanently deleted from your computer. To delete one item in the trash, click that item to highlight it, and then click OK .
    I used Apple Software Update
    1. From the computer desktop, double-click the Macintosh HD icon.
    2. Double-click the Library folder.
    3. Double-click the Printers folder.
    4. Right-click the HP folder, and then select Move to Trash .
    5. When prompted, type the Administrator name and Password for the computer, and then click OK . Wait for the authentication to complete.
    6. Double-click the PPDs folder.
    7. Double-click the Contents folder.
    8. Double-click the Resources folder.
    9. Find your printer in the printer list, right-click on your printer, and then select Move to Trash .
    10. When prompted, type the Administrator name and Password for the computer, and then click OK . Wait for the authentication to complete.
    11. Click the Trash icon on the Dock, click the Empty button, and then click OK to empty the trash.
      NOTE:By clicking OK , all items in your trash will be permanently deleted from your computer. To delete one item in the trash, click that item to highlight it, and then click OK .
    12. On the upper-left corner of the desktop, click the Apple icon ( ), and then click System Preferences .
    13. Double-click Print & Fax .
    14. In the Printers list, click your printer, and then click the Minus button ( ) to delete it.

Step two: Install the software

  1. Connect the USB cable to the product and to any USB port on the computer.
  2. The computer automatically detects the product, and then prompts you to install the HP software package with Apple Software Updates.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the software, and add the product to the queue.
HP might provide an update to your printer software after it releases. You can use Apple Software Update at any time to make sure that your drivers and software are up to date. Follow these steps to update the software.
  1. Important : Check the following prerequisites before continuing with the installation:
    • Turn on your HP product, if it is not already on.
    • Turn on your Mac, if it is not already on.
    • Connect the HP product to the Mac with a USB cable.
      OR
    • Make sure that there is an existing print queue for your HP product.
    NOTE:If you get a prompt to download software, click Not Now , and then continue with these instructions.
  2. Click the Apple menu ( ), and then click Software Update . Software Update checks for available updates.
  3. In the Software Update window, if you see an available HP software update, select it and then click Install .
    NOTE: Install all available HP software updates for best product performance and functionality.
  4. When prompted, enter your administrator account name and password.
  5. After the software updates complete, restart the computer (if required).

Experiencing installation errors?

HP Printer Installation
If you experience an error during installation, try the HP Printer Installation website.

    HP Officejet J3640 All-in-One Printer

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