Why does windows10 hate my HP printer?

Whoa ... hold on one minute. What's this "stupid user" business? You're not a stupid user. You're a normal user, and normal users frequently get flummoxed when they have to deal with complicated technology.

The fact is, you don't know whether HP ePrint-JetAdvantage fixed your problem, because you never figured out what the problem was in the first place. Maybe it just fixed the symptoms for now. But I hope it really does fix whatever the problem was.

Here are some ways to help yourself in the future:

1- The more you understand, the more you are in control. Learn as much as you can about how technology works. It's tempting to blame everything on Microsoft, but Microsoft isn't responsible for everything. (That's obvious by reading through the posts here.) Technology never was, and never will be, 'follow these 3 E-Z steps and it works."

2- Do not make any changes to your computer, even small ones, unless you are sure you understand what you are doing and how this may affect your computer down the road. Updates to Windows are created to work on a copy of Windows that is being operated according to Microsoft's design.

Now, maybe you don't like the way Microsoft designed Windows to work. Maybe you're like me ... I think that much of Windows is st-o-o-pid. But that makes no difference, because software code does what it's programmed to do, regardless of what I think. So the way to proceed is to run Windows by the book - and then learn how to make the book work for you!

3- Backup. Backup every day. A third-party backup program makes this easy. When you have a backup, you need never worry about losing your personal information, or having to reinstall Windows again, no matter what happens. Now that's piece of mind.

Let's work through this, step by step:

First windows10 dropped my HP printer connection and always at the most frustrating moments. 

Actually, Windows 10 is not able to drop your printer connection, even if it wanted to, because Windows doesn't control your local network. Your local network is created and managed by your router. The connection between your PC and your printer actually goes between your router and the network adapters inside your PC and your printer, none of which are under the control of Windows.

HP finally gave us troubleshooter to fix this when it happens, a complete waste of time to have to go thru this process, but at least it fixes the problem.

That's an indication that the problem likely originates with your printer. HP has no ability to 'fix' Windows, but it does have the ability to write the driver software that acts as the go-between from your printer to Windows. And only HP can write drivers for their printers.

Now Windows10 has removed my color tab in my printing preferences and changed it to Color management which is useless

Now my printer is stuck in grayscale with no way to change it back to color.

This is another indication that the problem likely originates with your printer. Your printer's preferences, including whether it prints in color or in grayscale, are part of HP's printer driver, which only HP can write. Microsoft can't do this. For its part, Microsoft's role is limited to offering a uniform interface that printer manufacturers can use to display the choices offered by their driver. In fact, many printer manufacturers take advantage of Microsoft's interface, because it saves them the trouble of writing their own. But the actual functioning of the printer comes from HP, in this case, and not from Microsoft.

Anyone have a fix for this?

It seems that you may have two separate problems here:

1- your network connection to your printer; and

2- HP's driver.

The second problem is much easier to fix. The first problem - involving the network connection - is also fix-able, but can be tedious to resolve, because there are so many things that can go wrong with a network connection, none of which include Windows. So let's start with the second problem first. I always like to start with the low-hanging fruit.

You haven't told us which model of printer you have, so we can't check whether HP supports your printer on Windows 10, but you can. On HP's website, you can find out whether HP has written a Windows 10 driver for your printer. That's the driver you want, and you need to install that driver by following HP's instructions like a fanatic. Then you should re-install the printer from scratch, with an equally fanatical devotion to HP's instructions.

If HP doesn't have a Windows 10 driver for your printer, that means HP doesn't support it on Windows 10. Without manufacturer support, things can and frequently do go wrong. In that case, while there may be tricks or techniques that can solve whatever problems temporarily, ultimately there are no solutions.

Before starting the tedious troubleshooting needed for your printer's network connection, perhaps I can interest you in a procedure that could work around the issue? What I'll suggest is that you assign a reserved IP address to your printer. Many people call this a fixed IP address, but the technically correct term is a reserved IP address. In English, that means that your router always knows where to find your printer, instead of having to go look for it every time you want to print. Just let me know if you're game.

One last thing, just saying, I don't participate in the silly ratings competition that goes on here, so I have no personal stake in whether you follow my ideas or not. That's totally up to you. I enjoy providing the information to whomever is out there that might benefit by it.

Hi Greg

Thanks for your quick answer. I was only able to get to step 2 - uninstall printer software.  Step 3 uninstall old drivers, I was not able to accomplish as I don't know if I am signed in a Admin, there is only one user on this computer that is me, and if I sign off I can't do anything else.  I tried to follow your link re users and user accounts but apparently I am not the administrator so am unable to change anything.  After an hour of bumbling around I was able to reinstall the software, thru a combination of the HP print Dr (windows doctor was not able to help at all) and using the cd install disc (I did choose the option to go online for the latest version) I am now set up for some kind of "jet eprint" and am printing in color again

Am I wrong to expect my equipment to just work and not have to set up my devices repeatedly at any random moment MS decides to "improve my system" by throwing out a "immature app"  Causing me hours of frustration as what I knew how to do yesterday is not the same as today.

I apologize for complaining, I do appreciate your help, I am just a very frustrated stupid user

Gina

Hi Gina. I'm Greg, an installation specialist, 10 years awarded Windows MVP, and Volunteer Moderator, here to help you.

I would Clean Install the printer which always works, lasts longer and actually saves time. Windows still needs the full feature software to properly run all the features of a printer/scanner, the new apps are not mature enough to be fully reliable. Follow these steps:

1. Power up the printer, if wired unplug it's USB cable from PC.
2. Go to Settings>Apps>Apps and Features to find and Uninstall any printer software.
3. Use one of these methods to remove all of the old printer drivers:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/101274-unin...

https://helpdeskgeek.com/how-to/remove-uninstal...

4. Now type Control Panel in Start Search, open CP, choose Icon View. In Control Panel open Devices and Printers, right click printer to delete Printer and any scanner or fax of the same name. Restart PC.
5. Go to the HP Support Downloads webpage http://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers to download and install the latest full software package. Now is also the time to check for any newer printer firmware to install which matters a lot.
6. Extract Printer software, right click Setup file to Run as Administrator. Follow the setup screens closely as you install the software. For USB it should prompt when to plug in the printer.

Older software may need to be installed in Compatibility Mode to run correctly:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-install-non-...

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-install-olde...

If you have further problems reply back with results of each step.

Once it's installed and you've run a test print, then scanned it to see that it opens on the desktop, open the Printer software and go into its Settings to set the scan-to file location you prefer, also the email app you want opened for Scan to Email, if applicable.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. If you will wait to rate my post until we are done, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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Not all older printers are compatible with Windows 10. It would help to know what exact model HP printer you have. The fix might be just buying a new all in one printer. Printers are cheap. The profit comes from the ink.