[NickDMax]

Ok, I have a nice HP 5740 printer... I like it.

...BUT...

Each time I plug it in the computer thinks that it is "new" and exciting and wants to reload the entire driver suit. It is really annoying.

Now it is not like this is just one computer. I regularly plug this printer into three computers (which is actually strange since it is installed as a network device and only really needs to be plugged into my main PC).

The other big problem is that to get the VM's to use the printer I have to "connect" it to them, which means that when I put it back the host OS has found a new device and has to try to reinstall the driver.

If I try to just cancel out of things the computer bitches at me over and ove about this new device I am not doing anything about.

course I can USE the printer... the current drivers work, the computer's che is just all screwed up.

Normally when crazy things like this happen (like my computer just thinking I installed a new graphics card out of the blue) I just point the installer to the current drivers and drive on... but this one wants to install a software suit with the scanner and fax and HP studio and on and on... whole process takes like 5 min.

The thing is, this is a common USB problem. Although never quite so irritating as my printer, this happens with my external HD from time to time (though it will figure that one out if you let it ruminate for a bit). Flash drives do it sometimes, my stupid USB audio card does it too.

Is there any hope... can a computer remember a USB device? Why does this occur? What can be done? Does my mother really love me? Is there a god? Why do Oranges naturally break up into bite sized sections?

......I hate my printer......

[ferrari12508]

I can only answer your final question...it will be revealed to you in time young grasshopper. for now just practice your fighting. Wax on, Wax off. HOY!

You could get a usb splitter. It works just like a hub but backwards. Instead of giving and extra 7 USB ports, it takes an item in one and plugs into 2-4different machines at once, so they can all use the printer and be directly connected.

http://www.byterunne...+Share+Switches

This post has been edited by ferrari12508: 21 April 2008 - 03:28 PM

[no2pencil]

Have you installed hardware with the current user (that you are logged in with) before? What would happen if you installed the device under the admin account?

Plan B:
There should be a setting in the device manager (guessing that this is XP) to not prompt you for this device again.