Here's some info from fixya.com. It follows along with owbist's suggestion. "Create a new folder on your desktop and name it newhpdrivers(substitute your manufacturer in new name). Un-intall printer and printer software completely. Go to manufacturers website and navigate to their drivers/downloads or support menu. Select your model, choose the relevant software and download to the new folder you created on your desktop. Power down your computer. Reconnect the printer to the computer and turn printer on. Power on pc. Windows will detect new hardware and ask if you have the manufacturers install cd or a location to check for install files. Direct the wizard to your new software, follow the rest of the setup instructions and your (you are?) done."

There is probably other stuff you don't need as well, here is a program that will remove some unneeded software that comes preloaded on new machines I would start with it. After I would go into the add/remove programs and remove hp printer software Items your not going to need them, if down the road you change to hp printer you only need the driver you can get that at the hp site. Yes there may be one other Item running at start up for hp updates not printer related and you do not need that either, that file is probably in the start up folder called hp something we would need to investigate or just tell us what is in the start up folder. What operating system is installed Vista or xp? Also a (trial version) Anti Virus is probably installed could you tell us what that is? it would be listed in add/remove programs, and that will be asking for money in about 30 days and it's probably Norton or Mcaffee we could offer a free one if you wanted. Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/download

terrapots, You asked "Can you run other devices through the same USB port," -- Yes. "or can you connect through a parallel port or serial port?" -- Don't have either. (The printer originally went through a parallel port; had to get a "conversion" plug to connect to USB on this computer.) "sounds like something in the printer is dead or a bad contact." -- That's what I figured. But I wanted opinions from this forum because I've received help here previously.

Have you looked in the Event Viewer at Error logs ? Might look in Services and if the spooler is Started, Stop it, or temporarly Disable, and maybe also the items that depend on an active spooler, like TCP/ip PrintServer and maybe other services too. Maybe. If you cross your fingers & hold your head just right - after a reboot, hopefull you would be able to uninstall.