Problem with HP computer/printer

[wagonmaster2]

I have been using an HP C4180 printer with my HP Pavillion dv6000 laptop for a couple of years now. I just carry the laptop to the room where the printer is and plug it in. This has worked fine up until a few months ago when now each time I plug the printer in the computer goes through "loading device, installing," and so on. Not really a bad problem, I just have to sit and wait for this a couple times a month.

What's causing this all at once and can it be avoided, other than leaving the printer plugged in all the time.

Wagonmaster2

[Rodneykrantz]

Maybe try reloading printer software and make sure it is the default printer

[SSteve]

What Rodney said, but uninstall the printer (and all of the associated software) first. Do it in Safe Mode if you can.

Steve

[wagonmaster2]

Each time I plug the printer into the computer, the computer goes through installing the device software (I guess that's what it's doing) and configuring the program but i don't know how to designate it as the default printer. When I click Print it will show the printer C4100 series and next time it will also show C4100 series (copy 1), which then I usually have to click on (copy 1) for it to print. If I don't the print will go to Printer Que and I never know how to make it print from there.

I definitely need a book on printers called "HP Printers for Dummies".

Wagonmaster2

[wagonmaster2]

Just now plugged in the printer and get a message "Each time the device is plugged in Windows automatically installs it". "Configuring your product". "Software installation complete". Didn't used to do this, it would just start printing each time I plugged it into the computer. Now I have a C4100 series (copy 2) which I had to use to make the printer work. When I go back to Start, Printers, it shows I have 3 printers but usually after having the problem at the beginning I go in and delete all printers knowing it's going to start all over again. Not really a big problem, it just takes several minutes each time before I can start printing something.

Wagonmaster2