HP Printer Driver Fatal Error During Installation [How to Fix]

This article will guide you on how to fix the HP printer driver fatal error during installation within minutes.

Causes of the HP Printer Driver Fatal Error During Installation

The HP printer driver fatal error during installation occurs when your computer fails to recognize the installed HP printer driver. It commonly happens to HP LaserJet printers.

Solutions to Fix HP Printer Driver Fatal Error During Installation

You can resolve the HP printer driver fatal error during installation by trying the solutions below:

1. Select your HP printer Driver

During the installation of the software, when you get a prompt to connect a USB cable, select your printer driver manually using Device Manager.

How to Select your Printer Driver Manually Using Device Manager

The steps below will guide you on how to select your printer driver manually using the Device Manager to fix the HP printer driver fatal error during installation:

Step 1: Press the Windows key on your keyboard.

Step 2: Click on “Control Panel”

Step 3: Click on “System and Maintenance”.

Step 4: Click on “Device Manager”.

Step 5: Click on “View”.

Step 6: Choose “Show hidden devices” from the drop-down menu. This action will cause a list to be displayed.

Step 7: Click on the “+” plus sign. This will cause the listing to be expanded.

Step 8: Right-click on “HP Universal printing PCL_5” (It could also be “PCL_6” instead of “PCL_5” according to the version).

Step 9: Click on “Update Driver Software”.

Step 10: Next, click on “Browse my computer for driver software”.

Step 11: Click on “Let me pick from a list of drivers on my computer”.

Step 12: Choose your HP printer from the listed drivers.

Step 13: Click on “Next” which will begin the installation process of the driver.

Note: Ensure that on the screen for the “Add Printer Wizard” you don’t choose the Universal Printer Driver. Ensure that you choose the exact printer driver you want to install.

Step 14: Once the driver has been successfully installed, click on “Close”.  The window for “Update Driver Software” will then close leaving the main installer window as the driver installation automatically continues.

Step 15: Click on “Finish” once the software has been successfully installed.

After doing the above, check if the HP printer driver fatal error during installation is resolved.

If the error persists, try the solution below.

In this article: HP Printer Errors and Solutions [Detailed], we provide you with solutions to a wide range of HP printer errors.

2. Uninstall and then Reinstall your HP Printer

Uninstalling your HP printer software from your computer might fix the HP printer driver fatal error during installation.

To do this, all you need to do is locate your HP printer program in your computer’s “Program and Features”. Once you find it, right-click on the printer to uninstall it.

Now, go to the HP official website and download the software for your HP printer on your computer. Once the download is complete, install the software on your computer.

After doing the above, check if the HP printer driver fatal error during installation is resolved.

If the error persists, try the solution below.

3. Get Rid of Trapped Entries

This solution requires that you eliminate all the entries of your HP printer that are trapped in the Windows Registry as well as the system data. To carry out this process, you need the HP Software Program Removal Utility.

Note: You should use HP Specialized assistance if you don’t know how to go about the process.

How to Get Rid of Trapped Entries

To get rid of trapped entries to fix the HP printer driver fatal error during installation, do the steps below:

Step 1: Download the HP Software Program Removal Utility.

Note: This program works only for Windows 2000 and XP.

Step 2: Install the Utility application on your Windows computer.

Step 3: Download the Officejet Removal Utility.

Note: This program works for Windows Vista, 2000, and XP.

Step 4: Install the Utility application on your Windows computer.

Step 5: Turn off your HP printer.

Step 6: Disconnect your HP printer from your computer.

Step 7: Run any of the utilities you installed above and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Note: The utility program has to be run 4 times. This is necessary to ensure that all the removal degrees are completed.

Step 8: Reboot your system after running the Utility.

After doing the above, check if the HP printer driver fatal error during installation is resolved.

If the error persists, try the solution below.

4. Update the Windows Installer

Windows 2003, 2000, Vista, and XP are not designed with the most up-to-date Windows installer. Therefore, you need to update the Windows Installer.

Note: If your computer runs on Windows 7, you don’t have to do the steps below.

How to Update Windows Installer

To update Windows Installer on Windows 2003, 2000, Vista, and XP, do the steps below:

Step 1: Click on the Windows “Start” icon.

Step 2: Click on “Run”.

Step 3: Type “msiexec.exe”.

Step 4: Press “Enter” on your keyboard.

This action will open a window showing the Windows Installer as well as its edition.

Step 5: If the Windows Installer is not up to date, then you need to download the most recent version from Microsoft.

Step 6: After you have downloaded the current version which is Windows Installer 4.5, install it on your computer.

After doing the above, check if the HP printer driver fatal error during installation is resolved.

If the error persists, try the solution below.

5. Delete the Temporary Files on your Windows Computer

How to Delete the Temporary Files on your Windows Computer

To delete the temporary files on your Windows computer, do the steps below:

Step 1: Open the “Run” application.

Step 2: Type “%temp%” in the box.

Step 3: Press “Enter” on your keyboard.

Step 4: Delete all the temporary files in the %temp% folder.

Step 5: The files in this path “C:\Windows\temp folder” must be emptied.

After doing the above, check if the HP printer driver fatal error during installation is resolved.

If the error persists, then you need to contact HP Customer Support for further assistance or a reliable technician if your printer is no longer under warranty.