How to install printer driver manually using its basic driver on Windows

In this article, we are going to explain how to install printer driver manually in Windows 10. Sometimes the printer doesn’t get installed properly through automatic driver installation. For example, you have added the printer and tried to install it through the installation file, but you are getting an error message “The destination driver file is not found“.

This usually happens if you disable the installation file at the time that you have connected the printer to your computer. You can still install the drivers manually.

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How to install printer manually on a computer using basic INF driver

Steps to Install Printer Driver Manually

To install the printer driver manually on a computer, it must require a basic driver (INF driver). So first download the basic driver and then see how to install it manually. These steps can be applied on Windows 10, 8, 8.1, 7 as well.

Step 1: Download the Basic Driver (INF Driver)

Download the basic driver from www.freeprintersupport.com/hp/. In this tutorial, we are going to install Canon LBP 2900 printer on Windows 10 computer. Please download the basic driver (INF driver) from the link below: https://www.infdriver.com/download/canon/canon-lbp-2900/canon-lbp-2900-basic-driver.zip

download the basic driver

Step 2: Extract the Basic Driver from the Zip file

Right-click on the downloaded zip file and click on “extract to canon-lbp-2900-basic-driver

extract the basic driver

Here is the extracted folder

basic driver extracted folder

In the extracted folder you’ll get the .INF file that is required for manual installation.

inf driver file

Step 3: Install the basic driver manually

Steps:

  1. First, right-click on My computer and go to “Manage“.
    manage to open device manager
  2. Then click on “Device Manager“.
    click on device manager
  3. Now you will see several options on the right hand side, click on “Other devices“.
  4. You will find the printer here, right-click on your printer name and click on “Update Driver Software
  5. Now click on “Browse my computer for driver software
  6. Now click on “Let me pick from the list of device drivers on my computer“.
  7. Now you will see a list of devices on the screen, just press “P” and then select “Printer” and click Next.
  8. Now click on “Have Disk…
  9. Then click on Browse.
  10. Now locate the printer basic driver that we have extracted in step 2. Here, look forward to the .INF file name. For this particular printer, select CNAB4STK.INF file and click on open.
  11. Then select your printer model number from the list of drivers in this window. Then click on Next.
    install-printer-manually
  12. Type the printer name you want to set and click on Next.
    install-printer-manually-2
  13. Please wait while installing it manually.
    install-printer-manually-3
  14. Choose the option “Don’t not share the printer” and then click on Next.
    install-printer-manually-4
  15. Finally, click on Finish.
    install-printer-manually-5
  16. The printer driver has been installed using its basic driver INF driver.
    basic driver successfully installed
  17. That’s it.

Video:

If you have any query about downloading and installing basic drivers manually then let us know in the comments section down below.


FAQ

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Q: I have installed windows 7 64 bit. I have HP Laserjet 1320n I am unable to download 64 bit driver for the said printer. I have 32 bit driver which is not installing. Plz send me link of 64 bit driver.

A: The basic driver is only available for the 64bit Operating system. Please follow the instructions below.

  1. Download and install the Dot4 Driver.
  2. Download the basic inf driver.
  3. Install the downloaded basic driver like this. Note: While you are installing its basic driver, make sure you select the USB_Dot4 port, when it is asking to select the port.

If you have any doubts regarding the steps, please let me know.

Q: For Lenevo laptop, can I use this driver hp 1018?

A: Yes, you can use for your Lenovo laptop. We recommend you to use the HP 1018 basic driver and then follow the above given manual installation guide.

57 thoughts on “How to install printer driver manually using its basic driver on Windows”

  1. Hello,
    I am trying to install HP 1018 on my lenovo Thinkcentre (mini pc) without success.
    The problem is that after decompression of the zip files I don’t find the .inf file.
    Could you give me helping?
    Best. Giovanni

    1. I have double-checked the “.inf” file in the zip format. I have found the .inf file named as “HPLJ1020.INF”. We suggest you to download the driver from this link and then follow the video tutorial instructions carefully.

  2. I am trying to install Hp 1022 on my Hp Laptop but i cant find the printer name on my file please can you give me a helping hand

  3. I can’tinstall hp laserJet 1010.

    Herei klic add printer. But it shows no devices found. So i couldn’t follow all of these that u share..

    1. You should click on “The printer that I want isn’t listed” link to get further options. Please see the below screenshot.

    1. Sure, we’ll help you to find HP 2700 printer driver. Could you please confirm the model number please? Is it HP Deskjet 2700 or HP Laserjet 2700 model number?

    1. You have submitted a driver request for a printer driver on this page https://www.freeprinterdriverdownload.org/driver-request/.

      There are two options to install it:

      1) Download hp deskjet 2700 priter’s full feature driver from here: https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software13/printers/DJ2700/HPEasyStart-11.5.18-DJ2700_51.2.4771_3_Full_Webpack.exe and install it by double-clicking on the downloaded installer file.

      2) If option 1 doesn’t work for you, then you may install it manually by using its basic driver.

  4. i have HP LaserJet 1320 series printer but I do not have the driver so i had wanted to install the driver from the net but i could not find, can you help me on this? thanks

  5. Good morning … I have a HP LaserJet 1100 printer I managed to make it work on Windows 10 64 bytes … Pero This printer has a scanner but Windows. 10 Does not see …. There is a driver for this scanner

  6. Winfried Zeller

    Hello,
    i have for installed my HP Laserjet 1010 / windows 10 as described for 2 Weeks – it works!!

    Last weekend, Microsoft made (unexpected) the update version 1803 (Systembuild 17134.1345) -> now, the Printer doesn´t work anymore!!

    The described method to install cannot be used.

    What can I do?

    Thanks for your help

    Winfried

    1. I’m sorry to say but only 32bit drivers are available for this printer. Installing it on 64bit is not possible as of now.

  7. Hello Admin, I have Hp LaserJet 1000, I saw you suggested to use alternate driver for this i.e. 3015. While installing driver 3015, it asked me to select printer name but there is no option for Hp1000 so I have selected Hp 3015. Then it installed and now showing Hp 3015 in device manager. But still it is not sending any command to the printer.

  8. How do i install hp deskjet 2338 driver in my window 7 32bit ?but i have not net framework 4.6 .I try it but failure it.

    1. If the .NET installer doesn’t work, then you’ll have to install the printer manually on your computer using HP deskjet 2330 series basic driver.

      The HP deskjet 2330 printer is the primary series (parent) of HP deskjet 2338 printer. All the printers in this series use the primary series driver. Eventually, the HP deskjet 2330 driver will work flawlessly with the HP deskjet 2338 printer, as all the child-printers have the same card (motherboard) that is in the primary series printer.

  9. Having issues with a HP Designjet 500 model no# C7770B, had to replace hard drive in computer and can’t seem to re install print driver. Tried downloading and installing HP 500ps and 510 drivers to no avail. None of the drivers are just plain (Designjet 500)This older computer is running Windows XP x64 and I also tried reconnecting on my laptop with Windows 10. Could get neither to run the plotter. it has USB to printer connection.

    1. Don’t get confused with HP DesignJet 500 and HP DesignJet 510. Actually, the HP 510, 512, 514 printers are the derivative products of the HP 500 printer (main series printer). There are little differences between them, but their motherboards (cards) are the same. That’s why all its derivative printers use their main series drivers. Hence, the HP 500 driver will work flawlessly on the HP 510 printer.

      Here is the plain HP designjet 500 driver for 24inch and 42 inches, try the following drivers but you’ll have to install it manually.
      Download link 32bit: https://download.freeprintersupport.com/downloads/hp/hp-designjet-500/hp-designjet-500-basic-driver-32bit.zip
      Download link 64bit: https://download.freeprintersupport.com/downloads/hp/hp-designjet-500/hp-designjet-500-basic-driver-64bit.zip
      Here’s a guide to learn how to install a printer driver manually using its basic driver. https://www.freeprintersupport.com/how-to-install-a-printer-driver-manually-through-usb-add-a-printer-method/

    1. Could you please give more details about the problem that you are facing so that we can better understand the problem and give my opinion on that.

    1. Uninstall the “USB printing support” from the device manager and reboot the computer, it will be fixed. Do let me know if this trick doesn’t work for you.

    1. Here’s the basic driver of HP deskjet 2336: Basic Printer Driver / Basic Scanner Driver.
      Install it as HP Deskjet 2300 printer. Don’t get confused between the HP Deskjet 2336 & HP Deskjet 2300 model number. HP deskjet 2336 printer is a derivative product of HP deskjet 2300 series model number, so both are using the same motherboard and eventually using the main series (HP 2300) drivers.

    1. Have you seen the video tutorial which is provided in this page above? If you face any problem, please explain it to me here. I’ll help you out.

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