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"the selected port is unknown" when installing USB printer

I qas having a problem using print preview in Raisers Edge so I deleted the printers and used cleanspl.exe to fix the problem. But now I am having an isue reinstalling the local USB connected printer. When I try to reinstall it it gives me the error "the selected port is unknown". I tried right clicking USBprint.inf and selected install but I still get the same error. Any insight?

SysExpert

1) Uninstall all the printer drivers and remove any from the Device manager. Disconnect USB cable

2) Download the newest ones.

3) download any printer driver cleanup ( HP especailly )

4) Reboot and reinstall printer drivers with Pritner NOT connected !!!

I hope this helps !

Mshine

Did you disconnect the printer from the PC when you tried to reinstall the
device? I think you are supposed to install the USB drivers, BEFORE you
actually connect the USB device that uses the drivers. Just a thought..

m_m_cooper

ASKER

I left the printer turned off until the software tells me to connect the printer then I turn the printer on. It starts to install the drivers then I get the error "selected port unknown". I am going to try the newest driver off HP. I don't see any cleanup software on their site so I am not going to worry about that.

nobus

any errors in device manager?
are the usb ports working for other devices? (ram sticks, disk)

m_m_cooper

ASKER

The USB Keyboard and Mouse work. I tried a different printer using the USB port and I got the same error "The specified port is unknown". I think it has something to do with that cleanspl utility I used to delete the printers. is there any way to rebuild or reinstall XP's USB printing support?

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Mshine

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nobus

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m_m_cooper

ASKER

FIXED IT!! Here is what I found...the clean spooler utility I used to fix the spooler problem (part of Windows Resource Kit) removed the USB Monitor registry key. To fix:
Run regedit. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/System/CurrentControlSet/Control/Print/Monitors. Look for a USB Monitor entry. Before doing anything else, backup the registry entry by right clicking on "Monitors" and selecting "Export". Give it a name and locaction so that you can put it back if you have problems later. If "USB Monitor" is not there, add it by right-clicking on Monitors, New, Key. Name the new key "USB Monitor". Once added, right click on the new key and select New, String Value. Name the new value "Driver". In the right portion of regedit, right click on the new "Driver" value and select "Modify". Make the value data "usbmon.dll". If there is an "HPUMON" entry (or the like), delete it. Disconnect the USB cable to the printer. Run the "scrubber" or clean utility, reboot the machine. Reconnect the printer and install the driver software per manufacturer instuction. This fixed my problem. Good luck!

SysExpert

Great.
That is why I mentioned a Driver cleanup may be needed. HP has utils that do this automatically for some sets of printers.

nobus

i have a good one too, but since one was mentioned . . .

MountainTechGuy

Cooper, this is just brillant.. Thank you again! The accepted solution and assist are way off though, and dont have anything to do with the resolvion you described.

I had the exact same problem,. I hadused the cleanspl.exe to repair another problem, and then when I went to install an HP MFC Laserjet I recieved the specififed port is unknown error. No matter what I did, new hardware, new cables, driver removals, on and on, no solution. But this worked like a charm! Thanks again!!!!!!

&quot;the selected port is unknown&quot; when installing USB printer

"the selected port is unknown" when installing USB printer