Here's where I stand. I followed Hugh's advice. I deleted the System Restore points. For some reason, that was enough to let me delete both printers, and I was then able to uninstall various HP printer files in CPL Add or Remove Programs. It would not uninstall all of the files. I restarted the computer and set a new restore point (Clint, I didn't forget Erunt, but I didn't install it yet). I then re-installed the software. It takes FOREVER to install! The fax setup remembered my previous settings. The fax setup test passed, and the device printed out a report. I clicked on Start Using the Device.. I received the following error message from the Solution Center: "Parsing error in the c:\Program Files\HP\digital imaging\bin\hpqscloc\1033.xml." I clicked OK. The next screen was entirely blank. There wasn't even a title in the blue bar on top. Another screen came up: "HP OfficeJet 5600 series ?????????????." Those question marks are probably there because my Windows uses a non-Latin alphabet. This message came back repeatedly. I tested the printer. It works. The HP Photosmart Essentials icon does not respond. I tried to test the scanner. Several icons were installed, but none of them seemed to activate the scanner. I clicked on Scan on the device itself, and received the following error message: "An unexpected internal error has occurred. Click OK to close the program, and then try one of the following: - Restart the program and then try again. - Reinstall the photo and imaging software and try again." Well, that doesn't look good. I'm not going to try any more things until I consult with you guys. David Grossman > > David Grossman wrote: > > At what point do you stop fighting Windows and just re-install > the system? > > > > I had a nice XP system on a Celeron computer with 256 MB > memory. I installed > > a cheapo HP 2180 all-in-one scanner-printer, and it worked > beautifully. I > > subsequently installed a cheapo HP5610 all-in-one > fax-scanner-printer, and > > the installation failed, apparently because of conflicts with > the 2180. I > > could not completely uninstall the 2180 printer from the computer, and I > > couldn't delete the 5610 driver. The 5610 and the 2180 drivers were > > apparently inextricably intertwined. I tried System Restore, > going back one > > date at a time, as far as it would go. It didn't help. (Doesn't System > > Restore also undo printer drivers?) > > > > Now I can't use System Restore any more for any date at all. It > won't let me > > put back the system the way it was. My printer drivers are a mess. I'm > > frustrated. > > > > Why can't the 5610 people at HP talk to the 2180 people, who > are probably > > located down the hall from each other? How could two HP products be > > incompatible with each other? > > > > Everything else on the computer, such as MS Office and Adobe > Acrobat, seem > > to work OK. I do not have an Internet connection on that computer. > > > > I'm about to re-install Windows, but before I do that, I'd like > to consult > > with you. Would CCleaner help, or would it do more damage? Is > there anything > > else that might work? > > > > What would happen if I would delete the Registry? Would it > re-create itself > > in a vanilla version the next time I start up the computer? > Could it cause > > even more damage? > > > > Are there any other things I could try before re-installing Windows? > > > > David Grossman No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.6.0/1602 - Release Date: 8/9/2008 1:22 PM ========================= The list's FAQ's can be seen by sending an email to PCWorks-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with FAQ in the subject line. To unsubscribe, subscribe, set Digest or Vacation to on or off, go to //www.freelists.org/list/pcworks . You can also send an email to PCWorks-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with Unsubscribe in the subject line. Your member list settings can be found at //www.freelists.org/cgi-bin/lsg2.cgi/l=pcworks . Once logged in, you have access to numerous other email options. The list archives are located at //www.freelists.org/archives/pcworks/ . All email posted to the list will be placed there in the event anyone needs to look for previous posts. -zxdjhu-