I have been having printing problems with Windows Vista communicating with my HP Deskjet 460c (mobile printer) for the past 2 years. This printer was made for the older operating systems like XP etc. At first it worked but then the plug and play was not working to load the driver. The computer recognized every other plug and play except the printer, and my printer worked with every other laptop and operating system except my Windows Vista. I called HP and the technician said there was no fix or updates available and I needed to purchase a new HP printer.

This problem happened two years ago and I finally fixed the communication problem today... September 1 2011. Throughout the years I tried everything including system recovery, uninstalling and reinstallinig printer, upgrades, and windows updates. Nothing worked... I always got an error message on the printer and then when I used the starter CD that came with the printer to install the driver, I would get a message that said I needed an "internet explorer 5 or later" which made no sense because at first I was using IE6, then upgraded to IE7, now I have IE8.

Let me get to the steps I tried this morning that might have aided with the end of my printer problems. If you are as desperate as I was to get my $300.00 printer to work then you can try what I tried. It worked for me! 

1. I did all my windows updates (tested printer, but did not work)

2. Restarted computer (tested printer, but did not work)

3. I looked at the manual online for resetting the printer and resetted it (tested printer, but did not work)

4. Downloaded the toolbox and HP diagnostic Utility (tested printer, but did not work)

5. Deleted printer and added it back and changed port from LPT1 to USB port. (tested printer, but did not work)

6. Used the Microsoft Fix It to diagnose the problem. It said it could not fix the problem. (tested it but did not work)

7. I had another newer HP printer listed which worked perfectly, so I deleted the other printer and only had the one problem printer installed. I thought it might have cause a conflict with the other printer. I DID NOT test to see if printer worked.

7. Then I decided to change browsers and used my other free browser "Opera", then I fully downloaded Microsoft Fix It Center with my Windows Live ID account. That gave me an opportunity to fix all other conflicts on my compuer. I went down all the conflicts and fix them one by one including printer problem. USB problems, Hardware problem, and windows startup programs, etc.

8. Restarted the computer ( I then tested the printer and IT WAS FIXED)

Since then I have printed multiple documents on the printer and I have no problems. It works perfectly. I am not sure exactly what made the printer finally work after 2 years, but if you asked me I think there might have been conflicts with some of my programs including the other printer I had installed.

My advice would be to start downloading windows updates, then Microsoft Fix It Center and run and fix all the things that it list wrong with your computer. Hope it helps.

GOOD LUCK!!