Friday, July 01, 2011

Windows 7 Printer Driver Installation Error 0x00000057

*Update - we are seeing this issue less these days.  Are many of you still having this issue?  If so, please describe for me in the comments section so I can see if I can recreate the pattern or if I can come up with a better solution.  Or email me.

We are seeing this error when attempting to install printers (drivers) on new Windows 7 builds. The simplest solution I have found is reboot the computer and log on with a different administrative account. Often then the printer driver can be installed without getting the error.

Here's another thing I have found. Running procmon during the installation shows 'access denied' on C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\infpub.dat. Try editing the security on this file and add the local Administrators to it, will full control. After doing this I've had success getting printer drivers to install that would give the error 0x00000057. Note - it may be necessary to change the security on all of the .dat files in the DriverStore folder to get the driver to install. Here's a script that will change the security on all the files for you.

*****Note***** - This problem is not limited to printer drivers.  Also, if you use my script, as ridiculous as it sounds, you have to be quick.  Get everything ready to perform the driver install, run the script, and then run the install, as quickly as possible after running the script.  You are racing against windows resetting the permissions.

Also, I have noticed after changing the permissions on the files Windows will change them back, removing what you have added.

If you need help on changing the permissions on the file maybe these will help:

Change permissions on C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\infpub.dat to include Administrators with Full Control.

Browse to C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore
Right click the file infpub.dat
Choose Properties
Click Security Tab
Click Edit Button
Click Add Button
Click Locations button and choose the local computer account (should be first item in list)
In the box type: Administrators
Click Check Names – this should come back underlined
Click Ok
With Administrators highlighted, put a checkmark in the checkbox next to Full Control
Click Ok
Click Ok
Retry installing the printer driver.

13 comments:

tobias said...

I hope this helps people with this annoying problem.

Kelly said...

This appears to be the problem for me. After following your instructions, it doesn't seem to work. The permissions keep getting changed back. Any other tips?

tobias said...

Kelly, the only other thing I have found to work is log on with a different profile. Try with a different profile. I hope it works.

Anonymous said...

I opened the dialog window on the old HP Deskjet printer installed on my new Windows 7 machine; selected ports; scrolled down & checked USB001. The printer immediately printed the test page. Changing the default port to USB001 was the answer.

Unknown said...

Thanks for this post, i will try that.

pabloadp said...

Thank you very much! I've been all day trying to make work a new printer (Samsung ML-2165W). I tried your script first with no success, but then I set the full control to infpub.dat and work OK! Sorry for comment in an old post, but I want to thank you!

Sammi said...

Thank you SOOOO much it helped me with my problem! I tried everything prior to. I wish I just listened to you first!

Printer Support said...

Thanks for sharing information .This is very helpful.

Anonymous said...

this is awesome! I have been tearing my hair out for days. thank you!!!!

Anonymous said...

renaming the file worked!

Anonymous said...

04-16-2016 1:56pm mountain. After so much time the above instructions worked for me. It was a needle in a hay stack to me. Thank you so much.

Anonymous said...

Thank you anonymous for the hot tip. I renamed infpub.dat and tried connecting to a networked HP printer again. Success! I tried a lot of things prior to that without success so maybe this is the first thing to try.

abb said...

great writing

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