Vista - HP LaserJet CM1015 MFP re-install will not work

I have been using a HP LaserJet CM1015 MFP on my '07 Dell inspiron 1520 with Windows Vista Home Premium addition since August '07 with absolutely no problems.

A few weeks ago, strange things started to happen. First, I received a message about the computer not being able to find the printer. The printer was no longer listed as my default printer for no apparent reason. I fixed this.

The next problem occurred several days later when I plugged in the USB cable. The computer started searching for drivers. This had never happened before. I got the computer to stop doing that and the printer would still print.

Then when I went to scan something, I recieved an error message saying that the computer and scanner could not find each other/communicate with each other.

I decided that it might be best to unistall and then reinstall the printer with all of these strange messages. Oddly, when I went to unistall the printer it seems that some of the software was gone (when I hit custom unistall--nothing was there to choose from). I then went through Add/Remove Programs and uninstalled everything related to the printer.

When I put the installation CD in nothing happened. I then went into the folders and started the installation. Only a few moments into the installation, an error message appears. It says that only an administrator can install the software, but I am listed as the administrator for the computer.

Please help! I am a teacher and I use this printer everyday!! Thank you!

Try right clicking on the setup and run as admin and see if it will install.

I just tried your suggestion, but I get the same error message saying that I need to be an administrator to install the software.

The error message that I am receiving says:

"This software cannot be installed using the 'Run as...' command. The installation cannot continue until this is resolved.

Required Action: Click Cancel to exit this software installation. Log off and then log on as a user with administrator privileges. (contact your system administrator for more information.) if there is no system administrator, have the primary user of this computer install the software. Restart the installation by removing and re-inserting this installation CD."

I don't know if this information helps.

Its saing your not the admin. Have you tried the download from HP's website here's the link just select your vista version and download.

HP Color LaserJet CM1015/CM1017 Multifunction Printer series*-* Download drivers and software - HP Business Support Center

I was not sure which driver to choose, so I picked the first one listed under "Driver--universal print driver." The first time it did not work. The second time I tried it, I chose the USB port option and now the printer will print!! I now have two of the same printer showing up when I open the printers through the control panel, but at least it is working. At least sort of working...

Although it appears that I can print, I can not scan. Since I uninstalled everything in my first attempt to fix my problem, I no longer have the HP solution center on my computer where I used to go to scan documents. I tried doing it from the printer itself, but the printer screen says "not connected to PC."

Thank you sooooo much for getting the print function working. This is a huge help. Do you have any suggestions for the scanner??

Its on the same page on the very bottom.

I re-installed the software from the HP website. The software seemed to install successfully. The printing function works fine.

There is one catch. Unlike when I installed the software a year ago from the CD, this installation did not put the "HP solution Center" on my desktop. I cannot find the solution center anywhere. This is what I always used to scan documents.

Now when I go to the printer and attempt to scan I get the message "There is no TWAIN-compliant device installed. Please install one and try again."

This seems to be a major improvement in the fact that the scanner and PC recognize each other, but if I am understanding this correctly, my computer doesn't have any software to open/save what I scan.

Is there a way to get the "HP Solution Center" (I tried installing from the website a second time, but it tells me I already have the software and gets stuck for awhile and then turns off) OR is there a free program I can download that will allow me to scan.

Thanks for all of your help and patience!!

See if you can use Windows Photo Gallery to scan cause that replace the Windows Fax and Scan

I tried Windows Photo Gallery, but it does not recognize my printer. When I go to "File" and then "import from camera or scanner" my printer does not appear. I continue to get the "TWAIN" message on my printer. Any other suggestions??

Thank you!