Win 11 prints to WiFi printer on startup.

Every time I start my Win 11 Pro PC it prints via WiFi a Test Page on my HP M277dw printer.
I have uninstalled ALL HP apps using Settings => Apps => Installed Apps.
There is 1 HP App "HPStatusAlerts" in Settings => Apps => Startup (which is Off), which I cannot delete.
There are no HP Apps in Settings => Apps => Default Apps, or Settings => Apps => Apps for websites.
I have used 'Device Cleanup' to remove all old devices.
I have used 'CCleaner' to get rid of left over bits etc. in the Registry.
Between these operations I have rebooted the PC.
I have been trying to solve this problem for a few days and have a small pile of A4 paper clean on one side.
(I regularly use this printer with another PC, so do not want it turned off).
The PC and all software and firmware are up to date.
On the assumption that the "HPStatusAlerts" in 'Startup' is the culprit even though it is listed as Off,
can anybody suggest a way to delete the ****** thing?

I suggest you start by reinstalling the printer driver, following the instructions exactly. Then if the problem continues, see if anything in this thread helps (similar problem reported from others): Stop Test Page Printing

Thank you Allan - That was quick.
I forgot to mention that I have already tried reinstalling the printer drivers for the specific printer and also a generic one from the official HP sight.
I will of course check the other thread you mention.

Allan, I have actioned the details in the thread you supplied, even holding the ON button for 15 seconds with no power to the printer.
I did find this a bit odd, but presumably there is a button battery inside suppling power to a chip which requires resetting.
Anyway the result was no change in my circumstances except another sheet of paper to my small pile.

In the above mentioned thread, did you try this suggestion?:

it seems to be printing the "alignment" page and not a test page. it's happening since you didnt complete the alignment process. so the next time it prints it, place it on the scanner glass with the face down and press the scan button(or follow the alignment process acc. to your printer model). once it is done, it wont print it again until you install a new cartridge.

Just to clarify:-
The problem was there when both my PCs were both connected to both printers (I also have an HP M201dw).
With so much hassle, whilst trying to run a very small business, I decided to have a target of 1 PC (Win 10) to the B/W printer HP M201dw which is now working fine. So currently I am working on getting the other PC (Win 11) to the colour printer HP M277dw - i.e. this Thread.
Both printers and both PCs were working fine up to (I believe) a windows update of both machines a few days ago.
Since then we have closed down our business on Amazon, so that I can focus on this and also to avoid the Xmas postal problems that occur at this time of the year.
So I believe that the Win 11 update was probably responsible for causing the problem, but was willing to give your suggestion a go.
As the "HPStatusAlerts" in 'Startup' looks to be a likely candidate, I go back to my original question, how do I get rid of it?

Have you tried deleting the program while running the computer in safe mode?

If you believe the Windows Update somehow caused the problem you can try uninstalling that update or using a restore point to go back to before it was installed. Do you have a backup regimen using disk imaging? If not, you really should.

Also, I meant to mention earlier that while ccleaner is fine if you like it, but please never use the the registry cleaning module (or ANY registry cleaner for that matter). At best the are benign. At worst, they can cause major problems.

As for deleting that file, do a search for it on your system (though it may be here: C:\ Program Files (x86)\ HP\ StatusAlerts\ bin\ HPStatusAlerts.exe). Then you can delete it. If it won't delete, use a tool such as unlocker (IObit Unlocker, Solution for "undelete files or folders" Problems on Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, 10 - IObit) to delete on next boot.

After further analysis:-
I have 'bitten the bullet' and directly through explorer DELETED the folder HP in 'C:\Program Files (x86)', which held a whole lot of folders and files, including one folder called HPStatusAlerts. This is a method, I feel slightly unhappy about, as other links to items in this folder MAY exist.
However I now want to be ensure the PC is completely clear of an HP reference at all, before installing the latest software for the printer.
I will let you know how it goes.

I don't know what folder you deleted, but I'm hoping it contained only files related to the printer. You need only have deleted the file in question.

allan said:

I don't know what folder you deleted, but I'm hoping it contained only files related to the printer. You need only have deleted the file in question.

Click to expand...

This PC Win 11 that I am using for this discussion DOES NOT have any connection with HP products/software except for printers via WiFi so I felt pretty certain that it would be okay. My other Win 11 is a whole different 'kettle of fish' (I have 3 PCs in total that I use) as it is only a few weeks old and is an HP All-In-One , which comes with all sorts of crap on it - free this, trial that etc. ALL WORTHLESS TO ME.

allan said:

If you believe the Windows Update somehow caused the problem you can try uninstalling that update or using a restore point to go back to before it was installed. Do you have a backup regimen using disk imaging? If not, you really should.

Also, I meant to mention earlier that while ccleaner is fine if you like it, but please never use the the registry cleaning module (or ANY registry cleaner for that matter). At best the are benign. At worst, they can cause major problems.

As for deleting that file, do a search for it on your system (though it may be here: C:\ Program Files (x86)\ HP\ StatusAlerts\ bin\ HPStatusAlerts.exe). Then you can delete it. If it won't delete, use a tool such as unlocker (IObit Unlocker, Solution for "undelete files or folders" Problems on Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP, 10 - IObit) to delete on next boot.

Click to expand...

Re "backup regimen using disk imaging" - Never used disk imaging, although I loaded 'Macrium Reflect' on to my old Win 10 PC. but never got round to using it as I found all the instructions and options to confusing and complicated. [Smacks hand on wrist].
I would revisit it if I was given a link to simple instructions.

Re "registry cleaning module" - This is the only part of Ccleaner that I generally use. However as in this instance, I check ever component listed to be sure they relate to the problem in hand (today there were 46 items).

Re "C:\ Program Files (x86)\ HP\ StatusAlerts\ bin\ HPStatusAlerts.exe", our posts crossed and I had deleted "C:\ Program Files (x86)\ HP" completely before I saw this post I am replying to now. It deleted on first try incidentally.

Thank you all (especially Allan) and I will move on to my next outstanding problem on a new thread.

To add to this topic....I am running an HP Deskjet Pro printer but it is connected via ethernet for network printing. I do not have the HPStatusAlerts in Startup that the OP has. I do have "hpwuSchd Application" in Startup but it appears to be for HP software updates.
While looking under Apps > Startup you can view the Folder where the "HPStatusAlerts" is at. And you should also be able to delete anything items in Startup, just not from the Apps > Startup page.

And it looks like you added another post while I was typing this one.

BaJohn said:

Re "backup regimen using disk imaging" - Never used disk imaging, although I loaded 'Macrium Reflect' on to my old Win 10 PC. but never got round to using it as I found all the instructions and options to confusing and complicated. [Smacks hand on wrist].
I would revisit it if I was given a link to simple instructions.

Click to expand...

I'm new to this forum and am a little hesitant to seem presumptuous, but based on your comment about disk imaging I'll post the following, which I originally posted many years ago on another forum, in the hope you find it helpful. I've updated it a few times over the years, and although it may be a bit dated it's still very relevant in my opinion:

Disk Imaging software takes a "snapshot" of your drive as it exists at the time you create the image. You can then restore the entire image or any file(s) or folder(s) you choose. It is a virtually foolproof way of backing up your system and providing a safe haven in the event of a catastrophe that requires you to blow away your system partition and restore it to a previous state. It also allows you to "test" various software and be confident that you have a the ability to return to the prior state any time you choose.

I used Acronis True Image for many years, but when they switched to a subscription model rather than outright user ownership, I moved to Macrium Reflect. It is every bit as reliable as Acronis and perhaps a bit more powerful.

1) I create an image of my system partition once a week to a secondary drive, rotating between two drives, and keep the 2 or 3 most recent images on each of those drives. In other words, week 1 the image is stored on secondary disc A and week two the image is stored on secondary disc B. I also image my other partitions about once a month. I always enable "verify image" in the options. It takes a little longer, but insures a valid image (the last thing you want is to try to restore an image only to find it is corrupt - it happens).

2) I also create an image before performing any drive level function (ie, changing the size of a partition) or making any significant change to the OS such as installing a service pack, or even when installing a "questionable" Windows update, etc.

3) Images may be created on any medium (external drive, usb drive, cd's or dvd's, etc). For obvious reasons they should not be stored on the same drive you are imaging. The easiest option is a second internal hd if you have one and, if you're really ambitious, to an external drive as well (one week to the internal & one week to the external or just duplicates on the external - that's actually the procedure I follow).

4) Images may be created "in the background" within the OS. If you need to restore the system partition, that will need to be done before the OS loads. You can start the process within the application in the OS and it will then tell you it needs to reboot to finish the process. Alternatively, you can boot to a "recovery disk" which you create from within the software (or to the application disk itself if you have one). Even easier, you can also use a built in tool to create a rescue environment on the PC itself (when the system first boots you will have the choice of booting to the OS or the rescue environment - the OS option can be an automated choice after "X" seconds so you do not need to make a manual choice every time the system boots). Non-system partitions or drives can be restored without a reboot.

Sorry to take a while to respond - YEP there is life beyond Windows 11 .
I'll park the Macrium thing as I want to fix my original problem, which is driving me crazy and, consuming my efforts as well as paper and ink.

Okay.
More analysis on my part has discovered that I can see the offending 'Test Print' sitting in a queue with a line showing that it is actively trying to do something - This was found WITH NO PRINTERS ATTACHED to my PC, by opening a print queue to 'Print to PDF', then using the pull down top left I can choose the printer that is not available anywhere else in settings. Lets call it QUIRKY. All efforts to pause, restart or cancel this print job has no effect.
So I thought if I add the same printer again it would link with the offending print queue, but although Win 11 added it without any problems it gave the new printer the name 'QUIRKY (Copy 1)'. Obviously it is being treated as a completely separate printer.
I am thinking of doing the following
1. Remove the 'QUIRKY (Copy 1)' printer from Win 11 to take the system back to no printers attached.
2. Reboot.
3. Remove ALL references to 'QUIRKY' in the Registry.
4. Reboot.
I am reluctant to go down this route, so does anybody have a better plan that is less risky.
Thank you in advance for any help on this.

Have you tried deleting the printer queue in Device Manger and letting it get reinstalled?

Let's try something just for the heck of it (note - this will delete all pending print jobs):

Stop the print spooler service (RUN - services.msc - Print Spooler )
Open c:\windows\system32\spool\printers and delete any files in that folder
Reboot
Start the print spooler service

Now reboot and see if the job tries to print.

Winuser:- Re "Have you tried deleting the printer queue in Device Manger and letting it get reinstalled?"
The offending item is NOT in the print queue.

Allan:- Re "Let's try something just for the heck of it ..... etc".
I will do this and let you know the result ASAP".

Allan:- Thank You - Thank You. For the first time in a couple of weeks it didn't print the test page on start up.
I hope this problem does not return in the next few reboots. (I have know problems reoccur a few boots later).
The 'print queue' for the offending item has gone as well which is a good sign.

Of interest the items in c:\windows\system32\spool\printers deleted easily apart from the most recent one, but I managed after some jiggery pokery to get the owner changed for that file and got rid of that as well.

I will confirm that the problem is truly solved if it doesn't return by new year.

Thanks again.

Good to hear. Happy Holidays!!