Win 11 won't install printer

Suddenly I cannot print from my PC to my older Canon 530/560 on USB. I checked all the cables, tried to delete doc from the queue (didn't delete), checked Windows Update. No go.

Finally I removed the printer. When I tried to add a new printer the page hangs. The "Add Device" bar goes from dark blue to light blue and nothing else happens, except on occasion I get the whirling circle. Then I close the Settings window. There is a separate driver for the scanner function which still works and which I did not uninstall.

I rebooted, I unplugged and replugged in the printer (both cables). Nothing works. MS help pages are no help, with numerous people reporting the same problem.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

The newer version of Windows 11 no longer support your printer. The Canon website states that they no longer support it or offer drivers for it, The only way you can still use it on your computer is to install Linux Mint in a dual boot setup that would be compatible but you would have to learn some Linux. Buy a cheap Windows 10 computer and use it to print from. It would't have to be on the internet so you would not have any security concerns,

Update: I downloaded the Mint Cinnamon ISO and built a bootable USB,, You don't have to install on your hard disk to try it out just do it from the USB demo. I was able to print to my printer with no problem, Linux does not require installing drivers they support most everthing in the kernel. They support lots of older equipment.

rebadurchee said:

tried to delete doc from the queue (didn't delete)

Click to expand...

Restart print spooler which clears the print queue. Services>Print Spooler

Canon had a PIXMA MP530 which no longer has drivers on the Canon site. However if your printer is the ImageClass MPD530 Laser, you can find the drivers here. https://www.usa.canon.com/support/p...lhitOQI6HhEKGzxt9adiGsiGxWezAQHWk1wpB-MWMdh2-

Thanks for your replies, much appreciated. However, I think I didn't clearly explain my issue. It isn't the printer, it's Windows.

I last used the printer two months ago just before I left town for an extended period. It worked perfectly. My computer was off the entire time. When I returned I opened a document and tried to print it. No go. Many copies stacked up in the queue.

When I tried to empty the queue it would not empty. I unplugged the computer and printer and restarted the process. No go, and the queue was still full.

In desperation I tried to uninstall and reinstall the printer. It uninstalled just fine. But when I tried to add a new printer the page froze. The "Add Device" button paled but nothing happened. I didn't get to the part where you select your printer, so my printer was no longer involved in the story. I cannot add ANY printer to my Win 11 24H2 (26100.8246).

I tried to update to 25H2 but Windows won't do that, and with no explanation.

Maybe I'm in the wrong forum here? In any case I am without printing and will take any suggestions.