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Thursday, November 5, 2020

PSA: When Downloading Driver Software For HP Printers, Be Very, Very Afraid -- Or At Least, Very, Very Cautious -- November 5. 2020

I have had no problem whatsoever after updating my HP driver software. That was a story in itself.

However, for some folks it has been a major, major problem. Apparently, some folks using Apple computers downloading HP software are running into major problems which suggests one has a virus (a computer virus, not Covid-19).

If one gets this "warming" -- it seems almost impossible to get rid of it. It does not cause any damage to your computer,as far as I can tell, but wow, talk about a nuisance. 

Although it looks like a virus, it is not a virus. It appears to be generated due to HP software that is embedded in the driver software that ends up in one's application folder. It doesn't make sense that it's embedded in the HP software but somehow the Apple operating system detects this HP software and generates the message.

Google "hpdm warning" and prepare to be amazed.

This post provides an update and is very, very recent, dated October 19, 2020. 

This may be the best article to help you solve your problem if you have the "virus-like-HP" warming. That site provides useful links to solve your problem.

I have no idea what's going on but it appears that this was problem caused by Apple, but I could be very, very wrong. It looks like Apple is trying to minimize downloads to Apple computers from non-Apple sites. If so, very, very interesting. 

Some folks suggest some of this is being generated by HP to "force" folks to give up their old printers (which are working perfectly well) and replace them with new HP printers. That was my first thought; interesting to see others saying the same thing. 

That may be true. I still think it stems from a new Apple policy. 

Be that as it may, when downloading new non-Apple software on your Apple computers:

  • be very, very afraid;
  • be very, very cautious:
  • think twice; download once.

If you have the warning, it appears to be a simple process to remove it:

  • go to your Apple computer's "Applications" folder
  • if you don't know where the "Applications" folder is, go to find and search for it
  • in the "Applications" folder scroll through it looking for all "HP" downloads/applications
  • delete all those "HP" downloads/applications

Good news: that may solve your problem.

Bad news: your HP printers won't work with that computer.

There are very few options when it comes to printers, but this alone really makes me question whether to ever buy HP again. Unless we get some "easy fix." People are interested in geeky answers; they simply want the problem to go away.

7 comments:

  1. A Brothers lazer (black and white) printer or two have served me well for many years. Don't need color, and if I ever do.... Costco!

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    Replies
    1. I had forgotten all about Brothers ... thank you, much appreciated.

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  2. Actually, we have three Brothers laser printers in two houses. Print off of a MacPro, an I-Pad, Windows 10 and and Pixel 4a. I've never figured out how to print from my wife's I-Phone but that's alright. Great machines, a bargain at twice the press. Cartridges are rather inexpensive and print over 1,000 pages. Such a deal! And no.... I don't sell them, nor invest in them, just a great product.

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  3. Recently bought a new HP printer. Nothing fancy but it took 3 tries to load the drivers. Works fine now, but have never had issues before with HP.

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    Replies
    1. Interesting. Similar experience for me. I never had trouble with HP before. And now, all of a sudden... it sounds like it's related to Apple trying to minimize malware, viruses, or other problems coming from "third-party" sites.

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  4. Sounds like Microsoft plug and play software. Plug it in and play for hours to make it work.......

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