I am having trouble re-installing drivers for my Canon MF656Cdw printer. While trying to fix a problem with not being able to scan from the printer, I caused an error in regular printing. I decided that I needed to re-install drivers but am not able to do so. When I try to install the drivers I get a message saying that drivers are already installed. I then attempt to remove the drivers but I get a message saying that drivers cannot be uninstalled because the printer is in use. However, I have cleared the printer queue so there is no active job. What can I do?
I did an AI search for a solution and received (and followed the steps) the following response:
This is a classic "catch-22" with printer drivers. The operating system often flags a printer as "in use" because a background service is maintaining a connection to it, even if no documents are actually waiting to print.
Since you've already cleared the queue, here is the sequence to force the system to release the driver so you can perform a clean re-install.
1. Stop the Print Spooler
The Print Spooler is the service that manages all print jobs and driver communication. If it’s running, it may hold a lock on the driver files.
- Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
- Scroll down to find Print Spooler.
- Right-click it and select Stop.
- Keep this window open, as you will need to start it again later.
2. Manually Clear the Spooler Folder
Sometimes "ghost" files remain in the system folder even after the queue looks empty in the UI.
- Open File Explorer and go to: C:\Windows\System32\spool\PRINTERS
- If prompted for permission, click Continue.
- Delete everything inside this folder. (Do not delete the folder itself, just the contents).
3. Remove the Driver via Print Management
Instead of using the standard "Settings" menu, use the more powerful management console to break the "in use" loop.
- Go back to the Services window and Start the Print Spooler again.
- Press Windows Key + R, type printui /s /t2, and hit Enter. This opens the Print Server Properties directly to the Drivers tab.
- Find the Canon MF656Cdw in the list.
- Click Remove, then select Remove driver and driver package.
- If it still says "In use," restart your computer. Immediately upon logging back in (before opening any other apps), try this step again.
4. Use the Canon "Uninstaller" Utility
Canon drivers often come with a specific cleanup tool that is more effective than the Windows Add/Remove programs.
- Download the MF Driver package from the official Canon support site.
- Instead of running the "Setup," look for a folder named Misc or Uninstall within the downloaded folder.
- Run the DelDrv.exe (Delete Driver) utility if present. This is designed to scrub registry keys that Windows might be hung up on. (NOTE THAT I NEVER FOUND A MISC OR UNINSTAL FILE AND NEVER LOCATED THE DelDrv.exe FILE)
Pro-Tip for the MF656Cdw
Once the drivers are removed, when you go to re-install:
- Disable your Firewall/Antivirus temporarily. These often block the "Scan to PC" handshake during installation.
- Use the "Generic Plus UFR II" driver for printing, but ensure you install the ScanGear driver specifically for the scanning functionality to return.
If you are still blocked, try disconnecting the USB cable or putting the printer in "Offline" mode via its touch panel before attempting the uninstallation again. (NOTE THAT I CAN CONNECTED VIA ETHERNET AND DID NOT TRY THIS STEP)
What can I do to resolve this.
