Operation failed with error 0x0000007e when adding a printer

When trying to add a network printer on Windows 7, the following error may occur:

“Windows cannot connect to the printer.”
Details: “Operation failed with error 0x0000007e”

There are several solutions for this problem:

Solution 1::
You can try to connect to the printer, using a local port. To try this solution, do the following:

1. Install the printer locally on port lpt2
2. Open a dos prompt (cmd.exe) and enter the following command:
   net use LPT2 \\computername\sharedprintername /persistent:yes

This is only a workaround, but works for most people. Let’s hope Microsoft can develop a consistent solution in the near future.

Solution 2:
Some printers require the drivers to be installed before you add the printer in Windows. This is the case with some Lexmark printers, as well as some HP Laserjets. When a printer gets a wrong driver assigned (for example a Vista driver instead of a Windows 7 driver), the printer may not connect correctly.

To solve this, make sure you download the latest Windows 7 driver from the manufacturer’s website.

Solution 3:
When you do not have the English language on your Windows 7 machine, you may verify the Language for Non-Unicode.

1. Go to your Control Panel –> Region and Language –> Administrative
2. Click Change system locale
3. Set the Current System Locale to English (United States)

Solution 4:
Download and install the following hotfix:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982728/en-us
Follow the instructions on the website

I hope that the solutions described above helps for some of you!