Windows XP does not recognize HP LaserJet 4

[sunwindandsea]

I installed my HP LaserJet 4P when I got my new PC in October and it found and installed my HP 4P printer with no problem. Today, I brought home a LaserJet from the office and dicaonnected the 4P and connected the 4 and tried to print a test page. Printing - Error. The test page did not print. Like any dummy who should where a sign saying "I am stupid!" I uninstalled the HP 4P and tried to install the HP 4. That's right. Now, Windows XP does not recognize either printer (4P or 4) and I have no printer.

HP and Microsoft's knowledge bases are becoming dense or it's me.

Thanks you any help.

 

[biffo]

Have you tried downloading the latest drivers for your printer from the HP website. A lot of HP products clash with Win XP because the drivers are not certified by Microsoft. Why? Because HP refuse to pay Microsoft any money giving us the user shortages in drivers and frequent clashes with Windows. Biffo, the Godfather of making mistakes in life. Although, his Tek-Tips answers and questions are no mistakes.

 

[sunwindandsea]

Thanks for your reply. HP says the MS XP drivers for the HP 4P shoudl work properly.

The problem doesn't seem to be drivers. MS Windows XP does not recognize the printer. If uninstall all printers and only the HP LJ 4P is connected (LPT1) the HP LJ 4P is not installed.

Windows XP will not recognoae it as being connected to the PC.

 

[JHoch]

Check out the "enable legacy device" in printer settings. It may help. ...MS charges $35 for that answer.

 

[webmaster999]

Try going into Printers and Faxes and removing all printers. Then right-click in the white area and select Server Properties. On the Drivers tab, remove ALL drivers related to printers.

Disconnect the printer cable from the computer and turn off the printer. Shutdown the computer and leave off for a minute.

Turn on the computer and let it boot completely. Turn on the printer. Plug in the printer cable. Windows XP should auto-detect the printer within seconds and install all the software needed for it. This can take up to 2 minutes.

Let me know if this helps!

Matt A+, MCP, MCP+I, MCSE Windows NT 4.0, MCSE Windows 2000 Early Achiever with Security Emphasis

 

[ttech]

I used ther PCL5e driver and it worked fine. If i used Pcl6 ? it didn't work.

Don

 

[sunwindandsea]

Matt:

I tried your suggestion. I removed all printers and faxes, disconnected all printers, removed all printer drivers and shutdown all printers and my PC. Afetr 5 minutes I turned on my PC and booted up with no printers installed or connected. I shutdown the PC again and rebooted after 5 minutes. Next, I connected the HP LaserJet 4P and rebooted my PC. Windows Xp failed to find the PC. In the BIOS I tried both the AUTO and Enabled (Default LPT1, etc,) still no recognition by Windows XP of the printer. I tried an HP LJ 4. No recognition. Both BOIS settings. Booted for an MS-DOS version 6.22 floppy, ran MSD (the printer port was recognized under the ENABLED BIOS setting), and printed a screen dump.

Rebooted into Windows XP no recognition of the printer. Suggestions???

Note to Don. I had no drivers installed. The printer must be recognized my Windows XP for drivers to be installed by Windows XP for the printer. Windows XP just does not recognize the printer. Period. It seems that since Windows XP did not recognize two other printers (HP LaserJet 4 & 4SI) it seems that Windows XP has a problem with the port. I uninstalled LPT1, rebooted, Windows XP found LPT1 and reinstalled the drivers. I then rebooted and connected the printer. Windows XP did not recognize the printer. Any suggestions?

 

[webmaster999]

I would try disconnecting the printer from the port again. Then go back into Printer and Faxes and make sure there is nothing listed on the Drivers tab. Then, remove the LPT1 port and shutdown.

On next reboot, go into CMOS and set the Onboard Parallel to 378h/xxxx (where xxxx is any number) and make sure it is in normal mode (not ECP, EPP or any combination thereof).

Reboot the computer into the OS, and let XP detect the printer port. Then, turn on the printer and make sure it is online. Plug in the parallel cable.

Hopefully XP will detect it.

Let me know how it goes (I had this identical problem not even a week ago with XP Pro when I was trying to install an HP DeskJet 890C Pro. The above is what I had to do to get it back).

Good Luck.

Matt A+, MCP, MCP+I, MCSE Windows NT 4.0, MCSE Windows 2000 Early Achiever with Security Emphasis

 

[sunwindandsea]

Matt:

I followed the procedure that you set forth earlier today and the printer was not installed. I tried Output Only, Bi-directional, 278 as well as 378, etc. nothing. Any other ideas are welcome. As usual this anomaly is not reported in MS's knowledgebase.

Thanks for your help,

Thanks again, Ed

 

[Guest_imported]

egad folks u are trying to kill an ant with a bazooka
run system restore to before you goofed and all will be fine

 

[sunwindandsea]

I tried system restore when the problem first appeared. This problem may apear to be an ant but when your mot cost effective printer is not recognized by Windows XP it can become expensive. I have a network so I connect the printer to my laptop and share it that way but I'm frequently on the road with my laptop...

Thanks anyway,
Ed