s.greene

Q: HP Printer laserjet 4250 need drivers for OS 10.11 El Capitan

Have just installed El Capitan 10.11 OS and my HP Laser Jet 4250 printer won't print and mac book pro displays error message "unable to find gutenprint driver named HP Laserjet 4250"..."  "Gutenprint" is a 3rd party driver that I haven't a clue why it was looking for it, but it appears HP doesn't have available drivers for this operating system.  Printer worked on Yosemite.  Suggestion where I can get a driver? The printer is a business size and very robust.  Replacing it would be around needless and expensive. I've spoken with Apple Care and they had no suggestion except to look for "3rd Party", which I did and can't find anything.  Suggestion?

Posted on Oct 2, 2015 8:26 PM

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Q: HP Printer laserjet 4250 need drivers for OS 10.11 El Capitan

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  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Oct 2, 2015 8:37 PM in response to s.greene
    Level 7 (22,887 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 2, 2015 8:37 PM in response to s.greene

    Go to HP site and update your driver software.

     

    http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04473034

     

    If no update is yet available you are out of luck.

  • by s.greene,

    s.greene s.greene Oct 2, 2015 8:46 PM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 2, 2015 8:46 PM in response to leroydouglas

    Thank you.  I had gone to that site and my printer is mysteriously missing from the list.  It's not that old and to replace is north of $1,000. There must be some 3rd party software. Otherwise will have to revert to Yosemite and that's a pity, as El Capitan is a true improvement. Thanks for your suggestion.

  • by leroydouglas,

    leroydouglas leroydouglas Oct 2, 2015 8:59 PM in response to s.greene
    Level 7 (22,887 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 2, 2015 8:59 PM in response to s.greene

    Contact HP Support and ask them directly.

  • by s.greene,

    s.greene s.greene Oct 3, 2015 10:27 AM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 3, 2015 10:27 AM in response to leroydouglas

    Will do this on Monday, as they're closed today despite listing as 24/7/364.  I had tried yesterday with HP Support, but was unsuccessful due to no "service agreement", then found other number last night. Will post again on Monday with result. 

    Many thanks.

  • by s.greene,

    s.greene s.greene Oct 8, 2015 5:30 PM in response to leroydouglas
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 8, 2015 5:30 PM in response to leroydouglas

    FINALLY SUCCESSFUL...BUT...

    An update:

    Contacted HP and they indicated that absolutely they didn't support the printer I have, HP Laserjet 4250.  The "technical representative" did however spend 15 minutes trying to convince me to buy a new printer, which they would offer a "good deal" .

    #1 My printer functions excellently with drivers.  #2 What they were offering was substantially higher than Amazon.  #3 The printer they were offering is an older model that they likely will soon stop supporting.

     

    I finally was able to install 3rd party software from Gutenprint site.  http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php

    Then it's a bit tricky as you have to disable in Terminal a safety setting temporarily.

    Instructions:

    1) (re)start in recovery mode (hold cmd-r while booting or hold option and choose recovery volume)

    2) start terminal from menu and disable rootless with command “csrutil disable” . there will be some feedback confirming you disabled this safety feature.

    3) reboot normally

    4) do not double-click your installer but go in package content (right click > view package content)

    5) find inside the package Contents>Packages>Gutenprint 5.pkg and use that package to install (double click it). This time install should go normally.

    6) I suppose you would like to enable rootless again since it is a safety feature after all with 1) to 3) using “csrutil enable” this time

     

    This worked and my printer and computer are pals again!!!!!! 

    Thanks very much for all suggestions!!!!

  • by benbow77,

    benbow77 benbow77 Nov 4, 2015 11:59 AM in response to s.greene
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2015 11:59 AM in response to s.greene

    Have had the same problem with trusty old Laser Jet 1200.  Called Apple Support and HP.  HP said they don't provide a driver for 1200 any more - they said it was "obsolete"!  Apple said I could uninstall El Capitan (which would later probably cause trouble) or "just buy a new printer."  Any ideas anybody?

  • by spgreene,

    spgreene spgreene Nov 4, 2015 12:27 PM in response to benbow77
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2015 12:27 PM in response to benbow77

    Refer to the post above.Check out the Gutenprint site.  They may have the drivers you need and instructions.  All seemed similarly hopeless with my HP, but this sorted out the problem.  One thing is certain....neither HP or Apple can help.   Also, do not revert back to Yosemite.  El Capitan is actually an improvement.  Courage!!!!

  • by benbow77,

    benbow77 benbow77 Nov 4, 2015 12:37 PM in response to spgreene
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2015 12:37 PM in response to spgreene

    Thanks a lot.

  • by moof66,

    moof66 moof66 Sep 7, 2016 1:34 PM in response to s.greene
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 7, 2016 1:34 PM in response to s.greene

    I'm stuck at "right click>view package content"

     

    I can't seem to right click on a track-pad and if you mean control click that does not reveal any option to view package content....  I tried Pacifist but that didn't reveal Gutenprint 5 or similar. I have the Gutenprint 5.2.11.dmg image.