HP Laserjet 4100 on network will not print

Question

HP Laserjet 4100 on network will not print

Since I’ve installed Snow Leopard, I have not been able to print with my HP Laserjet 4100.

My set-up: new 24” iMac, many hard drives and more. Two devices: HP Color Laserjet 5550 and HP Officejet J5750 are connected to the iMac through a USB Hub. Although initially scanning did not work with the J5750, I was able to make that work once additional drivers were downloaded from HP. Both work fine.

I also have an older HP Laserjet 4100 which has been my steady workhorse for years. It only has Ethernet and serial port outlets. It is connected to an AT&T 2-Wired Ethernet Hub/DSL Modem (model 2701HG-B) that is connected to the iMac.

I’ve contacted HP and Apple about this problem. None of the three people I worked with at Apple could help and the HP representative was unsure if they could help but that it would cost me $40 to find out. According to HP website, since Apple Talk no longer exists, we are required to input the IP for the device. For the 4100, the IP address is 10.0.1.100. I tried this two ways: in the “Add Printer” window under “IP,” inputted as the IPP, and inputted as the HP Jetdirect Socket (as per the HP instructions). When this is done, the printer shows up when you give a print command. However, it does not show up in the “Add Printer” window under “default” or anywhere else.

Status: If I connect the 4100 Ethernet cable directly to the back of the iMac, the “Supply” level indicates the true level of toner in the 4100. However, it will not print. If I connect the 4100 Ethernet cable to the Ethernet hub, the supply level does not show nor can I print.

Any suggestions?

24" iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.2), ATT 2-Wire DSL Modem/Ethernet Hub

Posted on Nov 17, 2009 12:36 AM

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Answer 1

K T

Level 7

23,895 points

Nov 17, 2009 12:56 AM in response to Chuck Stewart

Sorry if I missed it - what version drivers are you using?

Should be most recent from here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL907

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Answer 2

Nov 17, 2009 7:40 AM in response to K T

Thanks for your suggestion but all drivers are completely up to date (there was a 3rd update issued yesterday by Apple for HP drivers). As best as I can tell from the various discussion groups, this is a problem of networking, not drivers. Since my old printer can only be connected by ethernet, then it requires manually setting the IP addresses. The HP directions for this situation does not work. I think the real question is if anyone out there has been successful at making an HP Laserjet 4100 dtn to work through a network? (one where the computer is running Snow Leopard and the printer is connected through a hub).

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Answer 3

Regal909

Level 1

5 points

Dec 30, 2009 7:21 PM in response to Chuck Stewart

I am struggling with the same problem. I have two HP 4100dtn printers on ethernet. Each has a manually assigned IP address. I can set up the printer(s) just fine in the Print & Fax Preference and Snow Leopard finds the printer just fine when I enter the IP address and chooses the correct HP Driver.

When I try to print, my print job appears in the queue as expected, than an error appears that something about a "bad command". Sorry, I'm home right now and don't have direct access to the printer so I can't give you the precise language of the message, but the gist of the message is that the system tried to connect to the printer to send the print data but the printer does not know how to respond to the command that was sent.

It's as if the firmware in the 4100 just doesn't have something in it's lexicon that Snow Leopard needs. The HP web site is no help. One page I found says the printer is supported ( http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&obje ctID=c01664444&jumpid=regR1002USEN ) and another page I found says that it is not supported ( http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&obje ctID=c01879014&jumpid=regR1002USEN). The HP on line chat won't let me log in and hold a chat with HP unless I know the Serial Number of the printer, which I don't have here at home.

More to follow tomorrow.
Anyone have any ideas?

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Answer 4

Regal909

Level 1

5 points

Feb 28, 2010 8:35 PM in response to Chuck Stewart

OK, this one is solved. In Print & FAX Preference Pane, click the plus button ➕ to add a printer. Set the Protocol pop up menu to "HP Jetdirect - Socket". In the "Address" field, enter the IP address of the HP 4100.

Leave the "Queue" filed blank unless you are using a print server. I am not....

Set the "Name" field to whatever you want as a name for this printer.
Set the "Location" field to something that reminds you where this printer is physically located.

By this time, you Mac has probably already found the printer by it's IP address, chosen the appropriate driver for you, and therefore all you need to do is click the Add button.

Happy printing.....

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Answer 5

Feb 28, 2010 9:21 PM in response to Chuck Stewart

try this

http://www.macworld.com/article/142631/2009/09/snowleopard_printing.html

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Answer 6

kl4z239

Level 1

0 points

Apr 4, 2010 10:08 AM in response to shadepuppy

Thanks so much to Regal909 and shadepuppy for hunting this down, when Applecare support told me to call HP, which is an utterly thankless task. And all they had to do was tell me to use the HP JetDirect protocol. I have to say this is the first time Apple support has utterly failed me. They were very nice, as usual, but clueless as to this very easily solved problem.

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