HP Generic PCL Laser Printer driver and Snow Leopard

Question

Level 1

5 points

HP Generic PCL Laser Printer driver and Snow Leopard

My HP Business Inkjet 1200 will print using the above mentioned generic driver - but only black and white. Is there a hope of making it work fully?

powerbook, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Nov 19, 2009 12:42 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Nov 19, 2009 12:58 PM in response to smcpc

Have you installed the recent HP drivers update? Have you checked the HP site to determine if your model is still supported and if HP has a SL compatible driver? Using a laser printer driver for a color inkjet printer may also be the problem.

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Answer 2

smcpc Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 19, 2009 1:18 PM in response to PAHU

I have found hpijs, but as it's a linux file I can't download until I tell it what distribution it's from. Does that matter? I guess I can just try one. I also can't figure out what the Apple site wants me to download.

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Nov 19, 2009 1:22 PM in response to smcpc

As PAHU has indicated you are using an incorrect driver that is intended for a B/W laser printer. It simply appears by default because no driver is identified as available or you haven't selected the proper driver.

Delete the existing printer from Print & Fax, then click on the [+] button. Click on the Default icon in the toolbar. If your printer appears in the list then select it. Then select the option to Select Driver from the drop down menu. Locate a driver for your printer, select it, click on the Add button.

If no driver is listed then install the recent HP drivers update or download a compatible driver from HP. If there is no SL driver available then try the most recent Leopard driver which may work.

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Nov 19, 2009 1:28 PM in response to smcpc

As far as I can find at HP's site there are no drivers for your printer since 10.4. If no driver is available in the HP drivers update for SL, then your printer is no longer supported. Unfortunately, the only recourse is to buy a new printer (or return to a previous version of OS X that has a compatible driver available.) Not even the Gutenprint drivers contain a compatible driver unless you can use the one for the Business Inkjet 2200 model.

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Answer 5

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Nov 19, 2009 1:59 PM in response to smcpc

The hpijs package I provided a link to is for Mac OS X, including 10.6. If you read everything that is on this page it will explain what you need to do. It also shows that your 1200 is a supported model. In case you missed the link from the previous post, here it is again.

http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/openprinting/macosx/hpijs

Pahu

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Nov 19, 2009 2:10 PM in response to Kappy

A caveat for PAHU's link is that the hpijs drivers also require you install Ghostscript. If Ghostscript stops working in a future release of OS X you may find the driver also stops working until a compatible version of Ghostscript is released. Same with the FooMatic-RIP. These two packages need to be downloaded separately.

Just a heads up for those looking to install the hpijs package.

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Answer 7

smcpc Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 19, 2009 2:15 PM in response to Kappy

I've got the hpijs installed and it does work. Only had time for one print so far but color seems good. It is however really really slow. It installs a little differently than the Apple description, but wasn't hard.

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Answer 8

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Nov 19, 2009 1:00 PM in response to smcpc

The Generic PCL Laser Printer driver included with Snow Leopard does only print in b&w. If you want to print in colour then you may have to look at using the hpijs package.

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