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Printing question marks in boxes

As of today, all my printouts on my HP PageWide Pro 452dn look like the attached image where every character is a question mark inside a box. This happens with PDF's and Word documents, and the fonts are the same ones I always use (Calibri, Cambria, etc.). It could be a Big Sur 11.4 issue since I just updated. Any ideas?

MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on Aug 2, 2021 5:26 PM

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83 replies

Sep 23, 2021 2:18 PM in response to judman76

To judman76. From what you say, this may assist printing from a Mac computer. However, I’m guessing that it won’t help me when printing from an iPhone and iPad?


I have a Dell laptop, and printing to my HP Pagewide 577dw from there works well, with no problems.


When you spoke with the HP support guy, was there any indication as to whether HP was working on a Firmware fix, what it will do to help people in the meantime, and when a new Firmware upgrade is likely to be available?

Sep 23, 2021 2:27 PM in response to Bondi Sly Fox

I can print PDFs no problem from my iPhone using AirPrint. For the Mac laptops the only fix that seems to be laborious but works is to open the Print dialogue. Go to PDF and save your PDF as Postscript and then print that from them. This seems true for all PDF, Excel and Word files. My desktop machines seem to work fine but then they are newer. Printing from a PC there seems to be no issue printing PDFs, Excel or Word documents at the same printer at work.

Sep 23, 2021 3:01 PM in response to Preussen1

I've used that fix, but it doesn't help me use all three trays of different media for printing on my HP 577dw. I still haven't figured out what I'm going to do for scanning, another feature I use 3 or 4 times a week.


From what I've read the issue is between Apple and HP. HP told Apple to dump certain "old" drivers and somehow it included Pagewide series printers. In-fact I uninstalled all HP software and drivers using their uninstall zip and went straight to apple to download all the the HP drivers... Pagewide was no longer included in the "select your software" options for installing the printer!!! Both seem to be pointing fingers at each other...

Sep 23, 2021 3:07 PM in response to Bondi Sly Fox

Not sure about the iPad/iPhone issue. I use a Mac to get my work done.


He seemed to be aware of the issue and was happy we found a work-around till something can be done. It sounded like he and maybe others are aware of this and until today didn't know what else to do except use the IP browser interface to change tray priorities. Pagewide is still being sold at large, so I'm guessing there is a tidal-wave of support calls building. Hopefully HP responds quickly to create the proper driver that works with a Mac OS


Cheers,

Jud

Oct 7, 2021 10:24 PM in response to Bondi Sly Fox

I do have the distinct impression that the problem is indeed update related but on Apple’s side. I have the same issue with my HP Pagewide 377DW and I know for sure that it has not been updated, while my MacBook Air M1, iPhone and iPad all have been updated recently and all show this issue when printing PDFs (where they did not before).

Oct 8, 2021 4:12 AM in response to judman76

From what I can tell, there is a lack of cooperation between Apple and HP to resolve the printing issue. It affects any Microsoft-product print job that goes over AirPrint. This even affects PDFs generated from Microsoft Office products. I suspect it all stems from Microsoft's printing bug from Summer 2021, but I can't prove that. Meanwhile, our Windows PCs print fine.


Notice that your print jobs from Safari and other applications are likely working just fine. Anything from an office product prints the <sarcasm>lovely</sarcasm> boxed question marks. It's unconscionable that HP can send out firmware that renders their expensive printers useless for office and productivity printing.


For what it's worth, I describe a laborious workaround to print from Office applications earlier in this thread (dated Sept 5, 2021). Good luck! And keep your fingers crossed that HP can actually fix their firmware before your expensive printer goes obsolete. I really believe this might be the last HP printer I ever own.

Oct 8, 2021 7:40 PM in response to mikerisner

I totally agree with you MIke Risner. I have said this before.


I had also suggested that we lobby HP to take action, although I'm informed that we cannot provide links within this Chat space to those things that commence with a 'P' and people support them online - hopefully you know to what I'm referring. My initial post was removed because I included the actual word in my post.


The question remains: how can we (as a Group) request HP to provide a Firmware update that works using AirPrint?


The same is true of the equivalent HP Community Support chat to which I also belong.

Oct 16, 2021 10:37 AM in response to twilight901

Good work spotting that new driver! I also tracked it down on HP's support site and used that app to install the HP printer driver. During the installation process, I chose to only install the printer driver and NOT the scanner driver. Also, I chose to use the HP printer driver rather than the existing driver (presumably the AirPrint driver) near the end of the setup process. I tested printing from Word with success on two Macs running the latest macOS Big Sur. Keep in mind, you will need to install the HP driver on each Mac computer.


Meanwhile, my iPad prints boxed question marks when printing the same document. Sigh.


I checked the printer's Embedded Web Server for new firmware today, and it still shows that the firmware dated Aug 2, 2021, is the latest offering.


I'm curious if AirPrint in macOS Monterrey might have a fix for this issue. That OS update should be available before too long.

Oct 21, 2021 12:54 PM in response to joe13liberty

I've downloaded the latest software from the HP website. It gives you a choice between Airprint and the HP driver. The newer machines seem OK and the only machines giving me any trouble are the older laptops. By the way the EPSON ET-16600 has been flawless and prints on even larger media if you want. I have had no issues with it. I really think this is an Airprint issue more than anything else. I still have to print using the Postscript file on occassion. It's a nuisance.

Oct 29, 2021 3:53 PM in response to mikerisner

Your earlier response was very helpful. I have found, also, that saving the Word doc in generic .rtf format enables printing from my MacBook without any intermediate steps where previously all I could get was the same gibberish everyone has been experiencing. The .rtf approach may not solve all problems by a long shot, but for emergency printing it works for me.

Printing question marks in boxes

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