OSX 27 HP 4200 Printer driver

Based on user reports, macOS 27 Golden Gate has ‘broken’ printer drivers from several manufacturers. 

The HP 4200 does not support AirPrint, which is the easiest way to connect to a printer and does not require drivers from the manufacturer, only an AirPrint-capable printer. 

The first step is to reset your printing system. Note that doing so will remove all your printers and you will need to re-add them, but that is Apple’s suggested method to solve printing problems.

Steps to Reset the Printing System

• Open System Settings > Printers & Scanners
• Secondary-click (right-click, two-finger click) in the top two lines or on any printer and select Reset Printing System

• More info: Reset the printing system on your Mac to solve a problem - Apple Support

Since your printer does not support AirPrint, check the manufacturer’s website, and if there are no updated drivers, then you may be able to set up your printer on macOS using a generic driver.

Steps to Connect and Print

• Connect the printer: Plug the printer into your Mac using a USB cable, or connect it to your local network via an Ethernet cable. 
• Add the printer: Click Add Printer, Scanner, or Fax (the + button).
• Choose Driver: Select your printer from the list. In the "Use" drop-down menu, choose Generic PostScript Printer.
• Finish setup: Click Add to complete the installation.
• More info: Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac - Apple Support

If that does not work, there are two other options:

Option 1: onnect the printer to a always-on host computer (like a Mac, Windows PC, or Raspberry Pi) running third-party print server software such as HandyPrint, Onyx, or a CUPS-based solution to share the printer via AirPrint.

Option 2: you may be able to use the manufacturer’s printing app, which is available on the Mac App Store.

HP Print & Support app:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hp-print-and-support/id1474276998?mt=12

Ha!... Success!

Sorry for the multiple posts here, but if it helps someone else!...

So while GoldenGate wouldn't let me install the old drivers, i was able (sudo'd as root) to un'tar' the requisite files (i believe) under /Library/Printers/hp/. That alone didn't do it. I couldn't add my P2035, under SystemSettings/Printers&Scanners, as the driver wasn't showing up yet in the "Use:" field.

But lo, after a reboot, "HP LaserJet P2015, 1.6.1" is there, and after proceeding to add the printer, it actually works. I do believe that was because i also --installed-rosetta, previously, but after nuk'ing everything.

Try to recap my efforts:

• had downloaded from HP, an "HP LaserJet P2030 Series.pkg" file, that GoldenGate didn't want to use
• cd'd into "Contents" under that
• found "Archive.pax.gz"
• cd'd to /Library/Printers/
• 'sudo tar -xf ~/.../Archive.pax.gz'
• reboot !
• add printer back, with _1.6.1_ driver that did now show up (yay!)
• printing to my old LaserJet now works (yay!!)

Touchy, convoluted business, not for the faint of *nix OSes.

'Would still very much like for HP & Apple to collaborate on a real fix for any/every-one.

Is Rosetta going to be available at / after macOS 28? Not by default, at least.

'Have an old(er) HP LaserJet P2035, that hangs on a USB cable off a Mac mini. Very low mileage on the printer, etc.. Has been perfectly viable 'til now. No AirPrint capability, just the cable.

MacOS_27 / Golden_Gate broke the driver (one supposes) for that, which has withstood other macOS updates.

Can't find a newer HP driver, via HP or Apple.

'Hate to be a wimp, but it seems like HP or Apple need to jump in here with new drivers! Unsure.

Gah! Help!

This may be relevant. I have an old HP Laserjet P1600 that stopped working with Golden Gate. Attempting to print from a Word document, the indicated error was that the driver (version 1.6.1) was not compatible with Microsoft Office (on M1 Macbook Air and M4 Mac mini). OS 27.0 showed it to be connected and was able to show amount of toner remaining. No problem with my HP Color Laserjet M255dw. Inspiration came that this might be related to the lack of Rosetta, though I do not understand why. I launched my one remaining Intel program and took the automatic Rosetta update. The P1600 then started working and printed out everything (Word and PDF) that I had previously tried to send to it.

I think John Whittaker is onto it.

I have tried to ensure Rosetta is present, and can confirm that it is (now).

Unfortunately, i first tried the "Reset Printing System" approach (detailed elsewhere) and i that seems to have nuk'd all the HP v1.6.1 drivers too. And if i go to reinstall those, i'm told they are incompatible with the current OS.

'Anyone know of a work-around for this ^^^ syndrome?

...Mmm, well, i'm not even sure what i downloaded from HP (https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/undefined/model/3662026, under Software) is even "the HP v1.6.1" drivers in the first place. Examining the contents, i have found evidence that it dates back to PPC (PowerPC) days.

And on that download page, it does say "Version 1.0.2017", from November of 2008.

Dangit.

I have a RaspberryPi i can print from, with the P2035 USB'd to that, at least.