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Set up older LaserWriter 16/600 PS with Yosemite

I recently purchased a new iMac 5K and of course it came with Yosemite installed. I have a legacy Apple LaserWriter 16/600 PS printer. When I set up my new iMac I managed to easily find the LaserWriter and select it as the Default printer. But I cannot find a way to add the ability to print to the Multi-Tray. The Multi-Tray holds paper or envelops. Can anyone help with this?


Additional info:

My wife has a mid 2011 MacBook Pro. I was able to set up the LaserWriter 16/600 for her MacBook Pro and she can select the Multi-tray in her Print dialog box. I did the set up when she had Snow Leopard on her MacBook. I has since been update to Yosemite and she still has the Multi-Tray option in her print dialog box.

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Dec 16, 2014 2:07 PM

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Posted on Aug 1, 2017 9:42 PM

Just a note.

Some Apple LaserWriters had ethernet, some did not.

The ones without Ethernet had an Appletalk port, which could be used with an Appletalk-to-Ethernet adapter, BUT NOT AFTEROSX 10.6, when Appletalk support was discontinued in the OS.
Appletalk options no longer appear in the Network section of System Preferences from 10.6 and up.

For instance, my LW 12/640 has Appletalk, and just determined I can no longer use.

It was a good 25 YEAR Run! Sad day.

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Question marked as Best reply

Aug 1, 2017 9:42 PM in response to Ralph9430

Just a note.

Some Apple LaserWriters had ethernet, some did not.

The ones without Ethernet had an Appletalk port, which could be used with an Appletalk-to-Ethernet adapter, BUT NOT AFTEROSX 10.6, when Appletalk support was discontinued in the OS.
Appletalk options no longer appear in the Network section of System Preferences from 10.6 and up.

For instance, my LW 12/640 has Appletalk, and just determined I can no longer use.

It was a good 25 YEAR Run! Sad day.

Dec 30, 2014 3:12 AM in response to Ralph9430

Hi there, the old workhorse are on their way to retirement...

Seems like Apple has dropped support for their vintage printers.

You'll either have to let go your workhorse or follow this workaround:

- download gutenprint 5.2.x + install

- download usbtb + install (if you want to connect via USB cable)

Both installers for Mac are available on sourceforge.

Tested on MacBook Pro 4,1 w/ Yosemite.


Dec 30, 2014 3:21 AM in response to Ralph9430

Two thoughts as to why you may not have the option of the multi tray.


1. You have created the printer using the Generic Postscript printer driver included with Yosemite. This generic driver lets you print and that is about it. No paper source options or finishing options are provided.

2. If you have created the printer using the correct LW16/600 PPD then you may need to select the printer in Printers & Scanners, then click on Options & Supplies. If there is an Option tab then select it and here you may be able to enable the multi tray.

May 20, 2015 6:36 AM in response to DrewLoker

I'm in a related same boat, trying to resurrect a LW Pro 630 to work with Yosemite. All was well until I replaced the router on my network.


I thought perhaps just dropping in the old printer driver might work, but do not know where Yosemite stores these files.


Have you been able to copy your old print queue/driver file into Yosemite's location? Anyone know where these files are now stored?

May 20, 2015 12:55 PM in response to SmileyFrown

Method of connection is also important. What is it? USB-parallel adapter cables often don't work. A parallel print server (making it an IP printer) is a good choice.

postscript printers will work fine if you have the .ppd file (it's not a driver - it's a postscript printer description file that tells the built-in driver how to use the printer - this distinction has existed since OS 7 days). Put the .ppd file where you'll remember it and when you add the printer, go to Use: Other and navigate to it and select it.

May 22, 2015 7:08 AM in response to greg sahli

Thanks, Greg. This is a LW Pro 630 connected to an HP JetDirect print server through a wired ethernet connection. It's been setup and used as an IP printer for quite some time.


I was initially concerned it would break with the upgrade to Yosemite, but it continued to work flawlessly until the router change. I can still get the JetDirect to generate a test page, which leads me to believe the issue is somewhere between the router and JetDirect.


Our Macs (iMac and MacBook Pro) both connect to the new router/ internet without problem. Neither can now print to the LW Pro.


I've deleted the previous printer setup and tried to reconfigure the LWP as a new printer using the IP address of the JetDirect. The LWP ppd file is no longer available to choose with the Yosemite setup, so I've tried the Generic Postscript Printer which has not worked.


I've copied what I thought was the LWP ppd from the previous install (Get Info shows it as LaserWriter Pro 630.app) to the desktop. When I attempt to select it during printer setup, it is not recognized.


The proper ppd is available in setup from my iMac running 10.7.5. It appears in the printer setup selection as Apple Laserwriter Pro 630 v2010.130. I haven't been able to find where that file is stored on the iMac. I've not been able to make that work with the new router yet either. I'll continue to play with the iMac configuration since I've got access to the LWPro ppd file there thru the setup screen.

May 22, 2015 8:09 AM in response to SmileyFrown

Solved!


Printer is now working from both Macs following a reboot of network and machines, then setting up printer once again on each. Using the Generic PostScript Printer file on the MacBook works fine with text, but was deathly slow with graphics .


The challenge then became to find where on the iMac the LWPro ppd file is stored, copy it over to the MacBook and try again. It was hiding in /System Folder/Extensions/Printer Descriptions


Copied it to MBP, setup printer again using this file and while still slow with graphics, we're sorta back in business.

Set up older LaserWriter 16/600 PS with Yosemite

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