Need a printer driver for old HP Deskjet 1220C to run on OS 10.11.2

Question

Level 1

4 points

Need a printer driver for old HP Deskjet 1220C to run on OS 10.11.2

Updated iMac to OS 10.11.2. Generic driver supplied with OS only prints low quality grayscale. Tried installing Gutenprint 5.2.11, but install fails. Tried to install HPIJS for Mac 3.10.6. Instructions say GPL Ghostscript install also required, but install fails. Printer doesn't work at all. Did something change with El Capitan that doesn't allow these 3rd party printer drivers, or am I missing a step? Please help.

iMac, OS10.11.2, 3.33Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo

Posted on Dec 26, 2015 2:21 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Dec 26, 2015 2:27 PM in response to Mcgruzoo2

Contact HP tech support and/or look on their support site to see if they have a compatible driver. There really is nothing we can do to help you. Apple only distributes printer drivers. The most recent release is Apple HP Printer Drivers 3.1.

MacUpdate

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Answer 2

johngar

Level 1

16 points

Feb 4, 2016 2:42 AM in response to Kappy

I have a similar problem. The onboard printer driver in OS X 10.11.2 will run my old HP 960C printer (orphaned by HP), but it won't print in color. The test page shows colors so the printer is not the problem. I found an article http://www.macworld.com/article/1017670/hp.html claiming that HP has released new drivers including one for my printer. When I tried to use the link in the article I got an error message "550 failed to switch directories". I can find no trace of these new drivers on the HP website. Can someone explain what I am doing wrong. The color printing is the main reason for using this printer.

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Answer 3

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,656 points

Feb 4, 2016 2:49 AM in response to Mcgruzoo2

HP has no available driver for El Capitan

http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/readIndex?sp4ts.oid=19142&swLangOid=8& swEnvOid=4182

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Answer 4

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,656 points

Feb 4, 2016 3:15 AM in response to Mcgruzoo2

Actually this

HP Printer Drivers v3.1 for OS X

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Answer 5

Mcgruzoo2 Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 26, 2016 6:35 PM in response to Eau Rouge

How do I select that driver? I downloaded it, but the "Generic PCL laser printer is still selected.

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Answer 6

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Feb 26, 2016 9:33 PM in response to Mcgruzoo2

Install the driver package after downloading. Restart the computer then delete any old printer shown in the Print & Scsn preferences. Click on the Add [+] button then select the driver for your printer model.

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Answer 7

Mcgruzoo2 Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 26, 2016 9:39 PM in response to Kappy

Thanks you. Your instructions allowed me to properly install the printer driver. However, the driver doesn't work. I can't print at all. With the generic printer driver I could print gray scale only. This driver suggested by Eau Rouge above simply will not work (HP Deskjet 1220C HPIJS, 3.10.6.15).

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Answer 8

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,656 points

Feb 26, 2016 10:37 PM in response to Mcgruzoo2

So as I said there was no available driver from the HP site.

I then gave you to a link in the Apple Downloads site for HP drivers, did you check with the support article to see if you printer was listed.

Printer and scanner software available for download for your Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 9

Mcgruzoo2 Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 27, 2016 10:09 AM in response to Eau Rouge

It appears it is not listed.

In the OS previous to El Capitan, I used a GutenPrint driver. After the El Capitan upgrade, I went to gimp-print.sourceforge.net to download the latest version driver. It failed to download for some unknown reason. Any ideas?

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Answer 10

Eau Rouge

Level 8

42,656 points

Feb 28, 2016 1:33 AM in response to Mcgruzoo2

so what was the point of your question here if you already new that your printer was not supported on the previous OS (Yosemite)

it is highly unlikely to have been supported under El Capitan.

just been to the sourceforge/ gutenprint site and downloaded and installed version 5.2.11

http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php#5.2.11

select gutenprint-5.2.11.dmg

if the download doesn't start after a few seconds, click the blue text, 'direct link'

hopefully you can get your printer working again,

or you could buy a new one.

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Answer 11

Mcgruzoo2 Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 28, 2016 3:35 PM in response to Eau Rouge

If you look at my original post, I explained that I was using a third party driver from the beginning. For some weird reason, I was unable to successfully download Gutenprint driver when I tried after the El Capitan upgrade. So, I was looking for alternatives. You misunderstood. Why are you suggesting I'm asking stupid questions?

It turns out I selected your link and successfully downloaded and installed the gutenprint driver. So the printer now has restored color printing features. Thanks for your assistance.

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