I need a printer expert

[AlexanderCS]

I'm pulling my hair out over this one. I've got a client I just redid their wiring for and upgraded from a serverdesktop to a proper server. The situation is with an HP Laserjet 4200. I've got a single desktop that some predecessor put 32-bit onto. So, my problems are twofold...

1) I need both 32 and 64 bit drivers to work so when I push the printer out via GP, it shows up on both machines (the one 32 bit and the rest 64). I don't care if that's Postscript or Universal or driver specific so long as it works (though I have a hard time finding driver specific for both 32 and 64... Windows Update finds LaserJet 4200 specific x64, but not x32).

2) This is the big one: No matter what I do, the printer does NOT want to go to the appropriate trays. That machine has 3 trays and an envelop feeder. The setup is...

• Tray 1 = Letterhead
• Tray 2 = Legal
• Tray 3 = Regular Paper
• Envelope Reader = Envelope #10

I need it so that they simply print their documents and it just goes to the appropriate tray. If they open up Word and hit Create Envelope, it needs to go to the feeder. If they open up a Legal sized document, it needs to go there. Apparently that printer is supposed to be able to intelligently select size like that. I've got the printer (via going to its IP) and it's "Paper Handling" options set to (what I think are) the appropriate settings. Screenshot attached. However, when I go to print... at one point I had it saying "Load Tray 1 with Envelope #10" while testing envelope. Now it always wants to go to Tray 3, plain paper. Very frustrating.

I'm happy to start "from scratch" as far as the printer is concerned (wouldn't take that long to remove and re-add) so long as I can get it to do what it has always done for them, which is intelligently select the appropriate trays, and be loaded on each computer in the office. I'm also happy to pay someone for some of their time if you need to remote it and play with it.

 

[Markverhyden]

I've personally not seen one of those envelope feeders in ages. Remember that tray 1 is actually the flip down multipurpose tray. Is your envelope feeder a separate cassette or is it stuck into the MP tray? The first cassette is actually tray 2

On the paper prompting. That only happens when the particular cassette is configured for one source and the print job is requesting a different one.

 

[AlexanderCS]

Hi Mark,

The feeder is struck into the MP tray. So you've got 3 trays essentially, you're right. But "Tray 1" has the envelope feeder slotted into it, then just below that there's letterhead paper. Both take up the same "slot".

It's no longer doing the prompting. At this moment it wants to take from Tray 3, regardless of whether I tell it to do an envelope or not.

 

[freedomit]

For the driver issue just download the HP universal driver and make sure you load both the 32 and 64 bit drivers into printer management so when you deploy with group policy both are available

 

[Markverhyden]

So the below picture is accurate Kevin?

So Tray 1 is the flip down immediately below and according to your config is supposed to have letter head.

On the printer driver issue. From what I remember HP has never provided a cross platform, 32 and 64 bit, for that model. You can grab both here.

On the GP thing. Unfortunately I've little experience with printers and GP. My customer base is all small so, even if they have a server, I prefer to manually install each printer directly to the IP. If the server goes down they can still print. I can say that there can be some very odd things that can happen with printers and GP. Back when I did support work for DoD I had an agency issued laptop. For some bizarre and unknown reason my profile, and just mine not other techs, would want to push a print job with A4 instead of letter. Happened at multiple offices/printers.

 

[AlexanderCS]

That's accurate, yeah, for a total of 4 feeds (Tray 1 + Envelope, 2, and 3). I did in fact just try to do a direct install instead of through server. Same issue, however. Since it didn't seem to matter, I switched back to the server. Pushing it out isn't an issue and I actually got both 32 and 64 of the Universal driver on there. I thought maybe I'd be wanting to use the printer specific one though. If they don't provide it, I'll just use the universal (assuming that doesn't aggravate the problem by being too "general" and not knowing which trays to use)

I'm heading over there now since I can't test what it prints without being onsite. I'll be there in about 30 mins. Thanks for the suggestions so far.

 

[Markverhyden]

Your welcome. UPD will query the device to provide correct options. Personally I always check to make sure the firmware is up to date to make sure the proper options show up.

Another printer tip. Sometimes those trays can be cranky. HP detects the settings based on the tray stops. If I have paper size problems one thing I'll do is pull all of the trays and move the stops to both extremes, then reset to the proper paper size.

 

[AlexanderCS]

OK so now...

• Firmware was already up to the latest
• Printer is deployed using Universal PostScript Driver, latest version
• Legal prints fine, letter prints normally
• You go to do Envelope aaannnd.... "LOAD TRAY 1 PLAIN ENV #10"... but it's loaded. And in fact from the printer if I then press the down arrow and hit "Use Envelope feeder" it'll print to envelope just fine.

This is madness.

 

[Markverhyden]

Sounds like the printer driver properties is looking for Tray one and not the Envelope Feeder.

 

[AlexanderCS]

See I thought the paper settings found in the WebUI took care of that. Certainly seems to for Legal size, etc. All that works fine. Under the actual device settings, I'll set Envelope Feeder to Envelope #10. See what I get...

Edit: Same message, even with that setting in place.

 

[Markverhyden]

For grins change envelope settings on the printer to anything/anything leaving envelopes in of course and then try again specifying envelope on the computer.

 

[AlexanderCS]

Mark, you're a lifesaver! Took me a moment as I wanted to go around to each one to test each size/type, but that did the trick!!

Shoot me a PM with your rate and some info.

 

[Markverhyden]

Mark, you're a lifesaver! Took me a moment as I wanted to go around to each one to test each size/type, but that did the trick!!

Shoot me a PM with your rate and some info.

Thanks for the offer Kevin, but it was really nothing. Just consider it a Langiappe, that's why sites like this are successful.

 

[HCHTech]

Wow - great resolution. I've beaten my head against several walls over the years with these printer idiosyncrasies. I have seen the behavior of the printer stubbornly waiting for a "press ok" on envelopes, as if you were single feeding them instead of having the envelope tray. Turns out there was a setting buried deep in the web interface, but NOT available in the driver properties screens. Glad you got it sorted.

 

[AlexanderCS]

HCH--yeah, and this was an old printer set up 3 techs ago to do everything in JUST such a way. Really glad as well.

Mark, thank you again. You saved my Sunday, since I don't have to go back and try to get it working for tomorrow!

 

[geranium]

Thanks for the new word Mark. Looking at the Wikipedia entry, it turns out its origins are actually from a Quechua word that I knew from some time I spent living in Bolivia. I had no idea that it had made its way to English.