Double Sided Printing HP PCL6 Windows 7
I have a networked HP Color Laserjet 2550Ln.
My Win XP laptop uses a PCL6 driver. In Printing Preferences | Finishing tab | Document Options section I get an option to "Print On Both Sides (Manually)". This is great - it prints all the front sides and displays a message on screen explaining how to put the paper back into the tray ready for printing the back sides.
My Win 7 PC also uses a PCL6 driver for the same printer. But I do not get the option to print on both sides in the Finishing tab like I do with XP.
Does anyone know how to get the manual print on both sides option working under Win 7?
(I have tried many different drivers. With some of them, I do get the double-sided option but it won't print in color! It seems to be color OR double-sided but not both.)
Deleted by modus_operandi, 500 points refunded. - 5/8/2011 6:44:19 PM
My Win XP laptop uses a PCL6 driver. In Printing Preferences | Finishing tab | Document Options section I get an option to "Print On Both Sides (Manually)". This is great - it prints all the front sides and displays a message on screen explaining how to put the paper back into the tray ready for printing the back sides.
My Win 7 PC also uses a PCL6 driver for the same printer. But I do not get the option to print on both sides in the Finishing tab like I do with XP.
Does anyone know how to get the manual print on both sides option working under Win 7?
(I have tried many different drivers. With some of them, I do get the double-sided option but it won't print in color! It seems to be color OR double-sided but not both.)
Deleted by modus_operandi, 500 points refunded. - 5/8/2011 6:44:19 PM
ASKER
yelbaqlf,
Thanks for the response. I have already tried UPD PCL6 and PCL5. But I see they are later versions now so I tried them again.
Unfortunately, they made no difference.
My firmware is already at the latest version.
Thanks for the response. I have already tried UPD PCL6 and PCL5. But I see they are later versions now so I tried them again.
Unfortunately, they made no difference.
My firmware is already at the latest version.
It sounds like there's a setting missing somewhere...
I don't have that printer model in front of me to see, but do you have a 'Configure' tab in the driver's properties window anywhere? If so, you should see 'Paper Handling Options' > then put a check in the box next to 'Allow Manual Duplexing'.
If that's not the case, it sounds like a limitation of the Windows 7 driver at this point, and it might make sense to put in a ticket with HP to determine if/when they expect an update/alternative.
I don't have that printer model in front of me to see, but do you have a 'Configure' tab in the driver's properties window anywhere? If so, you should see 'Paper Handling Options' > then put a check in the box next to 'Allow Manual Duplexing'.
If that's not the case, it sounds like a limitation of the Windows 7 driver at this point, and it might make sense to put in a ticket with HP to determine if/when they expect an update/alternative.
ASKER
I cannot find any way of getting to the "driver's properties window".
Is this something else that is missing?
Is this something else that is missing?
When you install using the HP UPD driver, how are you performing the install? Are you using the setup file included? Or are you extracting the driver, and then installing it through 'print server properties'?
ASKER
I use the setup file included. I presume that's what it is for.
You are correct. That's what it is intended for, but when using the included setup file, the printer functionality is completely different. I would recommend uninstalling the software/driver and printer. Then extract the HP UPD to a folder using something like 7zip.
After the extraction, install the driver using the 'Print Server' properties under Devices and Printers. Then choose the 'Drivers' tab > 'Add...'. Once the driver is installed this way, install your printer and choose the newly installed driver. If you don't see it as an option, just install it using something generic like HP LaserJet 4. Then from the printer's properties window, choose the 'Advanced' tab > 'New Driver', and choose the driver from here.
After the extraction, install the driver using the 'Print Server' properties under Devices and Printers. Then choose the 'Drivers' tab > 'Add...'. Once the driver is installed this way, install your printer and choose the newly installed driver. If you don't see it as an option, just install it using something generic like HP LaserJet 4. Then from the printer's properties window, choose the 'Advanced' tab > 'New Driver', and choose the driver from here.
ASKER
yelbaqlf,
I have extracted all the UPD files to a folder and am manually adding a driver as you suggested. At the part where it prompts for a INF file, I can see 10 of them. How can I tell which one I should choose?
I have extracted all the UPD files to a folder and am manually adding a driver as you suggested. At the part where it prompts for a INF file, I can see 10 of them. How can I tell which one I should choose?
ASKER
I removed ALL hp drivers and then rebooted.
I have tried 5 of the 10 hp*.inf files. None of them makes any difference - I still do not get the manual duplex option.
Why would HP remove this handy feature from their drivers? Id it to force us to buy duplexing units?
I have tried 5 of the 10 hp*.inf files. None of them makes any difference - I still do not get the manual duplex option.
Why would HP remove this handy feature from their drivers? Id it to force us to buy duplexing units?
I wish I had the answer to that, but unfortunately I can't speak for HP. My guess would be that an update would happen at some point. I've run into this a couple of times, where it seems the HP Win 7 drivers do not have all the bells and whistles. Typically, the HP UPD is the answer, but that's not the case here.
I would still recommend giving HP a call to determine their plans for this model. They may have an expected release date, or they may confirm that an update is not coming, which would mean the functionality is lost without a duplexing unit.
I would still recommend giving HP a call to determine their plans for this model. They may have an expected release date, or they may confirm that an update is not coming, which would mean the functionality is lost without a duplexing unit.
This problem is real. In the coming week I will be testing upds PS & PCL versions 5_2_6_9321 to see if this is resolved. I do not expect to see the fix.
The option is available in the PostScript version of the UPD. I just printed several documents from excel and was prompted at the printer to load the paper in tray 1. This was an HP 4250 w/o a duplexer.
Exactly, we've seen this on several of our printers when using the HP UPD. Some of our printers only have the HP UPD as an option for newer systems running Win 7 or 2008, and we've seen loss of functionality, to include color printing for some.
While this isn't what we want to hear, it is a fact, and if the printer is an older model, chances are we're stuck with the loss unless the printer gets replaced with a newer model. HP, as well as any other manufacturer, will not continue supporting and releasing new drivers/firmware for older printers that work with newer operating systems. This is the reason for the HP UPD being available for some of those models, but as we all see and know, the full functionality is not always there.
Also, in some cases, newer printer model drivers are simply not updated with all of the functionality we are used to seeing. Hopefully in time, printer manufacturers will catch up, but until then we're stuck with what we have. It still merits a call to HP to ask the question, and from there determine what's best for you, whether that be working through it, replacing it, or waiting for a driver/firmware update/fix if that's an option.
While this isn't what we want to hear, it is a fact, and if the printer is an older model, chances are we're stuck with the loss unless the printer gets replaced with a newer model. HP, as well as any other manufacturer, will not continue supporting and releasing new drivers/firmware for older printers that work with newer operating systems. This is the reason for the HP UPD being available for some of those models, but as we all see and know, the full functionality is not always there.
Also, in some cases, newer printer model drivers are simply not updated with all of the functionality we are used to seeing. Hopefully in time, printer manufacturers will catch up, but until then we're stuck with what we have. It still merits a call to HP to ask the question, and from there determine what's best for you, whether that be working through it, replacing it, or waiting for a driver/firmware update/fix if that's an option.
Do you have to use PCL6? Can you use the PS UPD?
ASKER
eruve,
Yes, I have tried every PS driver I can find. Same problem as PCL.
I had a Laserjet 4 in 1994 which could do manual duplexing. It lasted over 10 years. Then I bought a Color Laserjet 2550. I still had XP then and could do manual duplexing.
Now I have upgraded to Windows 7, the disk that came with the printer will not install. So, I download the latest drivers from HP only to find they have removed manual duplexing.
I can't think of a good reason why they would have done this.
I can think of plenty reasons why they shouldn't have done it, one being that my next printer will not be from HP.
Yes, I have tried every PS driver I can find. Same problem as PCL.
I had a Laserjet 4 in 1994 which could do manual duplexing. It lasted over 10 years. Then I bought a Color Laserjet 2550. I still had XP then and could do manual duplexing.
Now I have upgraded to Windows 7, the disk that came with the printer will not install. So, I download the latest drivers from HP only to find they have removed manual duplexing.
I can't think of a good reason why they would have done this.
I can think of plenty reasons why they shouldn't have done it, one being that my next printer will not be from HP.
You do not see manual duplexing on the preferences tab of the PS UPD driver? It's under preferences and you don't need it turned on under device settings.
ASKER
I know where the manual duplex setting is (or used to be) - I was using it for well over 10 years!
It does not appear in any tab in Printer Preferences or Printer Properties
It does not appear in any tab in Printer Preferences or Printer Properties
ASKER
I have not "abandoned" this question - I am just waiting for an Expert to post a solution. Unfortunately, it looks like that is not going to happen. If there is some action I should take to avoid the question being classified as "Abandoned" then please tell me what it is and I will do it (I have asked before).
I don't understand why a question should be deleted just because no expert was able to provide a solution.
Is it to make Experts Exchange statistics look better?
Can it not be classified as "Closed - No Solution Available"? Then, at least other users can see that this particular problem cannot be solved and they will not waste their time (or the Experts' time) by posting a similar one again. That still has value, doesn't it?
I don't understand why a question should be deleted just because no expert was able to provide a solution.
Is it to make Experts Exchange statistics look better?
Can it not be classified as "Closed - No Solution Available"? Then, at least other users can see that this particular problem cannot be solved and they will not waste their time (or the Experts' time) by posting a similar one again. That still has value, doesn't it?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Download:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?prodNameId=4157320&locale=en_US&taskId=135&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=503548
Documentation:
http://h20338.www2.hp.com/Hpsub/cache/494717-0-0-225-121.html
The other thing you might want or need to do is update your printer to the latest firmware.
Firmware:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=388394&prodNameId=388399&swEnvOID=228&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=lj-22028-3
If by chance you've tried this driver, I would suggest updating the firmware to the latest version, and then remove the printer, drivers, ports associated with the printer, etc. Then reinstall the printer using the HP UPD driver PCL6. Test. If this doesn't get it, then give the HP UPD PCL5 a try. Then test again. You may even decide to perform a restart of the machine, or at the very least restart the spooler between steps, just in case there is something funny going on with the spooler subsystem.