Windows 7 - HP Laserjet 5N drivers

Howdy,

I have a Laserjet 5N (I know, pretty old) connected via parallel (LPT1) port to my computer. It worked just fine on my old machine with Windows XP on it, however, I just bought a new computer with Windows 7 on it and I've been having problems making it work ever since.

I went to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add printer, did the "Windows Update" which updated the list of drivers and the HP LaserJet 5N was listed there. However, after adding the driver, printing still doesn't work - the "see what's printing dialog" just shows "error - printing" the moment I click "print test page" (or when I try to print anything else).

I've also tried searching the windows update catalog (downloaded, did "have disk", still no luck), as well as selecting some of the other printers on the "add printer" list - nothing helped.

I'd appreciate any input. Thanks!

According to Microsoft, your printer should install itself automatically when connected (Windows 7 Compatibility for HP Laserjet 5N Printer Laser Printer: HP. Drivers, Updates, Downloads).

You could try to uninstall the printer drivers from Device Manager (right click, select Uninstall), then uninstall all related software found in Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. Disconnect the printer, reboot and reconnect.

If this does not work, try downloading drivers from HP's site: HP LaserJet 5/m/n Printer series*-* Download drivers and software - HP Business Support Center.

Kari

Thanks for the fast response, Kari.

The weird thing is that the printer is not listed in Device Manager at all. My other printer (also an old deskjet 845c), however, is. It works just fine.

LaserJet 5n is not listed anywhere. When I plug it in, nothing happens on my PC. No sound, nothing. The printer display says "Ready". Computer doesn't list the printer anywhere. I have to manually add it and when I do, an error happens, as I explained above.

One more weird thing: the laserjet 5N picture on the Windows' site you linked do is totally not the picture of my printer, though my printer clearly says on the front "HP LaserJet 5N". Not sure if this is important or not. EDIT: nvm this, here's the link to the product with my image http://www.microsoft.com/windows/com...205n&os=64-bit Still says "no action required" though.

I don't think Windows will install this printer automatically because it isn't usb supporting Plug and play/pray (though I could be wrong). You will need to manually add it selecting it as a local printer on LPT1.

I know this is coming in late, but I just went through this bit of falderal re: the HP 5N on a Windows 7 machine. I absolutely could not get the machine to go out to WU to find the files needed for the 5N.

I was building up a Windows 7 laptop for my wife and hers DID go out to WU for the drivers. It found the oem25.inf files that has the proper driver for the 5N (and a bunch of others), but they're 'digitally unsigned' and that's probably why M$ won't put them out there easily.

I located the file on the wife's machine and threw it out on my server, then went back to my machine, deleted the existing printers (installed with an HP LJ2030 PCL5 printer driver), and then tried the reinstall using the "Have Disk..." option. Worked flawlessly!! I now have the 5N with the proper drivers loaded.

If anyone needs this driver, contact me through the forums and I'll be glad to forward a copy of it to you.