HP Laserjet 4 driver

[mikepetersen951]

HP4+

My thanks to SVTDOT-I followed that procedure and my printer came up right awayl

 

[WindowsStar]

FYI: We have been using the HP Universal Printer Driver for many of these older printers in Windows 7, working great! -WS

 

[tonyvett]

I have a lserjet 4 plus that didn't work on my new dell laptop running Windows 7 Home Preminum and purchased a usb to parallel port from staples. I tried maybe 100 different ways to make the printer work and finally I think I got the solution. The main thing is to have the cable device loaded first under unspecified IEEE-1284. Then the following:

1. Disconnect printer cable from computer and printer
2. Manually Load HP Laser Jet 4 plus Printer Driver from Windows Update without printer attached
3. Restart computer
4. Plug USB cable and make sure it loads IEEE 1284 driver
5. Plug parallel port into printer
6. Turn printer on
7. Make sure HP laserJet 4 Plus is online
8. Print Test page

 

[mikepetersen951]

Thanks-I got my printer to work, and have printed and saved your post.

 

[larmo]

A slightly different problem

I've loved my Laserjet 4 plus for over 2 decades. It has worked great thru many versions of Microsoft OS's. I think I might have had it prior to Windows 95 (yes it's that old). I always got it to print, even now - sort of.
My issue is that the first page that it prints is mostly blank except for the first line of incomprehensible garbage. I doesn't affect the document, which starts on the second page. I've wasted hundreds of pieces of paper. Fortunately, I can lower the manual paper feed and send it thru several times. It saves a sheet of paper which is not the issue when you buy it by the case. It's having to do it EVERY SINGLE TIME. I've been doing it for years and I'm tired of doing it. I'm no novice, I received one of the first four IBM PC/1's shipped to Michigan. The serial number was in the low 200's. It only had 16K of ram - expandable to 64K (RIGHT ON THE MOTHERBOARD - YIPPIE). Floppy drives weren't quite invented yet. Anybody else remember the cassette port on the back of the 1st gen ones? It worked, I had to make my own with a radio shack mono cassette player.
Anyway, back to my issue. Any ideas or suggestions will be welcome, I've tried just about everything for years. I'll try some of the 'ideas' I found in this thread but they are to get it to print, can't hurt to try.

 

[mikepetersen951]

You've probably already done this, but try a Cold Reset on the printer. It seems to be a way of resetting to the default settings. The process is quite simple. Make sure the printer is disconnected from everything apart from the electricity supply and is switched off. Depress the “On Line” button and keep it depressed whilst you switch on the printer. Leave it depressed until “Cold Reset” appears on the LED. You can now release the button and allow the printer to continue its start process until “Ready” appears. Switch off again. Then connect it to the computer and turn it back on.

 

[larmo]

I've never done that until now. That might have done it. I'll post again tomorrow after I've printed something.
It's late (early), time for bed since it's my birthday. This would make the nicest present I got in years.

 

[WindowsStar]

@larmo

Please forgive but why are you opposed to just buying a new laser printer. They are so inexpensive and super fast now-a-days. That 4 plus was probably $900 to $1000, I had one for years. Now you can get something much faster for $100. Something to think about -WS

 

[larmo]

Well, didn't work

I just printed this page and got the wasted first page. Thought the reset worked. I probably tried it before but wasn't sure whether I removed the centronix cable, I'm sure I did this time.
I don't buy a new one because this on works except for the wasted first page. I can't afford a new one either.

 

[WindowsStar]

I hooked up and old 4 Plus I found in storage, thought it was gone but it is there. I don't get a wasted page and it prints correctly from Windows 7 using the built-in HP LaserJet 4 Plus driver. Maybe there is a hardward problem with your printer. Hope that helps you figure this one out. -WS

 

[cousinbillybob]

Dear All,

Surprise surprise I'm having a problem with my LaserJet 4L not being recognised by Windows 7. I have tried everything. The Windows Update button in the Printer Wizard doesn't do anything; I've tried MS Website which doesn't help; I've tried the HP website and get nowhere. I just want the driver so that I can use the printer again (I've had it since July 1994 and it has never let me down at all..!!) Thanks....

 

[Berton]

Which model, 4/4m or 4L/4mL or 4P/4mP?
HP Support, Drivers, Contact and Help Forums | HP® Support

This page shows drivers available for your 32-bit version of Win7 should be available in Windows Update:
Drivers & Software for HP LaserJet 4m Printer - HP Support Center.

As you stated, they appear to be not available from HP.

Also, is it a Parallel Port/LPT1 connection? I don't recall that it had USB back then.

 

[mikepetersen951]

HP 4 Plus

You will need a parallel to USP adaptor cable. I recently had to replace my hard drive, & reinstall softwear and printers, including my old HP4+ Windows recognized it and it installed without any issues. Make sure you have all Win 7 updates on your computer I guess.

 

[Berton]

You will need a parallel to USP adaptor cable

There's no information in his System Specs about the computer, it may or may not have a Parallel Port/LPT1 on it, can't automatically make an assumption about it. I tried one of the USB to Parallel Port adapters with an HP Deskjet 970 and HPs software did not recognize the new port created by the adapter's software although an older tape drive did.

 

[cousinbillybob]

Dear All,

Thanks for the replies. I have a HP Laserjet 4L connected to the LPT1. I haven't connected it via USB yet. I will not be able to check the recommendations until Thursday evening, so watch this space.....!

Ironically my Dell laptop runs Windows 7 and all the drivers I need are listed...!! All the Windows updates on the desktop (where the problem is) have been done (and it won't allow me to do anymore). If I can find where the driver is stored on my laptop and copy it straight across to the desktop, that might be the answer..!

 

[Berton]

Should have posted this as your own question as this thread is about a Laserjet, quite different. Small problem, Laserjet printers don't use ink, frequently use the same type toner as used in copiers [I've had a laser printer since late '94]. I think you meant to say Deskjet 1050 All-in-One.