Curious-anyone using a LaserJet 4000 with Windows 10?

[GreyWoolfe]

I have wanted one to network for a long time and I've seen good prices on eBay.  I believe I can get it to work, but I am interested if any has.  I have an old Brother HL-1440 (2001 vintage) that works fine through a JetDIrect EX+ and the 4000 is only a few years older.  I will soon be doing some office changes/upgrades and it would be a nice upgrade from the 1440.

[Brumby]

A little Google-fu delivered this:

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printer-Software-and-Drivers/HP-Laserjet-4000n-Win-10-Drivers/td-p/5235665

Re: HP Laserjet 4000n Win 10 Drivers
10-28-2015 06:13 PM
I have 2 laserjet 4000TN running with Windows 10 x64 and Windows 10 x86 PCs.
 
Driver that works for Windows 10 x64 is the Windows 7x64 driver for Laserjet 4050 PCL6
Driver Name is HP Laserjet 4050 PCL6 version 6.1.7233.0  - Works perfectly
 
For Windows 10 32bits , I install the PCL6 driver Windows XP driver.
Driver name: HP Laserjet 4000 Series PCL 6 version 4.27.4000.400 . Works perfectly
 
With the above drivers can get  1200x1200 resolution and also control all the trays (paper-type and size) correctly.
 
Reuel
Chartered IT consultant



There are other comments on that thread which might also be of interest.

[EEVblog]

I'm using an old HP4200 and it was a pain the get working with Windows 10, had to do all sorts of manual IP stuff, but it works.
I hate printers.

[edpalmer42]

I have an ancient Epson laserprinter that hasn't had drivers since forever.  But it emulates an HP Laserjet II.  Windows 10 had to phone home for new (old?) drivers, but it successfully installed the drivers!

You should have no problems with an HP 4000.

[Whales]

I recently discovered that some printers accept postscript drivers for other/older printers.  Try some some early looking models in your printer config/wizard/etc with 'PS' in their name.

EDIT: also some printers provide an 'emulation' mode for compatibility.  I found this out by poking buttons on my last printer and getting it to print out one of its self reports,  which listed the exact model it happily emulates.

[John Heath]

A little off topic to HP drivers but I would like to vent about HP printers in general. My test bench computer has HP software for a printer but no printer as this puppy is a dumpster find. It works fine for logging data but every 2 days or so a HP advertisement pops up asking this or that. It is annoying when accessing the computer remotely through Team Viewer as the HP advertisement is in the way. How could a fine company like HP allow this? I uninstalled the HP software but the AD still pops up?

It gets worse. The HP printer at the office stopped working one day. I went through the usual list , no paper , cable unplugged , host computer off.  Everything seemed okay and I could ping the host computer? Why was this HP printer not working? I took a second look at the printer and found the problem after accidentally bumping the mouse. Bumping the mouse on the host computer caused the monitor to wake up and there was my problem. A big advertisement by HP saying I should buy my printer paper from so and so. To make sure I acknowledged this advertisement they stopped the printer from working until the "no thanks " button was pressed. How could such a great company like HP , the center of technology and test equipment , have fallen so low to stop their own printer from working for an advertisement?  I'm done venting now. 

[GreyWoolfe]

A little Google-fu delivered this:

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printer-Software-and-Drivers/HP-Laserjet-4000n-Win-10-Drivers/td-p/5235665

Re: HP Laserjet 4000n Win 10 Drivers
10-28-2015 06:13 PM
I have 2 laserjet 4000TN running with Windows 10 x64 and Windows 10 x86 PCs.
 
Driver that works for Windows 10 x64 is the Windows 7x64 driver for Laserjet 4050 PCL6
Driver Name is HP Laserjet 4050 PCL6 version 6.1.7233.0  - Works perfectly
 
For Windows 10 32bits , I install the PCL6 driver Windows XP driver.
Driver name: HP Laserjet 4000 Series PCL 6 version 4.27.4000.400 . Works perfectly
 
With the above drivers can get  1200x1200 resolution and also control all the trays (paper-type and size) correctly.
 
Reuel
Chartered IT consultant



There are other comments on that thread which might also be of interest.

Brumby, thanks for this.  I only did a little digging, I wasn't really going to stretch my Google Fu until I was ready to pull the pin on one.  It's good to know that I will get the 1200 x 1200 dpi.  Much better than the 600 x 600 dpi the Brother does.  Dave, I was expecting a bit of manual work.  I am used to that.  After all, the JetDIrect EX+ has to be configured through Hyperterminal!!!  I will see how much of my bonus I spend on the office changes before I make my decision.  There is a little bit of a comfort zone knowing that people have done it and if I have issues, I will be able to work them through and any efforts won't lead to a dead end.

[amyk]

A little off topic to HP drivers but I would like to vent about HP printers in general. My test bench computer has HP software for a printer but no printer as this puppy is a dumpster find. It works fine for logging data but every 2 days or so a HP advertisement pops up asking this or that. It is annoying when accessing the computer remotely through Team Viewer as the HP advertisement is in the way. How could a fine company like HP allow this? I uninstalled the HP software but the AD still pops up?

It gets worse. The HP printer at the office stopped working one day. I went through the usual list , no paper , cable unplugged , host computer off.  Everything seemed okay and I could ping the host computer? Why was this HP printer not working? I took a second look at the printer and found the problem after accidentally bumping the mouse. Bumping the mouse on the host computer caused the monitor to wake up and there was my problem. A big advertisement by HP saying I should buy my printer paper from so and so. To make sure I acknowledged this advertisement they stopped the printer from working until the "no thanks " button was pressed. How could such a great company like HP , the center of technology and test equipment , have fallen so low to stop their own printer from working for an advertisement?  I'm done venting now.

That's not the printer driver proper, but the mass of bloatware that most people will install without realising that they don't actually need it (and why the driver CD is several hundred MB.) As someone above already mentioned, HP laser printers will work fine with the (much smaller) generic PCL drivers, often labeled something like LaserJet 4 or similar.