20 year HP Laserjet 4100 Series PCL6

[Elkhornsun]

I have a very old, workhorse HP Laserjet that still works great and connects to my Win 7 and Win 10 PCs without any problems. I have it setup as 'WIFI' using a TPlink RE350.

I'm on MacPro MacOS Monterey 12.3.1. I purchased the MAC a year ago, with Catalina OS, then upgraded to BigSur, and now Monterey. The HP 4100 dmg does not support these OSs, so I can't install it. I'm new to MAC, are there any 'generic' drivers that I can configure the HP 4100 to work with my MAC?

I've seen links to HP Smart, though can't determine if my HP laserjet 4100 can operate with it, without purchasing and trying.

Any ideas on how I can get the HP 4100 operational, is greatly appreciated

 

[chscag]

It's supported by GIMP Print: Scroll down the page for the HP series and you will find the driver for the 4100.

Gutenprint Supported Printers

gimp-print.sourceforge.net

 

[Elkhornsun]

It's supported by GIMP Print: Scroll down the page for the HP series and you will find the driver for the 4100.

Gutenprint Supported Printers

gimp-print.sourceforge.net

I downloaded the file, gutenprint-5.3.3.dmg, and installed it on my MAC (but my OS, is Monterey, which may not be supported yet). Once I installed the dmg, I couldn't find a command of GutenPrint, or figure out how to launch it. Looking more tomorrow for documentation on Gutenprint, that I haven't found yet.

 

[Slydude]

It has been several years since I used the GutenPrint drivers so I am working from memory here. I couldn't find good directions for recent versions of these drivers. Try these steps:
1. Open the Printers & Scanners pane in System Preferences. Enter your password to unlock the panel.
2. Click the + symbol to add a new printer.
3. A new sheet appears and the first tab is usually selected. Start typing your printer model (HP LaserJet 4100) and see if it appears in the list. Iff it does click on it and then click Add.

If that doesn't work click on the middle tab and enter the printer's IP address. Leave the middle set to Internet Printing Protocol and see if the printer appears. If it appears click Add.

If the printer doesn't appear change the drop down from Internet Protocol to LPD and try again. I don't think you will have to do that though.

 

[Elkhornsun]

Thanks. Will try tomorrow and post my results.

 

[chscag]

Attach the 4100 via USB. Then open system preferences "Printers and Scanners". The HP 4100 should appear. Click the + sign at the bottom. You should then be able to select a driver from the HP 4100 dialog. The Gutenprint driver should appear, select it.

I've done this several times with my very old HP 1012 and it works as long as the Gutenprint driver has been installed.

 

[Slydude]

Thanks Charlie, I vaguely remember doing it that way years ago but I wasn't sure of the procedure given that his is normally connected differently.

 

[Elkhornsun]

I found Gutenprint doc at http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/gutenprint-users-manual.pdf

 

[Elkhornsun]

Attach the 4100 via USB. Then open system preferences "Printers and Scanners". The HP 4100 should appear. Click the + sign at the bottom. You should then be able to select a driver from the HP 4100 dialog. The Gutenprint driver should appear, select it.

I've done this several times with my very old HP 1012 and it works as long as the Gutenprint driver has been installed.

My HP4100 only has serial, parallel and Ethernet connection (plus the TPLink RE350 range extender I connected the ethernet cable to, to get WIFI to my router which is in a different part of the house) No USB option

 

[Elkhornsun]

Well, I installed Gutenprint-5.3.4-pre2.dmg, and can find an HP Laserjet.driver installed in Library-Printers-hp-cups-filers, and under Library-Printers-hp-laserjet, but can't figure out how to install. It does not appear under printers & scanners, in the "add printer" option, and when I enter the IP address, both with LPD or IPP, no luck. The doc for Gutenprint appears to say it is not available for Monterey OS level. Again, I'm a newbie at this so may be missing something. Going to send an email to the authors of the package, and see if I get any response.

Thanks to all who have gotten me this far

 

[chscag]

The problem is likely the lack of a USB connection. I do not off hand know if an adapter exists that you can use to obtain a USB connection. Regardless of what the documentation for Gutenprint says, the drivers are supported by Monterey.

My old HP 1012 (via USB) is recognized by Monterey and the Gutenprint driver works well.

 

[Elkhornsun]

The problem is likely the lack of a USB connection. I do not off hand know if an adapter exists that you can use to obtain a USB connection. Regardless of what the documentation for Gutenprint says, the drivers are supported by Monterey.

My old HP 1012 (via USB) is recognized by Monterey and the Gutenprint driver works well.

Thanks for confirmation of Monterey working with Gutenprint driver. I just ordered an Ethernet<->USB adapter, so will be able to try soon.

Can you tell me WHICH dmg level you are running and 'which' file system would I locate the Gutenprint driver. I have looked in 'library->printers'. I have 'searched' my Mac for Gutenprint, and only find the dmg. returned (I had downloaded both 5.3.3.dmg initially, then thought that 5.3.4-pre2.dmg might be better (but maybe the 'pre2 version is more beta). I know where and how to find files on a PC, but am a novice so far on the mac. Should I be able to find a 'program' called Gutenprint, or just find it in the dmg files?

Sorry for all the questions, appreciate any input you might have. Thx

 

[chscag]

You don't need to find the driver. If you installed the dmg file okay, then it's there. Just follow my directions when you get the USB adapter and it should work.

 

[Elkhornsun]

You don't need to find the driver. If you installed the dmg file okay, then it's there. Just follow my directions when you get the USB adapter and it should work.

I got the ethernet to usb 3.0 adapter, connected it to the HP4100, and then to the MacBook Pro, and open printers & Scanners, but only see the already connected Canon4500 and HP LaserJet 200 printer. I tried the + to add a printer, hoping the HP4100 would appear, but it does not

Library->Printers->Gutenprint.printerDriver exists with an Aug 25 2019 date.

I searched on Gutenprint, and have the Gutenprint-5.3.3.dmg file, When I installed the dmg, the msg said 'installation successful'. I shutdown and restarted, in case that was necessary. Any other ideas? Thanks in advance

 

[chscag]

Sorry, I'm out of ideas. Apparently even with the adapter the 4100 is not being recognized by the system. If it was recognized, the Gutenprint driver would appear installed within the printer dialog.

Might be best to retire the 4100 or only use it with Windows.

 

[Elkhornsun]

Sorry, I'm out of ideas. Apparently even with the adapter the 4100 is not being recognized by the system. If it was recognized, the Gutenprint driver would appear installed within the printer dialog.

Might be best to retire the 4100 or only use it with Windows.

Thanks. The HP is used w/ my Windows machine. appreciate all the help

 

[MacInWin]

The Ethernet connection is not a direct connection, so to install it you have to as a network printer. The steps are here: Add a printer to your printer list so you can use it on Mac

 

[Elkhornsun]

Thanks to ALL. The 'network' direct ethernet didn't work, but, the 'WIFI' through the TPlink extender finally did work. I don't know what I did differently this time,but, used the IP address, LPD protocol, the Kind appeared as HP LaserJet 4000 - CUPS+Gutenprint V5.3.3

I think the printer appeared when selecting 'auto select' in the USE field at the bottom of the add printer using IP address

Thanks to all for your perseverance with my endless questions!

 

[Slydude]

Glad you got it working. I thought it should continue to work but had run out of ideas.

 

[chscag]

Same here. Glad you got it working. I've always had success with the Gutenprint drivers for my old HP. Their drivers are better than what Apple provides for the same printer.