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Drivers for Older HP Printers?

guzhogi

guzhogi

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Aug 31, 2003
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Wherever my feet take me…
So I tested out Big Sur Beta 9 on a spare laptop, and wanted to see if it worked with an HP Laserjet 2430dtn. On macOS 10.15 and before, it would automatically identify the printer as a Laserjet 2430, and download the drivers if necessary. With Big Sur, didn't recognize it. So I went to HP's website and tried to download the driver. Latest version of macOS it had drivers for was Mac OS 9. So I checked Apple's website, and downloaded HP Drivers v5.1. I tried to install it, but the installer said that the volume was supported.

I also have an HP Designjet T520. Drivers for macOS 10.15 worked fine.

Does anyone know if/when anyone will develop official drivers for older HP printers? Or should I hope that something like Gutenprint will eventually support them?
 
guzhogi said:
So I tested out Big Sur Beta 9 on a spare laptop, and wanted to see if it worked with an HP Laserjet 2430dtn. On macOS 10.15 and before, it would automatically identify the printer as a Laserjet 2430, and download the drivers if necessary. With Big Sur, didn't recognize it. So I went to HP's website and tried to download the driver. Latest version of macOS it had drivers for was Mac OS 9. So I checked Apple's website, and downloaded HP Drivers v5.1. I tried to install it, but the installer said that the volume was supported.

I also have an HP Designjet T520. Drivers for macOS 10.15 worked fine.

Does anyone know if/when anyone will develop official drivers for older HP printers? Or should I hope that something like Gutenprint will eventually support them?
Click to expand...
Maybe you could use a tool like Pacifist to extract the drivers from the Apple/HP installer. You might just need to use a generic driver, however.
 
Yeah, I have been having a problem getting drivers installed for an old Dell color laser. I had to use a Fuji/Xerox driver to get it to work in Catalina, but the same driver won't install on Big Sur. :-/
 
LlamaLarry said:
I had to use a Fuji/Xerox driver to get it to work in Catalina, but the same driver won't install on Big Sur. :-/
Click to expand...
A few years ago at work, we had Lanier copiers, which were just rebranded Ricohs (or was it the other way around?). Eventually got Konica Minolta copiers, which do install under Big Sur. Haven't tried actually printing anything yet.

chrfr said:
Maybe you could use a tool like Pacifist to extract the drivers from the Apple/HP installer. You might just need to use a generic driver, however.
Click to expand...

Maybe, but I sill haven't found generic drivers for all my older printers yet. I really hope, but doubt, that Apple/HP release new drivers. I lose so many useful functions with generic drivers. And I seriously doubt the school district I work for will spring for new printers. If anything, they're trying to cut down on printing.
 
guzhogi said:
I really hope, but doubt, that Apple/HP release new drivers. I lose so many useful functions with generic drivers.
Click to expand...
Apple is done providing print drivers- their solution is AirPrint.
 
chrfr said:
Apple is done providing print drivers- their solution is AirPrint.
Click to expand...
Yeah. It works for the basics, but doesn't have the more nitty-gritty stuff. I get it, they're a business trying to maximize profits and get people to buy new things. Not always possible for the consumers, though. Plus, AirPrint is fine for basic, consumer stuff, but doesn't have the options that enterprise users need/want. Apple is missing a large market, and definitely has to resources to cater to, in the enterprise/professional level.
 
It works with pacifist, it solves the "volume is not supported" problem and you can manually extract the package and place the files in the right places in /Library and /usr.

After that the printer works.
 
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erpetao said:
It works with pacifist, it solves the "volume is not supported" problem and you can manually extract the package and place the files in the right places in /Library and /usr.

After that the printer works.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the Pacifist tip. I haven't used it since my Leopard Hackintosh. It fixed my OfficeJet 276dw on Bug Sir.
 
HP and Apple had an issue about a month ago (pre-Big Sur) - Apple suddenly not recognizing HP's signature and throwing everything into chaos. My ET-2750 was included in that mess. No amount of delete/uninstall/ download 'most' recent (5.1, I think - and dated to October, but that version had been around awhile) / reinstall would work. Warning windows all over the place.
Finally I went all neolithic - unplugged it from my computer, deleted it from Printers and manually sought out all references to HP (including buried in the Library) and deleted it all. Emptied Trash. Rebooted.

Plugged printer back in and Apple found it (before I even had a chance to 'Add' it) and installed drivers (6.9). Runs fine now, even with the Big Sur 'upgrade' since.

No idea if The Big Purge would work for you and your printer, but it seems remnants of stale drivers was causing issues for me.
 
Hi Erpatao
erpetao said:
It works with pacifist, it solves the "volume is not supported" problem and you can manually extract the package and place the files in the right places in /Library and /usr.

After that the printer works.
Click to expand...
Would you mind lining out the steps for using Pacifist to get HP print drivers to the right place? Thanks
 
Last edited:
mspaniel said:
Hi Erpatao

Would you mind lining out the steps for using Pacifist to get HP print drivers to the right place? Thanks
Click to expand...
You don't need Pacifist. If you're trying to reinstall the Apple provided HP drivers, just download a new copy from Apple. That installer will now run on Big Sur, if that's what you're trying to do.
 
chrfr said:
You don't need Pacifist. If you're trying to reinstall the Apple provided HP drivers, just download a new copy from Apple. That installer will now run on Big Sur, if that's what you're trying to do.
Click to expand...
You're a huge help. Thank you so much!
 
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