Duplex issues with 4200 series

[Caffeine_Free]

I have the 4201dn at work. I have had the printer for a year. It worked properly for a couple of weeks, then began having issues with duplexing, color printing, and printing in general. I strongly suspect there to be a driver issue, perhaps some incompatibility with Windows 10 in general or with some update made in the past year, specifically.

Let me add that we have tried two different printers of the same model, and both have had these issues, which leads me to think this is a driver problem. We have removed and reinstalled drivers to the best of our ability several times. While the printer may work correctly for a few hours or even a day, the issues always return. If I am installing bad drivers, reinstalling the same bad drivers won't help.

This is a color duplexing printer with a single paper try and the added mechanism for envelopes. It does not have multiple paper trays!

I most often print Word or PDF documents. The problems occur no matter what application I use or what type of files I work with.

Duplex printing does not work, but on some rare occasion, when it might work for one or several print jobs, then stop working. When opening the printer properties, the "Two-sided Printing" option will read "Two-sided Printing (Manually)" and a "Manual Duplex Instructions" option will appear under the box detailing which edge will be flipped for two-sided printing. Again, this is a DUPLEXING printer! It has managed automatic duplexing in the past!

Other printer properties show incorrectly. The drivers are recognizing multiple paper trays that do not exist.

On the rare, random occasion when duplexing does work, the printer might ALWAYS print documents as if they were two-sided, even when single-sided; that is, it prints the one side, then draws paper back to "print" the blank side, rather than just printing the one side and stopping.

Sometimes, when stuck in its manual duplexing mode, it refuses to print a second side with the appropriate dial press, and I will have to unplug the printer, wait a few seconds, then reconnect power before it will start printing again.

Regardless of what is printed, the printer frequently stops printing for no reason. I have to disconnect and reconnect power to "reset" the machine, as turning power off and on at the switch does nothing to restore operation.

Sometimes the printer prints in black and white, instead of color. Yes, this is a COLOR DUPLEXING printer!

The printer may also randomly repeat print jobs, or just spit out blank paper.

The printer also cannot detect paper in the paper tray quite often.

There are frequent network errors although the printer is connected via USB, not a network. Sometimes the printer returns a PCL XL error (Subsystem: GEDI; Error MemAllocError; Operator: ReadImage; Position: 15153).

This 4201dn worked properly for about two weeks before exhibiting these issues. We tried another new printer, but it also exhibited the same behavior. Given that, the random nature of the issues, and Windows seemingly unable to recognize just what kind of printer is connected, I have to suspect a driver issue. This printer has "universal" drivers supporting a range of printers with varying capability. Perhaps the drivers are flawed or have lost function due to a Windows update somewhere along the line?

[BongChaGomez]

Hello @Caffeine_Free ,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

If you're experiencing duplex printing issues with the HP 4200 series printers, follow these troubleshooting steps:

1. Check Printer Settings:

   • Ensure that duplex printing is enabled in your printer settings. You can typically find this option in the printer properties menu under "Finishing" or "Output Options."

2. Verify Paper Orientation and Type:

   • Ensure that the paper is loaded correctly with the proper orientation for duplex printing.
   • Make sure you are using paper that supports duplex printing, as some types of paper may be too thick or thin for successful duplexing.

3. Driver and Firmware Updates:

   • Check if your printer driver is up to date. Visit the HP Support - Software and Driver Downloads to download and install the latest drivers for your device.
   • Update your printer’s firmware if an update is available. This can resolve many operational issues related to duplex printing.

4. Inspect and Clean Printer Components:

   • Check for paper jams or obstructions in the duplexing area. Remove any debris or stuck paper carefully.
   • Clean the duplex mechanism to ensure smooth paper movement through the duplex path.

5. Conduct a Printer Reset:

   • Perform a printer reset by turning off the printer, unplugging it from the power source for about a minute, and then plugging it back in and turning it back on.

6. Consult the User Manual:

   • For specific guidance related to your printer model, refer to the user manual or the HP support documentation provided with your printer.

If the issue persists after following these steps, consider reaching out to HP Support for further assistance.