Issue with Driver on LaserJet Pro M404dw

SimonMW · ‎09-27-2019

I have a new LaserJet Pro M404dw, installed as a network printer only (i.e. no USB). Printing works fine from mobile devices, but printing from Windows 10 with the official HP driver is very problematic. Many PDFs won't print (Acrobat Reader and / or Microsoft Edge freeze or throw errors when trying to print), and I have had issues printing from Excel (365) when using the standard driver.

Specific issues when using the driver: HP LaserJet Pro M404-M405 PCL-6 (V4) v48.3.4530:

From Acrobat Reader printing some PDFs - Acrobat Reader freezes at the "Flattening" stage, the printer wakes up as if to get ready to print, but then everything stops.

From Edge printing some PDFs - "Your printer has experienced an unexpected configuration problem 0x80020101", and won't print

From Excel it either freezes at the "Now printing page 1 of 1...: dialog box, or sometimes returns an error "Your file could not be printed due to an error... there are several possible reasons: Not enough printer memory There may be a problem with the network There may be loose cables" etc.

I have installed the HP Universal PCL6 driver and I can now print the same files from the same PC. In Excel, if it has generated the error above using the 'normal' driver, I have to quit Excel and come back in, and then it will print OK with the Universal Driver only.

The standard driver is buuuuugggggy.

Anyone else having similar issues??

Repairatrooper · ‎09-28-2019

The UPD driver is your best choice. Also be aware that the V4 driver may be a Microsoft driver and not the HP driver. Also make sure that the driver is using a TCP/IP port and not a WSD port as there are a lot of issues with printers going offline when using WSD.

If you find the information provided useful or solves your problems, help other users find the solution easier by marking my post as an accepted solution. Clicking "yes" on "was this reply helpful" also increases the chances that this solution will help others.
I am a volunteer, offering my knowledge to support fellow users, I do not work for HP nor speak for HP.

SimonMW · ‎09-29-2019

Thanks @repairatrooper.

Using UPD driver with TCP port seems to be OK. The M404dw "native driver" is the one downloaded from HP, but not sure on its provenance. It defaults to WSD port on its setup, and changing it to use TCP seems to generate a new printer in Control Panel which just generates errors.

So at this stage I'll stick with using UPD driver / TCP and see how things go.

Create an account on the HP Community to personalize your profile and ask a question