HP Laserjet 2100 M/TN - is it too old for my new Windows 10 computer?before it was on Windows 7

[JJK7]

HP Laserjet 2100 M/TN - is it too old for my new Windows 10 computer? before it was on Windows 7 -

It is not recognized or it won't install on my new Windows 10 computer -

Nothing from the HP website works for it

I do not have the installation disc that came with it years ago.

I'm wondering if I should give up  - it is not compatible because it is so old????

[ShlomiL]

Hi,

The drivers for your printer are available via Windows Update.

Please follow below steps to install your printer on a Windows 10 PC:

https://support.hp.com/hr-en/document/c04745752

Shlomi

[JonathanRC]

Hey there JJK7,

Today might be your lucky day.  You'll be my first guinea pig, as I have a solution that works for me, and may work for you if you want to go through this process.  (Others are welcome to try this out, of course.  That's what this article is for!)  But there are three requirements to validating my solution (that worked for me):

0.  You are using Microsoft Windows 10 [Version 1803] (OS Build 17134.1365).  This is the tested OS version I have.  If you have a different Windows 10 OS, "your mileage may vary".

1.  You'll need to obtain the *exact* HP driver on your own (it's out there on the internet, if you look hard enough).  Google "UPD PCL5 6.1.0 x64".  😊

2.  You'll need to have installed, configured, and tested a model of HP JetDirect EIO card on the 2100 printer.  This step is outside the scope of my solution and left to you to validate the card works and can print a document from the network.  I expect this setup because the parallel port is a legacy peripheral connector (not natively supported on Windows 10) versus the USB ports natively supported on Windows 10.  I am using JetDirect model 615n in my setup.

Background:

1.  The HP LaserJet 2100 family (2100/2100M/2100TN) is no longer supported on Windows 10.  That is my unofficial conclusion.  You probably were aware of that having looked at the driver list pre-installed on your Windows 10 OS.  Even with the refreshed list after clicking on the "Windows Update" button on the printer selection list, you may have still noticed the same results (i.e., no selection for HP LaserJet 2100).

2.  If you attempt to download and use any of the HP.com acquired drivers currently available as of this article, then none of them will work "out-of-the-box".  I've tried "a good number" of them and none of them worked or worked correctly.  (And no, I haven't tried tweaking them...nor am I inclined to do so.  -J)

Solution Steps:

1.  Research and try to locate/download the driver from the internet.  The driver you are looking for is the HP Universal Printer Driver (UPD) for PCL 5 (6.1.0).  The filename is "upd-pcl5-x64-6.1.0.20062.exe".  This is the 64-bit non-specific-model driver that provides for PCL v5 language that older printers support, including the HPLJ2100.  Not 5e, not 6,...5!  And use version 6.1.0.  This is the last UPD version that provides for PCL 5 (and only PCL 5) support for x64.  When you find that driver file, be sure it is non-tampered.  The MD5 you are looking for must match this:

MD5 Hash | Filename | Bytes

7cc935b12a16541804eeecec3be4de66 | upd-pcl5-x64-6.1.0.20062.exe | 19786968

If it doesn't match, then the file is not genuine, as far as I am concerned.  You can submit the file to an online MD5 hash generator and confirm it for yourself.  Just google "online md5".

2.  Right-click on the file and extract it to a folder.  It is a self-extracting zip file (SFX ZIP).  In that folder you want to take note of the files matching "hpcu180t.*".  The "hpcu180t.inf" is the INF file you will need to refer to later on (see Steps 11 & 12).

3.  In the Control Panel > View Devices and Printers > click "Add a Printer" 

4.  On the next screen, click "The printer that I want isn't listed"

5.  On the next screen,  "Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings", then click Next button.

6.  On the next screen "Choose a printer port" select "Create a new port", and select as Type of port "Standard TCP/IP Port", then click Next button.

7.  On the next screen "Type a printer hostname or IP address" provide your hostname/IP address, but be sure to deselect "Query the printer and automatically select the driver to use".  You will manually force the driver selection later.  Click the Next button.

8.  Windows will atttempt to communicate to the host/port.

9.  On the next screen "Additional port information required", select "Standard" and "Hewlett Packard Jet Direct", then click Next button.

10.  On the next screen "Install the printer driver", click "Have Disk"

11.  On the next screen "Install from Disk" click the Browse button to the path where the hpcu180t.inf file is located (back on step 2).

12.  Be sure to only select the "hpcu180t.inf" file before you click Open button.  Do not choose any other .inf file.  This particular file is the "Hewlett-Packard LaserJet combined printer driver INF file" (as noted on Line 1 of the file contents).  No, you will not find any mention of "LaserJet 2100" or "2100" in this file.  Just trust me on this.

13.  On the "Install from Disk", click the OK button.

14.  On the "Install from printer driver" screen, select the "HP Universal Printing PCL5 (v6.1.0)", then click Next button.

15.  On the "Type a printer name", you can keep or change the name to your liking, then click Next button.

16.  This will take some time.  Just a bit of patience.  Don't click Cancel. 😊

17.  On the "Printer Sharing" screen, I did not share this printer.  Although at this point, the driver is almost installed and sharing the printer should not make a difference.  It's your call at this point (and yours to handle as well).  Click Next button.

18.  The wizard is now complete and you can click "Print a test page" or click "Finish"

19.  Here is the Test Page sample (actual copy from my 2100m).

Actual Printer Test Page from my HP LaserJet 2100M under Windows 10 Enterprise OS.

Notes:

1.  Because this is a Universal Printer Driver (UPD) most of the "universal" settings common to many HP printers are provided in the driver.  But certain model-specific settings may not be available using this driver.  This is a "trade-off".  Of course there's always the option of buying a new printer.  😁

Best of luck to you (and those who find this article helpful),

JonathanRC