M281fdw will only print b/w with PCL driver. Will not print at all with actual M281 driver.

[StephanieD3]

HP M281fdw printer is connected via USB cable to Dell desktop running Windows 10 64bit. Connecting the USB cable automatically installs the printer with the PCL 6 driver which does not recognize the printer is color. (it is not networked, only connects with USB cable)

Removed the printer, downloaded and ran the full software installer for the printer from the HP site. Printer still wants to use the PCL 6 driver but if I switch it to the M280-281 driver it will recognize the printer is color but nothing will print. A generic "there was an error printing" message appears and the job stops in the queue.

Additionally, when I tried the full software install a second time, I tried the manual installation option instead of automatic and it refused to find the printer was actually connected to the desktop. No matter how many times I disconnected and reconnected the cable, the installation software never identified the printer was connected.

So it will print in b/w only with the PCL6 driver but will not print at all with the M281fdw driver that recognizes it is color.

[ShlomiL]

Hi,
Please enter the Control Panel > Devices and Printers.
Right click the printer icon, then click Printer Properties.
Click the Device Settings tab.
Set the Device Type to Color rather then Automatic, then try printing and check for any difference.

Regards,
Shlomi

[StephanieD3]

Thank you for the reply.

I changed the Device Type to Color instead of Automatic but the printer properties still show as "Color: No".

[ShlomiL]

Please click on Preferences on this screen and select the color tab, then verify it is set to Color also and press OK, the open the Advanced tab and click the Prinitmf Defaults button and there too open the Color tab and ensure it os set to Color.

confirm any change by pressing OK till the Printer properties closed and open it again, may you see any difference?

If not, please also include a screenshot of the Color tab within the Printing Preferwnces screen.

Shlomi

[StephanieD3]

Here is the Color tab. You can see Easy Color was already checked and greyscale was not checked.

I could not find Prinitmf Default under the Advanced tab.

Note: I did try changing the ICM Method from Disabled to determined by the printer and that did not change anything.

I'm also including a screenshot of the printer specific driver that does NOT work - I just get a generic error message.

[StephanieD3]

Did you need any additional information?