HP LASERJET 4 PLUS ON WINDOWS 10

[rfk15n]

Uninstall and re install the printer. It should work

[CSE1]

Forgot all about doing this with USB port. Been years since I have had to do this. Thanks for jogging my memory. Worked like a charm once I found the right port number.

[TulipsMom]

I got my HP Laserjet 4 Plus to work in a brand new desktop computer with Windows 10 Professional using the original parallel cable I have been using for years. Here is what I did.  Be aware that updates to Windows 10 may from time to time disrupt funtionality of devices.  This is being written 4/11/2016 with an up-to-date install of Windows 10 Pro.

1. Purchase a new Startech.com 1 Port PCI express parallel adapter card–SPP/EPP/ECP, Part no. PEX1P

https://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/Parallel/1-Port-EPP-ECP-PCI-Express-Parallel-Card-~PEX1P

(If you are using a cable that needs a serial port on the computer their chat guy suggests using the Startech.com serial port part no. PEX1S952 which can be found at:

http://www.startech.com/PEX1S952#dnlds

However, the use of a serial port requires a specific HP serial cable (HP part no. C2073A which is likely to be no longer available), and the parallel cable is more generic. Startech can probably provide you with a suitable compatible parallel cable. You will need a shielded Bi-Tronics parallel interface cable with a 25 pin male plug (that plugs into the parallel port on the computer) and a 36-pin male plug (that plugs into the printer port). Since you need a new port anyway, I strongly recommend going with a parallel cable, which will access the printers more advanced functions according to the manual, such as bi-directional communication between the printer and the computer and faster transmission of data. Note that the printer must be within ten feet of the computer for a parallel cable to work well. I think sticking with the original cable type that the printer was built for is the best option for avoiding problems, but this is just my opinion and I know people say they have gotten it to work fine using adapters for a USB port as well.  I know nothing about using a USB adapter myself.

2. Install the parallel port card in an available PCI express slot on your motherboard according to package directions. Try to use a very short card slot, as this will hold the far end of the card down firmly in the slot better.

3. Turn on your computer and it should recognize the new device–the parallel port card–and windows will automatically install a driver. This is the driver I am using which has been successful, so I would try that first. If the windows driver doesn’t work for you, proceed as follows:

Go to http://www.startech.com/Cards-Adapters/Parallel/1-Port-EPP-ECP-PCI-Express-Parallel-Card-~PEX1P#dnld...

and download the zip file you will find there named PLX_PCIe.zip. Go to This PC > downloads and click on this file, then choose the Windows folder. Then choose the Windows 7 - 10 file and follow screen instructions to install the driver. The same driver works for both the parallel port and the serial port mentioned above. (FYI I consulted a an online chat agent when looking at the driver page at Startech who was very helpful. Startech has lots of cables and other types of parallel ports so they may have something better suited to your computer if you consult them before buying. Also I had my new parallel port installed on a new ASUS H170 Pro motherboard and they seem perfectly compatible).

4. Once the driver is installed, restart your computer.  Right click on your Start button, and choose Control Panel > Device Manager > Port (COM & LPT). A list of installed ports should drop down to show an LPT port which will be the parallel port you just installed, it will say PCI express ECP parallel port (LPT1) or some other LPT number. (If you do not see an LPT port listed, turn off the computer and make sure the new card is firmly seated in its slot, then try again.) Click on the LPT port, which will open a Properties window with several tabs along the top. Click on the “Port set-up” tab. Be sure the following are selected: tick the radio button beside “Use any interrupt assigned to the port”; check the box beside “Enable legacy plug & play detection” and choose a port assignment for the LPT port from the drop-down menu (this has 3 options for those that have more than one parallel port. Apparently it doesn’t matter which port is selected as long as you only have one parallel port installed. Click OK to exit this window.

5. Shut down your computer. Plug your parallel cable into your printer and into the new LPT port. Turn on your computer and your HP 4 Plus printer.

6. To be honest, at this point things happened fast. I never saw any indication that a new device was found, but it immediately appeared as an installed printer in my drop-down list from within a word processor. To check, go to Start (right click) > choose Control Panel > Devices and Printers. Your printer icon should now show up in the list of installed printers. Open a document, go to print as you normally would, choose this printer and try to print something. The printer option details window for this printer should be there. It does not appear to be a basic generic driver either because it provides for duplexing and looks just like previous drivers specific to this printer. Print a test page. Hopefully you will have the same luck I did and your printer will be working good as new!!

Although I cannot say for certain, I would think that the process for getting your printer to work with a new serial port card would require the same basic steps as described here.

If you have a duplexer attachment and Windows is not recognizing it, be sure you have administrator privileges before proceeding. Then open Control panel > Devices and Printers. Put your mouse pointer on the icon for the Laser-Jet 4+ printer, right click and choose printer properties and then click on the security tab. Under “Permissions for Everyone,” be sure both “Print” and “Manage this printer” are checked in the allow column. Hit apply. Then go to the Device Settings” tab; the lowermost header should be “Installable options.” Under Duplex unit, choose Installed from the drop-down menu. Click apply and then ok.

GOOD LUCK!!!!   I had to do some digging to get this information and hope it is helpful to all the other faithful followers fo the HP laserjet 4+!!!

Warmly,

Tulipsmom

[ron536]

Followed the directions from rft15n.  Printer was recognized set as default printer and printed test page.  Nothing happened.  Checked printer status and it showed test page printing.  Waited 10 min. still nothing.  Tried to cancel job.  Status changed but did not complete after another 10 min.  Seems stuck.  Any ideas on what to try next?

[ron536]

opened device manager on windows 10 and did not see open ports tab.  Where is it?

[TulipsMom]

RE: finding ports tab in device manager.  You must first locate your Parallel port.  You should see Ports (COM & LPT) in the alphabetical list.  Open that, your parallel port will be called PCI Express ECP parallel port (LPT#), at least mine is.   Click on that (or right click and choose properties) and the second tab from the left reads PORT SETTINGS.   Of course, if you do not yet have a parallel port installed there will be no such listing in device manager.

[TulipsMom]

I am not sure what directions you followed from rft15n.  I suggest you go in and cancel any stuck print jobs, uninstall the Laserjet 4 Plus printer and start from scratch using my directions.  See long and detailed directions from Tulipsmom entitled HP LASERJET 4 Plus on Windows 10. 

[GMoyer]

The Laserjet 4 driver does not show up in the list of printers.  

[Dreadmouse]

I comfirmed it does work and I didnn't have any previous windows 7 drivers I used the ones included with widows 10. Make sure your USB -> Parallel cord is connected, and the printer is turned on and connected to the USB / Parallel adapter.

Step 1: Goto Printers & Devices, and select install printer.

Step 2: Mine didn't find a printer, so click on "The Priter that I want isn't listed"

This screen will appear. Select the option highlighted below and click next.

Then this screen will appear, click on the dropdown that is highlighted below.

Change it to this option, and then click next.

This screen comes up next, this is where you will choose your actual printer model, in my case I have HP Laserjet 4L.

When you click next, if it asks if you want to use the driver that is already installed just choose yes. Once it finishes installing, (takes a minute or two) it will then ask you to print a test page. Viola! Your done. Hope this helps everybody out.

[GMoyer]

I too had this problem and Microsoft support spent about 1.5 hours trying to install the printer but could not find the drivers.  I called HP Business Support (800) 334-5144 and the tech emailed me links to the following 

HP LaserJet USB (DOT4) communication driver for Windows 8 and Higher (64-bit)

http://h20566.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?sp4ts.oid=4157320&swItemId=fp_148007_1&swEnvOid=419...

which I installed and then I installed  the following driver:

-HP Universal Print Driver for Windows PCL6 (64-bit):

http://h20566.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?sp4ts.oid=4157320&swItemId=ds_99374_15&swEnvOid=419...

I then did a manual install of the HP Laserjet 4 and IT WORKS!  Good Luck.