PCL XL Error, HP LaserJet 200 ColorMFP M276nw, Windows 8.1

[awiredguy]

Printer: HP Laserjet 200 ColorMFP M276nw

Installation: Wired Network using PCL6 Full Software package (latest available online)

OS: Windows 8.1 64-bit

Problem:

When printing from certain programs (for example Test Page, Microsoft Word), the printer will print a single page with the following:

PCL XL Error

Subsystem: Kernel

Error: IllegalTag

File Name: kernel.c

Line Number: 1921

Printing from notepad works fine. Printing from other computers over the wired network works properly.

Troubleshooting Steps Performed:

1. Firmware updated
2. Uninstall and Reinstall using latest software available online
3. Changing Optimize for Text under the advanced tab.

Thank you for your help.

[dansdaduk]

If the error is repeatable (i.e. exactly the same when reprinting the same document, using the same driver, to the same device), then it is likely that it is caused by a driver (or driver settings) fault.

There may be a more up-to-date driver available, or (depending on the printer model) you may perhaps be able to switch to a driver using a different Page Description Language(i.e. PCL5 or PostScript instead of PCL6 (the 'marketting' name for the PCL XL PDL)).

If the error(s) is/are random, they are much more likely to be the result of intermittent corruptions of the generated print stream between the workstation and the device (check cables, ports, switches, etc.).

With earlier generations of LaserJet printer, the format of the PCL XL error was slightly different (and conformed to the published language specification); e.g.:

PCL XL Error
  Subsystem: Kernel
  Error:     IllegalOperatorSequence
  Operator:  BeginPage
  Position:  173

 With this information, it was possible to compare a (repeatable) error with an analysis of a print stream (captured using the 'print to file' option), and (sometimes) work out what was wrong with the operator at the given position (which indicated the count of operators up to and including the erroneous one), and hence (perhaps) to lead to a workaround.

With the current generation  of printers, and the revised error message format, the File Name and Line Number values are only meaningful if you have access to the firmware source code (i.e. HP and/or whoever they sub-contract to write the firmware).

However, if you want to try some analysis, you might (or might not!) be able to obtain some more evidence if you capture a typical (small, sanitised data) print job (using the 'print to file' option), then analyse the resultant .prn file, using the PRN File Analyse tool in the PCL Paraphernalia application, available via http://www.pclparaphernalia.eu 

It may not tell you which operator or attribute might be erroneous, but the analysis might yield some clues. 

[awiredguy]

Thank you for the reply.

The problem does appear to be repeatable, so I am going to see if there is an option to convert from the PCL6 to PCL5 driver.

If that is not at an option, then I may be stumped. This is a strange problem indeed.

[awiredguy]

Hmm according to this web site, I do not believe PCL5 will be an option:

http://h20331.www2.hp.com/Hpsub/cache/344305-0-0-225-121.html

[awiredguy]

Update:

I could not find any other driver option besides the PCL6.

Two windows 7 machines print fine to the HP. One does so over a wired network, the other does so via USB.

Both Windows 8.1 machines spit out the PCL error pages when trying to print to the HP machine over the wired network.

Any other suggestions to get the Windows 8.1 machines printing properly would be greatly appreciated.

[dansdaduk]

Not sure what to advise without further evidence.

if you can capture a sample 'bad' print job (with 'sanitised' data), using the analysis tool I mentioned in a previous post may (but may not) yield some clues.

If you are unsure about this analysis, post the captured file here (within a .zip file) - if you are able to attach a file - you may not be able to without requesting moderator assistance.

... or send the details via email to the support contact at the PCL Paraphernalia site, with a reference to this topic.

[javi_españa]

I got exactly the same issue,with the same printer and the same error in windows 8.1 64 bits

[javi_españa]

CAn you help us??

[javi_españa]

pcl xl error

subsystem:  KERNEL

Error:    IllegalTag

file name:   kernel.c

line number:1921

[dansdaduk · Accepted solution]

As explained above, it could be a driver fault, or intermittent corruption by hardware, or (as http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printer-All-in-One-Software-Drivers/M175Nw-PCL-XL-errors/m-p/4940252 explains) the result of a recent update to AVG anti-virus.