HP 5255 duplex cuts off top and bottom of page

[CR0]

Just bought a new HP 5255 and attached to Windows 10.  It prints PDF single side fine, but duplex pages are cut off at the top and bottom.  It looks like a duplex page front image is shifted down 1/8" and the top 13/16" of the page are blank;and bottom 7/8" are blank. Back page image is shifted up by 1/8" and top 1/2" is blank (not sure about bottom margin).  I'm imagining that this has to do with the duplexer holding onto paper, but if this is the way things are for duplexing it's worthless.  Is wrecking havoc with trying to print tax forms without scaling. *sigh*

[Dragon-Fur]

@CR0 

IF you are using the Chrome browser to print, the following might apply (or at least give you a place to check / start):

Chrome > Settings > Print > More Settings

• If margins are left at Default, the print may start 2 inches from the top of the paper >> check!
• If needful, adjust your margins and / or settings to Fit-to-Width
• Switch on / off printing of Headers and Footers
• Depending on your version of Chrome / OS, access Chrome Settings
• Page Range is controlled in "Print using system dialog..."

Download, Install, Open Chrome > Look for Settings icon:

Three vertical dots – upper right corner of Chrome window: 

Place mouse at the right side of the Preview window to see settings for Fit width and Zoom in / out

Print_Preview_Chrome_2_Margins 

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[CR0]

not using chrome.  Tried the PDF is both Microsoft Edge and Acrobat Reader DC and have the same problem.  I can't find any HP printer related tool that lets me manipulate the margins. *sigh*

[CR0]

Following up as there's new information.  Maybe it will help future generations....

Earlier I had allowed windows 10 to discover and install the printer.  When I printed duplex from Acrobat Reader DC the printer would print the first side, pause, suck the page back in and print the second side, then eject the page.  Duplex pages like this were either shrunken or had white margins that cut off the top and bottom of the docment.  (In my case I'm doing tax returns so neither is acceptable).

So, I updated the firmware from VERPLSPPIN003.1833A.00 to VERPLSPPIN003.1904A.00 (it took 3 tries and 45 minutes to finally get it to successfully update *shees*) and allowed HP Print and Scan Doctor to reload the drivers etc (to version 044.003.2218.18109).  After much rebooting and such now things behave differently.  When I print a duplex document, it prints the even number pages and ejects them into the output try, then I'm told to manually move them back into the input tray.  The printer then prints the odd pages on the already printed paper.  Best of all, the printed document are no long squished nor clipped *yay*

So, I can at least get the 5255 to print duplex documents correctly.  I'm not sure what part of what I did "fixed" things, but....

I would still like to hear from someone who can explain the whole 5255 duplex thing and what's going on.  For example, is it possible to turn the automatic duplexing back on?  Was it just a feature in earlier versions of SW/FW that got turned off?  Just curious.

[Dragon-Fur]

@CR0 

Reinstalling the printer software may have left the "duplexer" in an "uninstalled" condition.

Try / Consider:

Duplex feature installed?  (Model Dependent)

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers >

Right-Click Printer > Printer Properties > tab Device Settings >

Under Installable Options > Automatic Duplexing Unit > Select / Verify Installed > OK

Tray installed?  For printers having more than one tray:

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers >

Right-Click Printer > Printer Properties > tab Device Settings >

Under Installable Options > Tray #  > Select Installed > OK

In general, PDF Reader software does not control Margins beyond what is necessary to ensure the content can be fitted to the page size.

For example,

Create a Word document and change the margins in that document, including any changes to the gutter (used for booklet and to control left / right spacing to the edge of the page),

Export the document to PDF format,

Open the saved file in Adobe Reader DC (PDF reader software),

The saved margins from the Word document have been exported along with the document content.

This means, for example, that you can manipulate the margins as desired, save / export the document and the margins persist in the new (PDF) format of that document.

What does this mean in practice?  Honestly, considering the odd behavior from the printer software / firmware / File System, I am glad you have had the amount of success you have managed thus far.

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We are a world community of HP enthusiasts dedicated to supporting HP technology.

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[CR0]

That may have been part of the problem.  I discoverd that there are actually 2 HP 5255 defined on my machine.  One is the WiFi version the other the USB version.  One had the duplexor defined as installed, the other didn't.  Anyway the automatic duplexor seems to be working and not cutting off the pages.  Unfortunately I can't run any more tests because this was at my mom's and I had to leave before I could verify everything.  In any case, if someone else runs into this I would suggest updating the Firmware and see if that's the fix.