PDE.plugin popup for HP Photosmart C4200 on a mac Catalina

[JanetQB]

I'm getting a "PDE.plugin will damage your computer" popup that was identified last year. How do I fix this when I try to print on my HP Photosmart C4280 printer (an old one part of the C4200 series) that used to work on my MacBook Air Catalina OS?

[ShlomiL]

Hi,

Please make sure your macOS is fully up to date by installing any update for Catalina:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201541

Next, uninstall any existing HP Software by following the HP Uninstaller Utility below:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/HP_Quick_Start/osx/Installations/Essentials/HP_Uninstaller...

Next, download and install the latest drivers below:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/HP_Quick_Start/osx/Applications/ASU/HPPrinterDrivers5.1.dm...

Finally,  open System Preferences, and then open Printers & Scanners to re-add your printer. be sure to select the printer model within the Use drop-down menu.

Shlomi

[JanetQB]

Thank you SchlomiL.

The driver for the HP Photosmart series 4200 is very old and when I tried to update it a few years ago HP did not include that driver anymore so I just continued using the version I had. Although since this PDE.plugin happened I can't print directly to the printer anymore, however I can convert to a PDF, copy that file to a thumb drive and print from my MacBook Pro. I'm afraid if I remove the printer from my MacBook Air which is my main computer with System Preferences I won't be able to re-add it or convert to PDF format. How can I be sure that HP has added the Photosmart series 4200 back after I run https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/HP_Quick_Start/osx/Applications/ASU/HPPrinterDrivers5.1.dm... and then remove my printer?

~ Janet

[ShlomiL]

Hi Janet,

You will must remove any driver first to repair it, the error will not disappear without fully removing the driver first, this is crucial..

The drivers above contain a working driver for a Photosmart C4200 printer, I can say this with 100% confidence.

To tell there are no possible issues for such an old product, there always are so I cannot guaranty there will be no issues, but I can certainly tell it is not likely to cause any such.