Laserjet 5500 detection/printing problems. Blank Pages and button push required for print job,

[TheWizardOfAhhs]

I have a Laserjet 5500 connected by USB (USB002) .  On the same PC I have a brother 9400 connected by USB (USB001).
First problem.  When launching any print job I need to press the button on the printer to get output.  SOmetimes I get an error 41 when I do.
Here is what I've done in my attempts to resolve.
1. check the device options.  Manual Feed is disabled.  Tray 1 set to Letter.  Tray 2 set to 11x17.  Tray 3 Disable.  Tray 4 Disable.
     Tray selection is automatic.
2. From devices and printers I go into printer properties and on the general tab, I print a test page.
At first I got to same behavior (I must press the button on the printer to get output.  Sometimes it's cut off (as if the output was being sent to 11x17 but printing on letter size paper)

Downloaded the print and scan doctor for windows 10.
This goes out and finds 3 printers!!!

The first is the Brother

The second is a HP Laserjet 5500 USB that is shown as not installed

The third is a HP Laserjet 5500 (doesnt say USB) that IS installed

So I select #3.  But print and scan doctor cannot talk to it.
So I selec #2.  Print and scan doctor can talk to it but insists that it is not installed.  and takes me to a place to download the driver.   (Please note that I have downloaded and tried installing both the DOT 4 driver and the other PCL 6 driver. and neither solves the problem.)
It is interesting to note here the following behavior:  In devices and printers, I can remove the 5500 and it disappears.
When I go to try and add the printer back in, it cannot find it. even when I manually specify it is on USB002 and then it cant find the appropriate driver.  (The drivers from HP come with an Installer not an INF file to set up.)  So that doesn't work.

I can bring the printer back two ways.  1 go into device manager and remove all the USB hubs and let them redetect  or reboot the PC.  (I cannot have the device reappear by simply scanning for new hardware).

After the device appears in device manager, it is back in devices and printers.   Normally you would expect everything to be OK now.  (but it isn't).  I go into device settings and set up the trays as stated above.  manual disabled, tray 1 letter, tray 2 11x17, tray 3&4 disabled.  I go to print a test page and it appears to start printing.  But the sheet is blank.
There is plenty of toner in this machine and since the test page includes both color and black, I should at least get somthing printed if one of the toners was out.

So here is where I am.  Can't print, and having to press a button.

I believe that if I had an INF driver, I could manually set this printer up and it might work.
I also believe that if I had a customized driver (instead of a universal driver it might work.
What I don't understand why the button must always be pressed.   Somehow, the printer is disrespecting the settings from it's own windows driver.

So it cannot be hardware or cable because the print and scan doctor can see it (just not as a usb connected printer, which it is).
I have adequate paper and toner in the machine.
The print and scan doctor does not recognize the properly installed driver for the printer.
And it won't let me manually install the driver.

Ideas anyone?

Ideas anyone?