Resurrecting an Old LaserJet Printer

If you are like me, upgrading your computer and figuring out how to run your old software and legacy the hard way can be a tedious and frustrating task. Have you ever got a new computer home and realized that your scanner, camera, or beloved printer won't work with the new technology? New software and hardware features contribute new possibilities for the future, but your old truthful peripherals are left on the wayside.

So what can you do with an old printer and won't work with your new equipment? Well it depends on what's wrong with meshing your old and new technology.

Software Incompatibilities

When Windows Vista and 7 first came out, there were many consumers "waiting in line" for Hp to publish drivers specifically for their computer. Some drivers were never written and made available to the public. It is easy to see why, Hp has minuscule incentive to contribute drivers for older printers when they encourage upgrading to a new printer (which may use more costly toner).

As a suggestion, you could try using older printer drivers for your newer operating system. You may also want to try using drivers for a slightly dissimilar printer (one model estimate up or down) from yours. Drivers for printers turn very minuscule from operating principles version to operating principles version.

Hardware Incompatibilities

For example, if you get a new computer and perceive that your older Hp LaserJet 1100, 3100, 3200, or 4600 printer does not have a parallel (or centronics) connector, you can purchase an adapter. This adapter (or two) goes in the middle of the printer and the new computer. Windows (or Snow Leopard) should setup the Usb drivers automatically and then automatically setup the printer drivers. In the example of the Hp 1100 cable, you could purchase a "mini centronics" to centronics adapter and then purchase a Usb to parallel cable. I have seen a lot of success with this combination. These cables are sold by many reputable cables.

Resurrecting an Old LaserJet Printer

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Troubleshot a Hp Laserjet 1100 Persistent Paper Jam

The Hp LaserJet 1100 is a great printer due to its small footprint, cheap cartridges, and relatively easy setup process on Windows machines. These features have caused many consumers to ask why an upgrade to a separate printer is needed. If you can overcome some minor flaws with the printer, the Hp 1100 should last a genuinely long time.

As a technician, I've come over two main concerns with the 1100 series. First, the strange port on the back is called mini-centronics and many people don't know where to find the permissible connector to it. Next, this printer's paper is gravity feed so it moves in a downward petition for printing. This type of paper feeding caused a qoute with the disunion pad and many Hp 1100's advanced an issue where more than one piece of paper would feed straight through the printer at once. This description helps to address these two main issues and provide some inherent solutions so that your Hp 1100 printer can continue to be the workhorse it is.

First, Hp introduced the mini-centronics connector on many printers including the Color LaserJet 4600, the LaserJet 3200 all-in-one, and the LaserJet 1100 series. This port was no doubt a way for Hp to sell many of its cables and charging a excellent for this product since no other maker was using this port at the time.

Since Hp has stopped supporting these printers, many people wonder where they can find an adapter. The best thing to do is hunt online for a "mini-centronics to centronics adapter" and you'll find there are still many retailers online that offer this product. You can also get a Usb to parallel adapter and attach a centronics to mini-centronics adapter to it. This essentially provides a relationship to those newer computers that only have a Usb port available.

Next, the dreaded multiple feeding pages issue causing persistent paper jams. A while ago, Hp lost a class activity lawsuit about this qoute and released a "fix" which consisted of installing a new pad over the existing pad. This just caused more problems down the road because it put undo pressure on the feedroller requiring a visit to the tech shop.

For a more permanent fix, the Hp 1100 needs to have a full "separation pad kit" installed. It's not for the faint of heart because it involves taking off multiple covers and gaining way to the right components for a permissible replacement. This process takes time and a trained professional ordinarily needs about 15-20 minutes to setup the disunion pad, the guiding pads, and a new feed roller.

After this process is done though, the Hp 1100 will last much longer and will want less maintenance so replacing the pads is extremely encouraged by good technicians (instead of an upsell to a new model).

Troubleshot a Hp Laserjet 1100 Persistent Paper Jam

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