HP Universal Print Driver

We have a print server with various models of HP printers. I have noticed that some newer models of HP printers come with the Universal Print driver rather than an individual print driver for that model. My question is does installing the Universal Print Driver on the server interfere in any way with the HP printers we have already installed. We have mainly laserjet 4000, 4050, 4250 and have them using there own driver. I understand that installing the UPD won't automatically make all printers suddenly start using that driver, but just want to make sure it doesn't affect them in any way like updating the odd dll. Is anybody running a mix of invidual drivers and the UPD? Did installing the UPD cause any issues?

The UPD should not impact the discrete (product specific) print drivers, unless there are shared component (dll) files. One thing to consider, is the PCL drivers do share the same unidrv "core" with other drivers (not exclusive to HP), which is provided by Microsoft. [The same holds true for the PS driver, and the pscript.dll core]. This core can be updated by a MS hotfix/patch/Windows Update, or by another company updating their software (ie. print driver update). MS acknowledges the update of this core may cause delays to a printing environment, while the update is occuring.
Additional info can be found at: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/967499. Although the document is written for clustering, it applies to other Windows technologies as well.
There is some pretty good documentation for the UPD, found on the "documentation" tab of www.hp.com/go/upd. The System Admin Guide discusses the ins-and-outs of the driver, migration strategies, and things to consider before implementing UPD in a print environment.

Similar Messages

HP Universal Printer driver no longer supporting T790ps

T790ps 44in Printer no longer available to be added using HP Universal Printer Driver PCL6 -
Was this removed from supported printers?
We only use IP printing and this printer is no longer able to be mapped using the HP UPD PCL6 -
Can someone please advise / update on this comment?
Thank You -

Sorry, I should have asked this earlier, what version of Windows are you using?
Since I don't want to waste too much more of your time with you waiting for me to reply, I will go ahead and give you two links of troubleshooting steps that I would recommend trying.
The Progress Bar on the Software Installation Stops or Stalls
'Device Setup Failed to Complete' or 'Unknown Device' Message Displays on the Computer in Windows Du...
The first one addresses the issue of the software not completing. The second, even though the title might not seem like an issue that you are having, addresses the issue of the printer not being recognized by USB.
Try those and let me know if either of them work. If they don't, get back to me with your version of Windows and I will see if I can find anything else to help you resolve your issue.
If I have been helpful or if you’d like to say thanks you can click the white star under my name to give me Kudos. I really appreciate it!
Best of luck,
Kyle
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Problem installing Laserjet 4050 in Windows 7 x64, No driver in Universal Print Driver v5.0.3

I have just installed Windows 7 64Bit operating system. I have be successful in installing several other more recent HP printers in the office. However, my main "workhorse" printer is a HP Laserjet 4050 and I have downloaded the Universal Printer Driver v5.0.3 for Windows x64 - PCL 5 and PCL 6, and in both cases it does not find a suitable driver. The HP download site states these Universal Drivers will work, but I cannot get it to install.
Is there a driver that will work on the 4050 in Windows 7 X64? Thanks everyone.

You're probably getting the "Windows cannot locate a suitable printer driver" error if you're trying to add the driver while adding a printer that is shared over the network. You see, HP's Universal Printer Driver (UPD) doesn't contain the PnpIDs of every printers it supports, so when you specify HP's UPD as the drivers for the network printer, if Windows can't find a match for the printer's PnpID it spits out the driver isn't compatible.
The way to overcome this is to install a "generic" printer locally, using HP's UP driver, and change the port afterwards to point to the shared printer. So, first, add a local printer (that will be using the LPT1 port - make sure no printer is attached!), and click on "Have disk(s)" to browse to and select HP's UPD. Going through the remaining steps should install a locally-attached printer named something like "HP Universal Printing PCL 5" (or "[..] PCL 6"). You'll then go in the new printer's properties, on the "Ports" tab, and click on "Add Port...". If you're installing a shared printer, you'll select "Local Port", click on "New Port..." and specify the path to the printer (e.g. \\myserver\hplaserj) as the port name. Those steps should do the trick.
Last thing: beware, though, as HP's UPD PCL 6 might not be compatible (anymore) with your LaserJet 4050, as they use a PCL XL class number/revision (class 2.1; sort of a version number of the protocol) that is higher than what your printer's firmware might support for PCL6 (should be class 2.0) I know the latest versions of HP's UPD PCL 6 doesn't work with our LJ 4000 & 4050 printers, so you might have to use the PCL5e driver for those 64-bit workstations.
Background info:
PCL XL error on Laserjet 4550n with PCL 6 driver [IT Resource Center Forums]
Universal Print Driver PCL6 broken on LaserJet 4000 [IT Resource Center Forums]
Printer Command Language [Wikipedia]
Let us know if it works.

Conflict Between HP Universal Print Driver 6.0 and Office 2013

Has anyone else noticed a conflict between the HP UPD v. 6.0 and Office 2013? We are running a Citrix environment with Office 2013 installed on a couple of application servers. Almost all of our printers are HP's, and we were trying to use the latest UPD (6.0) on our print server. However any time users print out of Outlook (yes people still do that) it crashes out and needs to be restarted. Printing from other applications works just fine. As a test I have tried the UPD v 5.8 and it seems to work ok. Obviously I've found a solution I was just curious if anyone else has noticed this conflict.
This topic first appeared in the Spiceworks Community

You're probably getting the "Windows cannot locate a suitable printer driver" error if you're trying to add the driver while adding a printer that is shared over the network. You see, HP's Universal Printer Driver (UPD) doesn't contain the PnpIDs of every printers it supports, so when you specify HP's UPD as the drivers for the network printer, if Windows can't find a match for the printer's PnpID it spits out the driver isn't compatible.
The way to overcome this is to install a "generic" printer locally, using HP's UP driver, and change the port afterwards to point to the shared printer. So, first, add a local printer (that will be using the LPT1 port - make sure no printer is attached!), and click on "Have disk(s)" to browse to and select HP's UPD. Going through the remaining steps should install a locally-attached printer named something like "HP Universal Printing PCL 5" (or "[..] PCL 6"). You'll then go in the new printer's properties, on the "Ports" tab, and click on "Add Port...". If you're installing a shared printer, you'll select "Local Port", click on "New Port..." and specify the path to the printer (e.g. \\myserver\hplaserj) as the port name. Those steps should do the trick.
Last thing: beware, though, as HP's UPD PCL 6 might not be compatible (anymore) with your LaserJet 4050, as they use a PCL XL class number/revision (class 2.1; sort of a version number of the protocol) that is higher than what your printer's firmware might support for PCL6 (should be class 2.0) I know the latest versions of HP's UPD PCL 6 doesn't work with our LJ 4000 & 4050 printers, so you might have to use the PCL5e driver for those 64-bit workstations.
Background info:
PCL XL error on Laserjet 4550n with PCL 6 driver [IT Resource Center Forums]
Universal Print Driver PCL6 broken on LaserJet 4000 [IT Resource Center Forums]
Printer Command Language [Wikipedia]
Let us know if it works.

HP Universal Print Driver version history or changelog impossible to find

Most software developed typically has a version history, also known as changelog, available to review changes since version X that the company has had involvement in development with. With the HP Universal Print Driver, UPD, this appears not to be the norm.
I found a document for release notes of HP Universal Print Driver v5.5.0.12834 which only has a narrow focus of a subset of the version history for that release found here: ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software12/COL40853/ds-99397-4/UPD_5.5.0.12834_ReleaseNotes.doc I've attempted to navigate the illogical structure of the ftp site to no avail to find anything that would be release notes for a previous version.
I'm trying to find the version history compiled in one nice location so that I may confirm something. If an example of what a changelog should look like please refer to this example: http://www.slysoft.com/download/changes_anydvd.txt

dxw,
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How-to for custom universal printer driver

Need to make a customized print driver, one time only. Not going to make a career out of this.
Is there a simple, step-by-step how-to for that anywhere?
(I've seen the 220+ page "guide", and that is not what I'm after. Way too many words for my ADD brain.)
Thanks very much.
This question was solved.
View Solution.

OK, Windows XP may not be quite as flexible in controlling what a determined user could do, but I would suggest the following:
Download and install two drivers, the Laserjet Enterprise 500 color M551 Printer series driver and the HP Universal Print Driver for Windows PCL5. After the printers are installed you can rename and customize them. I would suggest calling the universal driver one "Black Printing" or some such. Click Start, Control Panel, Printers and Faxes, right click on the HP Universal Printing PCL5, Properties, General, rename the printer to suit, Apply, click the Device Settings tab, scroll down near the bottom to Color Printing Mode and set this to Off, Apply, click the General tab, Printing Preferences, chooese the appropriate default print settings (it may be desireable for this printer to select Economode in the Paper/Quality tab), OK.
Similarily set the appropriate name and settings for the Laserjet 500 Color M551 version.
Bob Headrick, HP Expert
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HP Laserjet CP2025 Windows Server 2008 R2 Universal Printer Driver problem

Is there support for Windows Server 2008 R2 for the CP2025n printer, I've been trying to get it to work with a standard TCP port with the universal driver but no luck.
Any ideas?

I have Windows 2003 servers with the Universal PCL6 driver v5,4. It printed slower then the previous version. I manually changed the Device Settings, mainly the Monochrome / Color option. This seemed to make the print process faster.

In the HP Universal Print Driver no format C4 envelope

Hello! I have a printer HP Color LaserJet 5500 N. After installing Windows 8.1 and the Universal driver on the lists of possible formats is no paper Envelope C4. There is also no size A4 Rotated. Adding a new format does not work properly - requires that the envelope was placed long side and he naturally does not extend across the width, and it is necessary that he walked the short side, as it was in previous versions Windows with native drivers. In addition, HP Universal Print Drever correctly handle the media type - whatever paper was not choise in the list in the computer, and whatever settings should not put in the printer itself, the printer always require plain paper. Prompt whether to print something on my printer C4 envelopes from Windows 8.1?

Hi VadimVB,
I suspect your question would be better answered in the HP Enterprise Business Community, as the HP LaserJet 5500/n /dn /dtn and /hdn printer series is a commercial model.
My technical expertise is with consumer products and software, I am sure the commercial folks would be happy to help if you re-post your question for them to answer. The HP Enterprise Business Community is an HP Forum designed for the Commercial and Enterprise customers to help one another. I am sure you will find some HP folks there to help too.
Click here to log into the commercial forum > HP Enterprise Business Community
Best of luck.
Please click the Thumbs up icon below to thank me for responding.
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Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Sunshyn2005 - I work on behalf of HP

Iprint and HP universal print driver

J am currently installing windows 7 machines. I have netware 6.5 with sp8 and all iprint patches znc thd lztdxt 6r bit client. I used the HP universal pcl5 driver 5.5 but had a problem printing excel documents. I updated to version 5.7 from HP website and that fixed the problem with the spreadsheets but I have another app that uses a ini file which selects what tray to print from. It prints using the types of paper and not the tray numbers. However since upgrading to 5.7 it prints everything from the plain tray. Any suggestions or links to recommended hp upd would be much appreciated

dxw,
It appears that in the past few days you have not received a response to your
posting. That concerns us, and has triggered this automated reply.
Has your problem been resolved? If not, you might try one of the following options:
- Visit http://www.novell.com/support and search the knowledgebase and/or check all
the other self support options and support programs available.
- You could also try posting your message again. Make sure it is posted in the
correct newsgroup. (http://forums.novell.com)
Be sure to read the forum FAQ about what to expect in the way of responses:
http://forums.novell.com/faq.php
If this is a reply to a duplicate posting, please ignore and accept our apologies
and rest assured we will issue a stern reprimand to our posting bot.
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HP Universal Printer Driver Wizard prompts instead of properties ---HELP!!!

I have 2 print servers using Windows 2008 r2, both have universal printer drivers on them.
Every time I select a HP Printer, the HP Wizard comes up not the Properties. HELP

Hi,
i think something must have gone in the way the driver go installed.As far as I know the universal pritner driver has a feature that allows a user to install one 'printer' and the driver is able to select an online printer close to the user. If you install
it in that mode on the print server, it continuously searches for the printers.
Note that the firts time the driver connects to a printer it alwys needs to fetch info from the printer.
I would recommend reading through HP's documentation on the uiversal print driver and print servers. it's beefy, but it is good documenattaion.
if you other than that ned support in using the Hp Universal driver on Windows, I can only recomend to turn to HP support.
http://h20331.www2.hp.com/hpsub/cache/343033-0-0-225-121.html?jumpid=ex_r2845_go/upd
MCP/MCSA/MCTS/MCITP

Printing with xerox universal print driver

We just recently purchased a new computer for the office
that has Windows 7 x64 Professional with Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard (9.1.2). We have a Xerox printer in the office that only has a Global Print Driver (5.173.11). Whenever we try to print to this Xerox through Adobe we cannot change the paper size from 8.5x11. When we change the paper size in the Xerox driver, it does not update the paper size adobe will print to. It seems like Adobe is not communicating with the Xerox driver properly and I don't know how to force a paper size in Adobe without the driver telling Adobe what size it will be printing. Any ideas how I can get Adobe and this print driver to communicate correctly?

Update Acrobat 9. I think you need at least 9.2.2 for Windows 7 compatibility. Upgrade to the latest 9.3.4.

Universal Printer Driver for HP LaserJet 2015dn & 64-bit Windows 7 Lacks Many Features

On my new computer with 64-bit Windows 7 Professional, I tried installing the drivers from the LaserJet 2015dn's CD in Windows 7 Compatibility Mode. It produced error messages, but one time it got far enough to print, but it did not provide all the feature functionality present on my XP machines. (Such as Print On Both Sides, Correct Order for Straight Paper path, selectable customized settings I can save, etc.) When I went to the HP site directly, for my specific printer with "Windows 7 64-bit", I was directed to a Universal Driver file (the only choice) that gave essentially the same result -- except that Print On Both Sides is now available, but not any of the other features I use regularly. (For example, on my XP machines I am able to set up multiple Print Task Quick Sets in the Printing Preferences "Finishing" tab so that I can quickly select one with the features I want for a specific print job. That feature is not available with the Universal Driver.)
Please tell me how I can get the full functionality of the P2015dn to be available in 64-bit Windows 7.
I hope there is a specific driver set available for that printer that accesses all the features.
Thank you.

Hi AW-HW,
Although I'd like to help with your inquiry, I suspect your question would be better answered in the HP Enterprise Business Community, as the HP LaserJet P2015 Printer series is a commercial model.
My technical expertise is with consumer products and software, I am sure the commercial folks would be happy to help if you re-post your question for them to answer. The HP Enterprise Business Community is an HP Forum designed for the Commercial and Enterprise customers to help one another. I am sure you will find some HP folks there to help too.
Click here to log into the commercial forum > HP Enterprise Business Community
You may find what you are looking for on the HP LaserJet P2015 Printer series support page, while you wait for somebody from the commercial Forums.
I hope this helps, best of luck.
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Where can I download a previous version of the HP Universal Print driver (5.4) for XP/2003?

I have tried the support and drivers page but can only find 5.5
Anyone know if HP posts them somewhere?

I did some checking and I too was only able to find the most recent UPD 5.5 drivers.
The UDP 5.5 driver includes new updates and several bug fixes from previous versions.
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=4157320&...
You may find better results posting your question in the Business Support Forums under the Print Servers, Network Storage & Web Jetadmin or Software threads. Hopefully, someone has a copy of the older UPD 5.4 drivers.
http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Printing-and-Digital-Imaging/ct-p/bsc-412
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HP Universal Print Driver (UPD) problem with tcp/ip port

Hi,
We are facing, since few days, problems with HP UPD in windows 7. Let me explain.
For some reasons we need the auto update feature of HP UPD, but this feature does not works anymore.
We found that, when installing a printer, if we name the tcp/ip port with the dns name or ip the auto-update will work, but if we name the TCP/IP port with dummy text, the auto update feature won't work (can't connect to the printer). This is like the UPD
try to resolve the tcp/ip port name instead of tcp/ip port address.
This was working last month. We installed some windows updates on clients, and one of these updates screwed up the UPD. I have the list of installed updates but there are many, and if someone already had this problem and can help it would be nice. And if
nobody can help, maybe this message will put other poeple with the same problem on the way to solution.
We don't want to update the driver (too much printers involved, too much clients also)
Thx for reading and helping !

Hello SNoof,
What is your current situation?
About Troubleshoot problems with removing updates, please take a look at the following article.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-hk/windows/troubleshoot-problems-removing-updates#1TC=windows-7
1.Open Installed Updates by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking Programs, and then, under Programs and Features, clicking View installed updates.
2.Select the update that you want to remove, and then click Uninstall. Administrator permission required If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Best regards,
Fangzhou CHEN
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Universal Printer Driver unable to communicate with LaserJet P1606dn

Having UPD PCL5 installed on Windows Server 2003 which surprisingly works with Samsung printer (able to print) but strangefully unable to communicate with HP LasetJet P1606dn
Screenshot: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/534/39793853.jpg/
Please help!

Hello,
I see that you are having issues setting up the printer over the wireless network. I will certainly do my best to help you.
The password might not be recognized by the printer, if there are spaces or special characters in it.
Restore the printer defaults. Press the OK button, select Network Config, then select Restore Defaults.
Print a configuration page to make sure the SSID and the IPv4 address are cleared.
Printing a Configuration Report.
Run the printer software again and select Add a Device to setup the wireless again.
If you are having issues, then uninstall and reinstall the software to configure the wireless.
Uninstalling the Printer Software.
HP LaserJet Pro CP1525nw Color Printer Drivers.
If you need further assistance, just let me know.
Have a nice day!
Thank You.
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Gemini02
I work on behalf of HP

HP Universal Print Driver

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