Printer Stuff
Printer links. Stuff to print, how to print, what to print. Software to help do these things, etc.
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Install print driver without the printer available to plug in - many new printer driver installs want the printer available - often, you can extract the installer with 7zip (or other zip type program) and then from Printers list in Windows, in menu system, Server Properties, and add a driver for there. This is particularly useful for setting up home printers to work over Remote Desktop.
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Print Server settings (for removing printer drivers, ports, etc.) have moved in Win7 - see Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Print Management - Printer Servers.
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Share a printer via LPR / LPD is a good way to avoid authentication issues between a domain and off-domain computer.
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Advanced Print Features - disabling this for troubleshooting can be useful - it forces RAW mode, and you lose, well, advanced, features - https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/askperf/2007/10/23/disabling-advanced-print-features/
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Advanced Print should be disabled on the server for shared printers - side benefit, crashed drivers can't hurt the server! -http://www.papercut.com/kb/Main/EnableAdvancedPrintingFeatures
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NOT TESTED YET: Handy Windows Utility - can print text files from DOS for Windows Printers that don't support text mode (does that exist?), print to USB from DOS, and more - http://www.lerup.com/printfile/descr.html
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Print Server sharing (Windows) to both 64 bit and 32 bit machines must have the EXACT same printer name. Typically this means download a matching set from the manufacturers web sites and do NOT use the Windows built in one. (In a worse case scenario hack up the INF file) A similar issue can occur with Remote Desktop printer drivers.
Old Printer Support
OpenPrinting (formerly known as CUPS, I THINK) via WSL can keep old printers running in Windows 11 that have no native drivers.
https://www.theregister.com/2022/11/10/openprinting_keeps_old_printers_working/?td=rt-3a
Hardware Issues
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Paper Feeding is usually pick up rollers. Get replacements on eBay.... or.... try WD-40 (!) on the rubber. I have tested this, and it actually seems to work. The same source also suggested silicone (and letting it fully cure)
PCL5 vs PCL6 vs PS vs Universal Print Driver
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Apparently PCL6 is NOT a minimal update to PCL5. It better enables host based GDI printing, for better or worse. I.e. if things go haywire on PCL6, trying PCL5 might be a good idea.
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PCL5e is venerable black and white ONLY. PCL5c added support for colour, but may be less reliable.
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PCL6 b&w or colour.
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Universal Print Driver is NOT just a print driver that happens to be supported by multiple printers. It's a whole other layer in the print system. Again, another possible avenue of issues.
tags: printer, print, paper, sharing, settings,