HP Colour LaserJet 2605dn problems

[Ivor Jones]

Hi All,

I have just bought a new HP Colour LaserJet 2605dn printer, but I am
having problems with paper size and duplex printing.

Here in the UK the standard paper size is A4 but the default when the
printer comes out of the box is "letter" which I presume is a US size. I
set the default paper size to A4 and for ordinary single sided printing it
is fine, but when I try duplex printing from some (not all) applications,
I have problems. Mainly it is with Outlook Express, if I try and print an
email which goes onto more than 2 pages, the printer jams when the 2nd
sheet starts to print.

If I set the paper size to "letter" it prints ok but I get another sheet
with an error message on it afterwards which reads:

PCL XL error

Warning: IllegalMediaSource


If it's important, I have installed an additional 128MB memory DIMM.

If I try and cancel the print, I also get an error 49 message and have to
switch the printer on and off again.

Does anyone have any ideas..? As it's the weekend I can't contact HP until
Monday. As I've only just bought the printer, the retailer says they will
take it back and I can have a replacement or a refund, but I don't want to
do that if it's a configuration error. I use the printer on 2 computers,
both running WinXP Pro, the printer is connected to the network on
Ethernet not USB.


Ivor

 

[Tony]

Hi All,

I have just bought a new HP Colour LaserJet 2605dn printer, but I am
having problems with paper size and duplex printing.

Here in the UK the standard paper size is A4 but the default when the
printer comes out of the box is "letter" which I presume is a US size. I
set the default paper size to A4 and for ordinary single sided printing it
is fine, but when I try duplex printing from some (not all) applications,
I have problems. Mainly it is with Outlook Express, if I try and print an
email which goes onto more than 2 pages, the printer jams when the 2nd
sheet starts to print.

If I set the paper size to "letter" it prints ok but I get another sheet
with an error message on it afterwards which reads:

PCL XL error

Warning: IllegalMediaSource


If it's important, I have installed an additional 128MB memory DIMM.

If I try and cancel the print, I also get an error 49 message and have to
switch the printer on and off again.

Does anyone have any ideas..? As it's the weekend I can't contact HP until
Monday. As I've only just bought the printer, the retailer says they will
take it back and I can have a replacement or a refund, but I don't want to
do that if it's a configuration error. I use the printer on 2 computers,
both running WinXP Pro, the printer is connected to the network on
Ethernet not USB.


Ivor

Yes, Letter is a US paper size.
It sounds like configuration to me.
Have you access to the printer setup via your web browser. You should be able
to type the ip address of the printer into your web browser and set all the
printer parameters from there.
Also, if you get into the printer properties from Control Panel/Printers check
all the settings there and as well as that check them under Preferences.

Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[Warren Block]

Hi All,

I have just bought a new HP Colour LaserJet 2605dn printer, but I am
having problems with paper size and duplex printing.

Here in the UK the standard paper size is A4 but the default when the
printer comes out of the box is "letter" which I presume is a US size. I
set the default paper size to A4 and for ordinary single sided printing it
is fine, but when I try duplex printing from some (not all) applications,
I have problems. Mainly it is with Outlook Express, if I try and print an
email which goes onto more than 2 pages, the printer jams when the 2nd
sheet starts to print.

If I set the paper size to "letter" it prints ok but I get another sheet
with an error message on it afterwards which reads:

PCL XL error

Warning: IllegalMediaSource

Everything needs to agree on paper size:

The printer needs to know what size of paper is loaded. Some printers
detect the paper size from the way the partitions in the paper tray are
set, some printers have it set from the control panel, some need both.

The driver on the computer has to be set to the type of paper that is
loaded.

The application program also has to be set to the correct paper size.

Does anyone have any ideas..? As it's the weekend I can't contact HP until
Monday. As I've only just bought the printer, the retailer says they will
take it back and I can have a replacement or a refund, but I don't want to
do that if it's a configuration error. I use the printer on 2 computers,
both running WinXP Pro, the printer is connected to the network on
Ethernet not USB.

So there are six places to check: the menus on the printer, the tray on
the printer, the driver settings on both computers, and the applications
settings on both computers.

 

[Ivor Jones]

[snip]

Yes, Letter is a US paper size.
It sounds like configuration to me.
Have you access to the printer setup via your web
browser. You should be able to type the ip address of the
printer into your web browser and set all the printer
parameters from there.
Also, if you get into the printer properties from Control
Panel/Printers check all the settings there and as well
as that check them under Preferences.

Hi Tony,

Tried all that, all settings are correct for the paper size. It seems for
some strange reason to be confined to emails, I have printed loads of
stuff in other applications such as Word and Excel, Acrobat etc. including
the 200+ page user guide (why doesn't anyone supply a printed manual any
more..?!) and that all worked fine, it seems to be just email. I have
tried both Outlook Express and Thunderbird, and it's the same in both. But
it only happens if the message is more than two pages, if it's just 2
pages it prints onto both sides of a single page fine, it's only if
another sheet is involved it does it.

Very strange, oh well I will phone HP in the morning and see if they've
any ideas.

Very annoying as well, as in all other respects it's a great printer, but
the reason I bought it was the built in duplexer as well as it being
colour.

Ivor

 

[Tony]

[snip]

Yes, Letter is a US paper size.
It sounds like configuration to me.
Have you access to the printer setup via your web
browser. You should be able to type the ip address of the
printer into your web browser and set all the printer
parameters from there.
Also, if you get into the printer properties from Control
Panel/Printers check all the settings there and as well
as that check them under Preferences.

Hi Tony,

Tried all that, all settings are correct for the paper size. It seems for
some strange reason to be confined to emails, I have printed loads of
stuff in other applications such as Word and Excel, Acrobat etc. including
the 200+ page user guide (why doesn't anyone supply a printed manual any
more..?!) and that all worked fine, it seems to be just email. I have
tried both Outlook Express and Thunderbird, and it's the same in both. But
it only happens if the message is more than two pages, if it's just 2
pages it prints onto both sides of a single page fine, it's only if
another sheet is involved it does it.

Very strange, oh well I will phone HP in the morning and see if they've
any ideas.

Very annoying as well, as in all other respects it's a great printer, but
the reason I bought it was the built in duplexer as well as it being
colour.

Ivor

Let us know how you get on please.
Many thanks
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[Ivor Jones]

newsart1of1.1.MT%[email protected]

[snip]

Hi Tony,

Tried all that, all settings are correct for the paper
size. It seems for some strange reason to be confined
to emails, I have printed loads of stuff in other
applications such as Word and Excel, Acrobat etc.
including the 200+ page user guide (why doesn't anyone
supply a printed manual any more..?!) and that all
worked fine, it seems to be just email. I have tried
both Outlook Express and Thunderbird, and it's the same
in both. But it only happens if the message is more
than two pages, if it's just 2 pages it prints onto
both sides of a single page fine, it's only if another
sheet is involved it does it.

Very strange, oh well I will phone HP in the morning
and see if they've any ideas.

Very annoying as well, as in all other respects it's a
great printer, but the reason I bought it was the built
in duplexer as well as it being colour.

Ivor

Let us know how you get on please.
Many thanks
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

Ok, the guy at HP seemed to think it might be a hardware problem in that
it seems that the printer is attempting to take a 2nd sheet from the paper
tray before the first one has finished printing. Why it is confined to
some programs remains a mystery, but as the retailer is prepared to allow
me to return the printer for a refund or replacement within 14 days I
think I'll try another one and see if I get the problem again (hopefully
not..!)

Ivor

 

[Ivor Jones]

[snip]

Let us know how you get on please.
Many thanks
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

Ok, the guy at HP seemed to think it might be a hardware
problem in that it seems that the printer is attempting
to take a 2nd sheet from the paper tray before the first
one has finished printing. Why it is confined to some
programs remains a mystery, but as the retailer is
prepared to allow me to return the printer for a refund
or replacement within 14 days I think I'll try another
one and see if I get the problem again (hopefully not..!)

Right, I exchanged the printer for a new one today, and guess what, the
problem remains, so it isn't the printer itself. I am coming to the
conclusion that it's something contained within certain emails, as if I
cut/paste the text from the ones that fail to print to a text editor or
Word, they print fine, duplex and all.

Very strange, but at least I know now. I'd be interested to hear if any
other users of this printer model have had similar problems though.


Ivor

 

[GeoffH]

Hello Ivor,
I'm considering buying on of these printers.
What is your opiinion of it so far?
I'm looking to print photos taken of my hobby projects ie plastic
models and figurine painting.
Cheers
GeoffH
(The Pirate)
Norfolk - UK not VA

 

[Ivor Jones]

Hello Ivor,
I'm considering buying on of these printers.
What is your opiinion of it so far?
I'm looking to print photos taken of my hobby projects ie
plastic models and figurine painting.
Cheers
GeoffH
(The Pirate)
Norfolk - UK not VA

It's a great printer, apart from the duplex printing problem I've got. I
am convinced it's a config problem rather than the printer itself, but I
haven't got a clue and neither have HP tech support..!

If you do get one, let me know if you have the same or any other
problem..!


Ivor