HP LaserJet 5 - paper jam - please help

[Anna]

I have an awful paper jam. After taking out the toner cartridge,
I can see about 1" or 2" of the paper. I tried to pull it out but
it won't budge. And, I can't see the paper from the top.
How do I clear this paper jam?

 

[Don Phillipson]

I have an awful paper jam. After taking out the toner cartridge,
I can see about 1" or 2" of the paper. I tried to pull it out but
it won't budge. And, I can't see the paper from the top.
How do I clear this paper jam?

1. Check with www.fixyourownprinter.com. If this often
happens to the LJ5 a cure may be described.
2. Recovery may require special tools. Method (a) is to
loosen the roller or whatever pinches the paper. Method (b)
(usually simpler) is to use tweezers to pull the paper out
gently, a millimetre at a time. It occasionally helps to cut the
sheet into two (if you can do so without scratching the roller)
to remove each part separately.

 

[Ben Myers]

1. Check with www.fixyourownprinter.com. If this often
happens to the LJ5 a cure may be described.
2. Recovery may require special tools. Method (a) is to
loosen the roller or whatever pinches the paper. Method (b)
(usually simpler) is to use tweezers to pull the paper out
gently, a millimetre at a time. It occasionally helps to cut the
sheet into two (if you can do so without scratching the roller)
to remove each part separately.

Also, it is sometimes possible to rotate one of the rollers manually,
freeing up the paper.

With LaserJet 4, 5, and the newer 4000 series of LaserJets, I have found
that persistently tugging on the jammed paper frees it up... Ben Myers

 

[Adam]

1. Check with www.fixyourownprinter.com. If this often
happens to the LJ5 a cure may be described.
2. Recovery may require special tools. Method (a) is to
loosen the roller or whatever pinches the paper. Method (b)
(usually simpler) is to use tweezers to pull the paper out
gently, a millimetre at a time. It occasionally helps to cut the
sheet into two (if you can do so without scratching the roller)
to remove each part separately.

I cleared the paper jam using tweezers, which I tried last night but
it was too dark so I was hitting the metal (not the paper) above
the rollers at the exit. The paper was barely showing but,
luckily, I was able to "pull the paper out gently, a millimeter at a time".
That was the worst paper jam that I have ever encountered.

Thanks to all for responding.

 

[Adam]

I cleared the paper jam using tweezers, which I tried last night but
it was too dark so I was hitting the metal (not the paper) above
the rollers at the exit. The paper was barely showing but,
luckily, I was able to "pull the paper out gently, a millimeter at a time".
That was the worst paper jam that I have ever encountered.

Thanks to all for responding.

Now I get the following message ...

"51 Printer Error, Cycle Power"

How do I fix this?

 

[Ben Myers]

Now I get the following message ...

"51 Printer Error, Cycle Power"

How do I fix this?

Here is info from the internet:

51.X PRINTER ERROR

A loss of beam-detect occurred.
X description:
1 = Beam-detect error
2 = Laser error

1. Press GO. The page containing the error will automatically be reprinted.
2. Turn the printer off and then on.
3. Reseat cables to the laser/ scanner and engine controller.
4. Replace the laser/scanner.
5. Replace the DC controller.


Since you just took care of a paper jam, and if steps 1 & 2 above do not
work, step 3 is a likely fix. Could be that one of the cables got loose
in the process of removing paper... Ben Myers

 

[Fred Winter]

Now I get the following message ...

"51 Printer Error, Cycle Power"

How do I fix this?

From the LJ5 service manual:

51 ERROR Message
The 51 ERROR, and the 41.2 ERROR are caused by Beam Detect
failures. If the beam detect signal is lost for more than 2 seconds
the error is posted as a 51 ERROR. The 41.2 ERROR can be cleared
by pressing [Continue] (or Go). The 51 ERROR may be cleared by
power cycling the printer.
Checks Action
1. Are all connectors on the DC
Controller properly seated?
Inspect connectors and wiring. Reseat or
replace cables if necessary.
2. Is the Laser/Scanner Assembly
Defective?
A defective Laser/Scanner Assembly can
cause a 51 ERROR by spinning the
scanning mirror at the wrong speed.
Replace the Laser/Scanner Assembly.
3. Is the DC Controller Defective? Replace the DC Controller.
4. Has the printer been moved from a
cold to a warm room?
Allow the printer to stand 6 hours until
any condensation has dissipated.


"Power cycle" means turn it off, wait a few minutes, and turn it back
on. If the problem was a temporary one, that should fix it. If the 51
error comes back, you may not have gotten all the paper out, or you may
have a more serious problem.

Fred

 

[Adam]

Now I get the following message ...

"51 Printer Error, Cycle Power"

How do I fix this?

Thanks everyone for the responses.

I think something might have been damaged when
the paper jam was cleared. All print jobs now come out black.
And, I have to power the printer off/on after each print job.
Is this type of problem easy to fix?

What's a good laser printer to get these days without
spending a fortune (both printer and toner cartridges)?
Should I get another HP Laserjet 5?
I still have quite a few toner cartridges left.

 

[Ben Myers]

Thanks everyone for the responses.

I think something might have been damaged when
the paper jam was cleared. All print jobs now come out black.
And, I have to power the printer off/on after each print job.
Is this type of problem easy to fix?

What's a good laser printer to get these days without
spending a fortune (both printer and toner cartridges)?
Should I get another HP Laserjet 5?
I still have quite a few toner cartridges left.

With an investment in toner cartridges, it would make good sense to get
another LaserJet 5. These are very cheap nowadays, sometimes free, and
they usually keep on running without a problem. Had a client a few
years ago who had printed over 350,000 pages on one without a service call.

If you want to move to something a little more modern, any one of the LJ
4000, 4050, or 4100 printers are excellent workhorses, the successors to
the LJ4/LJ5 family.

I took my LJ5 out of service when I moved up to an LJ4050... Ben Myers

 

[Adam]

With an investment in toner cartridges, it would make good sense to get
another LaserJet 5. These are very cheap nowadays, sometimes free, and
they usually keep on running without a problem. Had a client a few
years ago who had printed over 350,000 pages on one without a service call.

If you want to move to something a little more modern, any one of the LJ
4000, 4050, or 4100 printers are excellent workhorses, the successors to
the LJ4/LJ5 family.

I took my LJ5 out of service when I moved up to an LJ4050... Ben Myers

Thanks, I'll look into the differences between the 4000, 4050 and 4100.
If they're not too expensive and do not require costly toner cartridges,
I might just buy one.

 

[Ben Myers]

Thanks, I'll look into the differences between the 4000, 4050 and 4100.
If they're not too expensive and do not require costly toner cartridges,
I might just buy one.

Toner cartridges cost about the same for the LJ 4/5 and for 4000-series.
I buy refilled ones for B&W lasers, as the color cannot go off kilter
as with refilled color cartridges. There are a number of good suppliers
of refilled cartridges... Ben

 

[Adam]

Toner cartridges cost about the same for the LJ 4/5 and for 4000-series.
I buy refilled ones for B&W lasers, as the color cannot go off kilter
as with refilled color cartridges. There are a number of good suppliers
of refilled cartridges... Ben

Thanks! What's a good price for LJ 4100?

 

[Ben Myers]

Thanks! What's a good price for LJ 4100?

I've seen them as low as $50. Same with the 4000 and 4050. There's not
a huge difference between them. HP got in the habit of changing printer
models very rapidly, while the innards remained very much the same... Ben

 

[Adam]

I've seen them as low as $50. Same with the 4000 and 4050. There's not
a huge difference between them. HP got in the habit of changing printer
models very rapidly, while the innards remained very much the same... Ben

I am looking for LJ 4100 drivers for Windows 98SE.
Not sure whether to use the driver for Win98 or WinME.
Please provide download link if you know.

 

[Adam]

Win98 drivers are the correct ones.

Tony

Thanks!

At www.driverguide.com, I found ...

lj4100infbundlewin9xme-en.exe (Driver)

submitted by Alagappan
" Language: English(American) HP LaserJet 4100 Printer series PCL/PostScript
(more)"
File Size: 3.3MB
Driver Version: 1.0
Driver Date: Apr 5, 2002
FCCID: unknown
Company: Hewlett Packard (HP)
Device Type: Printer / Plotter / Multi-Office
Operating Systems: Win 95, Win 98, Win ME
Upload Date: Aug 8, 2006


Is this the best LaserJet 4100N driver for Win98SE?

 

[Adam]

at the successors

Thanks!

At www.driverguide.com, I found ...

lj4100infbundlewin9xme-en.exe (Driver)

submitted by Alagappan
" Language: English(American) HP LaserJet 4100 Printer series PCL/PostScript
(more)"
File Size: 3.3MB
Driver Version: 1.0
Driver Date: Apr 5, 2002
FCCID: unknown
Company: Hewlett Packard (HP)
Device Type: Printer / Plotter / Multi-Office
Operating Systems: Win 95, Win 98, Win ME
Upload Date: Aug 8, 2006


Is this the best LaserJet 4100N driver for Win98SE?

I have downloaded and extracted the driver files into a directory but
can't get the system to ask for the drivers again after the first time when
I did not have the driver files yet. Now, the system no longer prompts.
Trying to "Add Printer" does not list the LaserJet 4100 series so
I just press "Have Disk". But, not sure which driver file ...

hp4100p5.inf
hp4100p6.inf
hp4100ps.inf

 

[Ben Myers]

I am looking for LJ 4100 drivers for Windows 98SE.
Not sure whether to use the driver for Win98 or WinME.
Please provide download link if you know.

Three things here:

The Windows ME drivers work just fine with Windows 98. But HP did not
provide drivers for the 4000-series for any of Windows 95/98/ME.

However, you can install the LaserJet 5M Postscript driver and print to
any of the LJ4000 series with it.

Just as importantly, ALL of the LJ 4000-series printers support
PostScript. I forget whether or not it is a true Adobe PostScript or a
clone. If it is PostScript licensed from Adobe, then the drivers for
any OS can be found on the Adobe web site... Ben Myers

 

[Ben Myers]

I have downloaded and extracted the driver files into a directory but
can't get the system to ask for the drivers again after the first time when
I did not have the driver files yet. Now, the system no longer prompts.
Trying to "Add Printer" does not list the LaserJet 4100 series so
I just press "Have Disk". But, not sure which driver file ...

hp4100p5.inf
hp4100p6.inf
hp4100ps.inf

hp4100p5.inf is for HP PCL5.
hp4100p6.inf is for the newer HP PCL6.
hp4100ps.inf is for Postscript.

I strongly suggest PostScript for fewer printer glitches, especially
with Acrobat PDFs... Ben Myers

 

[Ben Myers]

Thanks!

At www.driverguide.com, I found ...

lj4100infbundlewin9xme-en.exe (Driver)

submitted by Alagappan
" Language: English(American) HP LaserJet 4100 Printer series PCL/PostScript
(more)"
File Size: 3.3MB
Driver Version: 1.0
Driver Date: Apr 5, 2002
FCCID: unknown
Company: Hewlett Packard (HP)
Device Type: Printer / Plotter / Multi-Office
Operating Systems: Win 95, Win 98, Win ME
Upload Date: Aug 8, 2006


Is this the best LaserJet 4100N driver for Win98SE?

Those TURKEYS from HP have apparently taken away from their own web site
the drivers they originally provided for Win 95/98/ME... Ben Myers

 

[Adam]

hp4100p5.inf is for HP PCL5.
hp4100p6.inf is for the newer HP PCL6.
hp4100ps.inf is for Postscript.

I strongly suggest PostScript for fewer printer glitches, especially
with Acrobat PDFs... Ben Myers

How do I get my system to detect the HP LaserJet 4100 again?
It did it once but I didn't have the drivers extracted yet. But now,
I can't get that new hardware detected message again.