Many people called this week to say they went to print with their Windows 10 and their plotter which had always worked well in the past and now the Designjet wasn't on the list anymore. Further, when they tried to reinstall they found that as they followed the wizard and all the steps it still didn't show up. Here's what I've learned and what I THINK may be the cause:
1. Reboot your computer.
2. Pull up Printers and Devices from SETTINGS
3. If your plotter still isn't showing ADD A PRINTER
4. Choose all the things you chose last time and then when it asks if you want a new driver or use the already installed driver (which is recommended) - USE THE ALREADY INSTALLED DRIVER
5. If you still can't get printing call me at 651-247-3022 and I'll charge you $50 to reload your printer remotely.

WHY HAS THIS HAPPENED? I think it may have been a Microsoft update or another update like Adobe which updates every 22 minutes...or so it seems...and it somehow interfered and threw these printers off the list. I'm sure that they will send out another update soon and we'll think we just dreamed this...

If you woke up to find Windows 10 on your computer and thus your plotter isn't connecting and printing, call me and I'll help you get things right again for a $50 fee via Paypal. Call me and I'll log on to your screen, download the right drivers and make sure you are able to print...then, after we've confirmed you are happy I will send you an invoice via Paypal and you can pay with a credit card.
​

I've recently helped many people  who found Windows 10 on their computers unexpectedly. So, no, you aren't imagining things and no you didn't accidentally click on the wrong thing...Here's what I've found:

"The Windows 10 upgrade is automatically being installed on many Windows 7 and 8.1 machines as a result of Microsoft changing the status of the upgrade to that of a "recommended" update. Windows 7 and 8.1 machines sold to home users are generally configured to automatically install these recommended updates."

Every day I read online articles that tell me the older HP Designjet Plotters can not be used with the newer Windows 8 and Windows 10 (aka: Win8 or Win10).  I say BS! I just today help another guy, Sam from Pennsylvania to connect his Designjet 750c to Windows 10. Sam asked me to log on to his screen and just get it connected.  We downloaded the drivers from this site which I copied directly from HP some time back before they took them off their website. Then I showed Sam some of the tricks of the trade...how to resuscitate old cartridges, how to use the USB connection and how to change ports when necessary.  When we were done Sam was printing with his old 750c Designjet! So call me today for help in connecting your older plotter to your newer Windows 8 or 10 operating system. I'll charge you $50 only if we are able to connect your computer to your plotter and get you printing!         651-247-3022 ask for The Princess!

How can I install non-digitally signed drivers in Windows 10? (see below for Win 8)
Windows 10 enforces driver signatures by default. What this means is you can download a driver from this site or others, but the driver signing requirement kicks in and "disables" the driver...you won't know it...it looks like it is there and functional. This is because drivers weren't signed back in the 90's! You might get a message that says something about a hash tag...but your downloaded driver won't work. YOU MUST DELETE THE DRIVER FROM YOUR SYSTEM AND REMOVE THE PRINTER FROM YOUR LIST OF PRINTERS. This can be disabled to install drivers that are not digitally signed. Use the following steps to disable driver signature enforcement.
NOTE: If this is all too intimidating or too much  of a hassle you can call the Plotter Princess and for $50 I will remotely connect to your computer, download the drivers, install the printer/plotter and get your plotter to print a test print...so you can be sure you are properly connected and ready to get some work done!! Usually an appointment is not needed. Call 651-247-3022

1. Click the Start  menu and select Settings.
2. Click Update and Security.
3. Click on Recovery.
4. Click Restart now under Advanced Startup.
5. Click Troubleshoot.
6. Click Advanced options.
7. Click Startup Settings.
8. Click on Restart.
9. On the Startup Settings screen press 7 or F7 to disable driver signature enforcement.

Your computer will restart and you will be able to download, extract and install non-digitally signed drivers.
​

______________________________________
How can I install non-digitally signed drivers in Windows 8?
Windows 8 enforces driver signatures by default. This can be disabled so non-digitally signed drivers can be installed. Use the following steps to disable driver signature enforcement.

1. Press the Windows () key + C, or swipe in from the right edge of the screen to open your Charms.
2. Select the Settings charm, and then click Change PC settings
3. Select General, and then scroll down and click on Restart Now under Advanced Startup.
4. Click on Troubleshoot, Advanced options, and then select Startup Settings.
5. Click on Restart.
6. On the Startup Settings screen press 7 or F7 to Disable driver signature enforcement.

Once the computer restarts you will be able to install non-digitally signed drivers for that Windows session. If you restart the computer again the driver signature enforcement will be enabled. You can repeat the above steps at any time you need to disable this feature.


​When next you restart your computer after this the driver signing requirement will be back in force. That's a good thing because it saves you from viruses. Any driver on this site was copied from the original HP driver sites before those lovely folks at HP decided to get rid of them so people like you couldn't use those old plotters anymore!



NOTE: If this is all too intimidating or too much  of a hassle you can call the Plotter Princess and for $50 I will remotely connect to your computer, download the drivers, install the printer/plotter and get your plotter to print a test print...so you can be sure you are properly connected and ready to get some work done!! Usually an appointment is not needed. Call 651-247-3022

My most asked question these days is how to use the older plotters with Windows 8 and 10. You CAN do it. I've helped lots of folks to do it. Just last week we put an old Designjet 650 on a Windows 10 computer!
Here's an article on how to do it.

I'm getting lots of calls and emails from those who have uploaded the new Windows 10. Can you use your plotter with Windows 10? GOOD NEWS - HP has published Windows 10 drivers for many of the newer plotters. Alas, we don't see them publishing for the older (700's, 600's, 200's) plotters. 

First go to the Designjet page on the HP.com website and choose the series for your plotter. On the next page choose your specific model and go to the driver page. If your plotter is supported in Windows 10 you'll see a driver listed in the operating system drop down menu. If you don't see one, it appears that it isn't going to work in Windows 10. 
But--wait! Go here to find out how to make this work!

Routine Driver Alert - Apr 23 2015 
Mac HP Designjet Raster Driver (ver 30.0) 
Products: HP Designjet Printers
OS: Mac
Description: This software will install the raster driver that will allow you to print to your HP Designjet printer from your Mac computer.

HP is constantly re-designing their website which makes it hard for someone like me to keep up with where things are. If I'm having trouble, you may also be having the same difficulty. Here's a link to the one page that will give you almost all info you need about your plotter:

I'm often asked what type of cable does one buy to connect their old HP Plotter to a computer that doesn't have a parallel port. For those of you who remember, the parallel port is the 32 pin connection that was used (in the olden days) on all printers and a big fat gray cable connected the printer to the computer. 

Today you need to use the USB to Parallel Cable like the one pictured at the left. When searching for this cable look for "Bidirectional USB to Parallel Printer Cable."  The best idea is to buy a new one, unless you already have one that is proven to work.  USBs are tricky little things and there is nothing more frustrating than trying to get a driver loaded and thinking that you've done something wrong when it won't work and doing it over and over...only to later realize it is the USB cable that is bad! If the cable you are using doesn't specify "BI-DIRECTIONAL" it is probably not going to work right and yet it will appear that it is working. 

So, don't be cheap...go and buy a new one! You can buy it online for about $19. But remember, if it doesn't say Bi-Directional in the details on the packaging or product info, it is NOT the cord or cable that you want!

If you don't have a computer with a parallel port you'll need to get a USB to Parallel cable at your local computer supply store. The next problem you will run into while trying to load the driver if you are using Windows 7 is that you'll choose the wrong port and nothing will work...because you will click on the LPT1 port when instead you should choose the USB port that I show in the photo above. Most USB outlets are not mapped, so choose the first one and if that one doesn't work, remove the driver and load it again, this time using the second or third USB port.
One more thing: DON'T choose to print a test page when you are done installing your driver...these are often bad and don't work and will clog up the print queue. Instead, just send any small file...a Word document, an email, anything...it should connect and print via your plotter.

One of the most common questions I'm asked is whether these old Designjets can be used with Windows 7.  It seems that people can't find the driver and get all freaked out thinking that there is no driver. HP doesn't list a driver, so what should you do?
Good News - The driver already is loaded in Windows 7! But it is hidden, so you'll have to find it. On your computer go to START, DEVICES AND PRINTERS, ADD A PRINTER, ADD A LOCAL PRINTER, CHOOSE A PORT (LPT1 if you are connecting through a parallel printer cable and VIRTUAL USB if you are connecting through a USB to Parallel cable.)

Now you'll be presented with the list of printer companies, choose HP -- In the box to the right side is a list of all the HP printers...Here's the hitch...the Designjets are NOT listed in alphabetical order, instead they were added as an afterthought and are on the very bottom of the listings. So scroll to the bottom and you'll see the driver you need.

If you get a warning about the driver not being "digitally signed" ignore it and install the driver...it came from HP so it is ok!

TAA-DAA!!

It seems like that old standard pl532en driver is all purpose and works for most machines that are running Windows XP -- but I've recently been asked which plotters does it actually work on? Here's the list:

HP DesignJet ColorPro CAD 

HP DesignJet 3500CP

HP DesignJet 3000CP

HP DesignJet 2500CP 

HP DesignJet 2000CP 

HP DesignJet 750C+ (E/A0) 

HP DesignJet 750C+ (D/A1)

HP DesignJet 755CM(C3198B)

HP DesignJet 700 (E/A0) 

HP DesignJet 700 (D/A1)

HP DesignJet 488CA (E/A0)

HP DesignJet 488CA (D/A1) 

HP DesignJet 455CA (E/A0) 

HP DesignJet 455CA (D/A1) 

HP DesignJet 450C (E/A0) 

HP DesignJet 450C (D/A1)

HP DesignJet 750C (E/A0) 

HP DesignJet 750C (D/A1)

HP DesignJet 755CM(C3198A)
 HP DesignJet 350C (E/A0)

HP DesignJet 350C (D/A1) 
HP DesignJet 330 (E/A0) 
HP DesignJet 330 (D/A1) 

HP DesignJet 650C(C2859B) 
HP DesignJet 650C(C2858B) 

HP DesignJet 650C(C2859A) 

HP DesignJet 650C(C2858A) 

HP DesignJet 600 (E/A0)

HP DesignJet 600 (D/A1)

HP DesignJet 250C (E/A0) 

HP DesignJet 250C (D/A1) 

HP DesignJet 200 (E/A0) 

HP DesignJet 200 (D/A1)
 HP DesignJet 220 (E/A0)
 HP DesignJet 220 (D/A1) 
HP DesignJet 230 (E/A0) 

HP DesignJet 230 (D/A1) 

Read more: pl532en.exe
- CNET Download.com http://download.cnet.com/pl532en-exe/3000-2116_4-182077.html#ixzz2PvebGlrg