Strange printing issues and fixes

Microsoft’s .NET Framework 3.0 (actually a subsequent automatic update to it) causes some HP printers to have some large problems and Microsoft has been unwilling to care or do anything about it. I believe this will cause some major problems in the future as it becomes necessary to install .NET 3.0.

I’ve seen it on many HP LaserJet printers including 4+, 5, 1300, 4200 and others.

Here is a symptom list:

• Pages printing on top of each other
  • pages printer on top of one another
  • all pages print on page one
  • multiple pages on page one

• Microsoft Word 2007 envelopes printing symbols
  • envelopes print garbage
  • envelopes have strange characters
  • symbols print with Calibri or Cambria

Fixes

1. Update the printer driver with the PCL6 driver from the manufacturer’s website — this was my most used fix
2. For the envelope problem only, in the printer driver settings see if there is a “Send Truetype as graphics” setting to choose. (Thanks to this site.) You could also try using a different font.

I have worked with Microsoft on these issues, they believe that HP’s drivers are at fault. My ticket number was SRX071205601374 in early December 2007. I am very upset that Microsoft would knowingly automatically install an update that destroys printer drivers. They may fix this finally when some big companies install .NET 3.0 and find that 10,000 of their printers stop working properly. I did my best to warn them!

Here is a very early report of this problem — February 2007.