Installing drivers (PC/Mac)

Windows

Windows users will have the most drivers available.

  • Driver CD (Not recommended, most discs are lost)
  • Download (Driver only/Full installer)
  • HP UPD (PCL6 recommended)

Mac

  • Apple driver (requires manual install to grab)
  • HP Smart (MacOS 11-present)
  • HP Easy Start (10.11-10.15)
  • Full installer (10.5-10.10; version varies by the age of the supported OS)

Linux

For Linux, you have two driver choices:

  • Generic (PCL6 recommended)
  • HPLIP

Note: Most Linux distros include HPLIP in the default package set. Some distros do not (or use an old version), but it can be updated/installed if either is the case.

If you can use the HPLIP driver, this driver is better then the generic driver. While most distros are supported, you may need to use the generic driver on distros that do not support HPLIP.

Unsupported

  • HP Smart Install (Windows)

HP Smart Install (Remove it, even if you once used it!)

Note: This feature was removed in a later firmware update. DO NOT update the firmware if you use it! It has not been used in any of the JetIntelligence printers since day one - HP no longer maintains it. Modern printers use HP Smart or 123.hp.com today, and no longer include drivers on the in-box CD.

HP Smart Install has been abandoned by HP and was removed in later firmware releases. Part of the reason for this is the drive stored on the printer was difficult to update and required regular firmware upgrades (not provided by HP) as the files were in a protected EEPROM, which was integrated into the base firmware and was not split to allow updates.

As a result, this driver was always outdated and was best ignored in favor of downloading drivers online. This feature was abandoned by HP a few years after it had failed and never tried again.

If you use Linux or do not need it, it's generally better to remove the feature with the newer firmware. It seems like a “downgrade” to remove, but improves the printer all around. CAUTION: Once removed, HP Smart Install CANNOT BE RESTORED!

Linux problems (HP Smart Install)

HP Smart Install is known to cause problems in Linux. This primarily happens on old builds that register the printer as a USB mass storage device. While it was fixed years ago, it can still cause problems in current releases if still left unpatched.

Since this is a known issue with Linux specifically being affected, removal with the latest firmware is strongly recommended for Linux users, However, there is no way to go back once done.

Toner

This printer ships with an 80A toner cartridge which gets ~2,600 pages. Once you wear out the original 80A, seriously consider the 80X. Unlike the 80A, the real-world yield is far closer to the HP estimate (~6,900 pages for the 80X),

Setting the printer to Continue or Prompt before the toner runs out also allows you to run it like an old school laser, albeit with nags. This can be done once the printer runs out of toner if you want to wait to set this, but the default out of toner setting (Stop) should be changed, especially if you monitor the print quality. Setting the printer to "Prompt" adds a nag every few pages, while Continue ignores the chip altogether outside of showing the "Black supply very low" perpetually when the display is on.

HP 80X (Recommended)

HP 80A (Not recommended)

Toner Life Optimization

Note: Some of these tweaks are more for 80A users to get more life out of these cartridges. These work on the 80X, but are less effective.

Less Paper Curl

While not required, this will reduce the fuser operating temperature (and lifespan). HOWEVER, this may need to be re-enabled for heavy cardstock (100-120lb) due to fusing temperatures needed if the printer does not ignore the setting. Do not enable this on printers used for cardstock regularly.

Override out (HP 80A/80X)

To configure the printer to ignore the chip and keep printing, do the following:

  • System Setup
  • Supply settings
  • Black Cartridge
  • Very Low Setting
  • Change to Continue or Prompt.
    • Continue recommended to remove Prompt nag.

Low threshold (HP 80A)

While this setting does not prevent the low toner message from coming up on your printer, this will allow you to defer the low toner nag.

To change the low threshold on the printer from the 15% default (8-10% is recommended), do the following:

  • System Setup
  • Supply settings
  • Black cartridge
  • Low Threshold

Note: If you change this setting below 10%, you run the risk of the waste toner filling up and potential toner replacements due to the waste toner compartment being too full. As such, DO NOT apply this to printers with the 80A cartridge. It works fine with the 80X cartridge, but this is because of the bigger waste toner compartment.

WARNING: CHANGING THIS REDUCES REMAINING PAGES WHEN OVERRIDE OUT KICKS IN!

Resolution/ReT (HP 80A/80X)

To lower the resolution, this can be done on the printer or in the driver with a print mode. The downside of each method is as follows:

  • Printer: Resolution will need to be increased in the driver or it will print at what the printer is set to.
  • Driver: Printer will be kept at the default and will print at the default resolution (ProRes 1200) unless overridden by the user at the OS level.

Print Density (HP 80A/80X)

By default, this is set to 3. Changing this to 2 will not noticeably impact the print quality and will reduce your toner consumption. To do this:

  • System Setup
  • Print Density
  • Change to 2

Quiet Print Mode

The main benefit to enabling this is extended engine life since the printer will reduce the printing speed. Print speed WILL be reduced.

  • System Setup
  • Quiet Print Mode

Port cover and anti-snag cable interference

The design on the M401 (and M425) does not work well with some anti-snag Ethernet cables; this is due to the port door making access tight with horribly designed anti-snag covers. There are 3 solutions to this problem: