Re: Quick tutorial for installing the Hewlett Packard HP LaserJet 2100tn printer on Windows.

[Arlen Holder]

*UPDATE SOLUTION!*

Windows 10 legacy printer installation for the HP LaserJet 2100 seems to
have gotten worse recently, according to my experience and that of others,
where Windows Update will no longer even give you a choice of similar
drivers for the HP LJ 2100.
The [Windows Update] button for legacy printers has been dead for weeks
<http://alt.comp.os.windows-10.narkive.com/1C8HOEOU/the-windows-update-button-for-legacy-printers-has-been-dead-for-weeks>

However, SC Tom and this note below provide a *better* solution than this:
<http://alt.comp.os.windows-10.narkive.com/yKNzX4YR/quick-tutorial-for-installing-the-hewlett-packard-hp-laserjet-2100tn-printer-on-windows>

It seems that the Windows Update is failing for others who are seeking
drivers for legacy printers based on this report I just read:
April 6, 2018:
Windows 10 Printer Lists - unable to update printer list from Windows Update
<https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-hardware/windows-10-printer-lists-unable-to-update-printer/3cad241e-b999-46d2-9515-e1ca628d0ef9>

*The simple solution is to give up on the Windows Update method!*

Instead, switch to the Microsoft Catalog Download Method!
<http://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=hp%20laserjet%202100>

The beauty of this "Windows Catalog" method is that it allows you to
archive the printer drivers as a "cab" file, so you do not have to go
through the "Windows Update" abomination ever again (if you save the cab
files of course).

The cab file for the "HP LaserJet 2100 Series PCL 5", Windows x64, is:
<http://download.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/driver/drvs/2009/07/4188_bacd1413e93b4a6362d9a2ca653c869f1c02f6f7.cab>

And the cab file for the "HP LaserJet 2100 Series PCL6", Windows x64, is:
<http://download.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/driver/drvs/2009/07/4189_1228a7cf7b1aac21346b20cb6e21db409dde9e72.cab>

They even have a 32-bit WinXP cab file from HP & not from Microsoft!
<http://www.download.windowsupdate.com/msdownload/update/v3-19990518/cabpool/7449448.cab>

You extract that cab file using 7zip or equivalent, which creates:
.\Amd64\{lots of DLL,CFG,INI,DTD,EXP,GPD,HPI,ICM,ICC,NTF,PPD,XML files}
component.man
prnhp001.cat
prnhp001.Inf

When the Windows 10 printer settings gui asks "Install the printer driver"
you select "Have Disk" and browse to that extracted "prnhp001.Inf" file.

The Windows printer setup GUI asks you to choose a printer from the list:
[HP LaserJet 2100 Series PCL5]

Voila!

When you install that printer driver and run the test page, a list results
of the drivers that were installed, which you can take note of:
Additional Print Driver Files:
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZLSLHN.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZSSLHN.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZUILHN.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPCDMCLH.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZ5RLHN.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZSMLHN.GPD
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZSTLHN.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPMCPD25.CFG
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZ5CLHN.INI
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPMCPDP5.XML
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZSCLHN.DTD
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZEVLHN.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZIDR12.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZINW12.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZIPM12.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZIPR12.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZIPT12.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPZISN12.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPBMIAPI.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPBMINI.DLL
C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\HPBOID.DLL
etc.

In summary, the following are useful to note:
1. The "Windows Update" is failing to get *any* driver list lately
2. Even if it did work, it's impossible *save* the driver archive
3. The Windows Catalog method solves both those problems instantly

--
Anyone who suggests DriveBack or DoubleDriver hasn't tried it on printers.
(I wish they'd work on printer drivers - but they just don't.)