======================================================================= Hewlett-Packard LaserJet Printer Status and Alerts Late Breaking Readme This Late-Breaking Readme file contains information that may impact the installation and use of the Printer Status and Alerts software. *********************************************************************** ReadMe File Contents: 1. Known Issues 1.1 -- Overview 1.2 -- Supported Printers 1.3 -- Non-Supported Printers 1.4 -- Printer Status and Alerts Installation 1.5 -- Printer Status and Alerts Uninstaller 1.6 -- Parallel and USB Support 1.7 -- Bi-Directional Functionality 1.8 -- Printer Status and Alerts General 2. Technical Assistance 2.1 -- Obtaining Additional Information from HP Services 2.2 -- Obtaining Information via the Internet 2.3 -- Obtaining Support Services Outside of the United States 3. Legal Statements 3.1 -- Trademark Notices 3.2 -- Legal Notice 3.3 -- Copyright *********************************************************************** 1. KNOWN ISSUES *********************************************************************** *********************************************************************** 1.1 OVERVIEW *********************************************************************** This readme provides specific information you should know before you install and use the Printer Status and Alerts software. Information and known issues are provided for the following operating systems: • Windows XP • Windows 2000 • Windows NT 4.0 (Windows NT4, WinNT4, NT4) • Windows 95, Windows 98 (Win9x, 9x), and Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me, WinMe) Graphics, Memory Errors, and Print Performance If you encounter printing difficulties or memory errors with any application, refer to the online Help topic "Common Print Problems" in your printer documentation for additional information. If you encounter slow performance after installing the Printer Status and Alerts software, refer to section "1.7 Bi-Directional Functionality" for more information. Use of non-compatible drivers See Supported Printers for a list of printer drivers that the HP LaserJet Printer Status and Alerts software supports. Installation - general Before installing the Printer Status and Alerts software, close all applications and TSR (Terminate and Stay Resident) programs that load at startup in the Windows operating systems. Examples of such programs are Microsoft Office Manager, Norton Desktop, and Dashboard. Exit any previous version of the Printer Status and Alerts software you may be running. *********************************************************************** 1.2 SUPPORTED PRINTER DRIVERS *********************************************************************** Printer Status and Alerts works with the following printer drivers: NOTE: Download the latest drivers from the hp internet site to ensure compatibility. See section 2 for URL information. NOTE: Internet enabled supplies ordering is only supported for Direct Connect printers. NOTE: If your LaserJet printer is not listed below and it is a newer model product, then support is included with the Printing System software that was included with your product. HP LaserJet 9000 PCL 6 HP LaserJet 9000 PCL 5e HP LaserJet 9000 PS HP Color LaserJet 8550 PCL 5C HP Color LaserJet 8550 PS HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS (2) HP LaserJet 8150 PCL 6 (1) HP LaserJet 8150 PCL 5e (1) HP LaserJet 8150 PS (1) HP LaserJet 8100 PCL 6 (1) HP LaserJet 8100 PCL 5e (1) HP LaserJet 8100 PS (1) HP LaserJet 8000 PCL 6 (1) HP LaserJet 8000 PCL 5e (1) HP LaserJet 8000 PS (1) HP LaserJet 5000 PCL 6 (1) HP LaserJet 5000 PCL 5e (1) HP LaserJet 5000 PS (1) HP Color LaserJet 4550 PCL 6 HP Color LaserJet 4550 PCL 5c HP Color LaserJet 4550 PS HP Color LaserJet 4500 PCL 6 HP Color LaserJet 4500 PCL 5c HP Color LaserJet 4500 PS HP LaserJet 4100 PCL 6 HP LaserJet 4100 PCL 5e HP LaserJet 4100 PS HP LaserJet 4050 PCL 6 (1) HP LaserJet 4050 PCL 5e (1) HP LaserJet 4050 PS (1) HP LaserJet 4000 PCL 6 (1) HP LaserJet 4000 PCL 5e (1) HP LaserJet 4000 PS (1) HP LaserJet 3200M PCL 6 HP LaserJet 3200M PCL 5e HP LaserJet 3200M PS HP LaserJet 3200 PCL 6 HP LaserJet 3200 PCL 5e HP LaserJet 2200 PCL 6 HP LaserJet 2200 PCL 5e HP LaserJet 2200 PS HP LaserJet 1220 PCL 6 HP LaserJet 1220 PCL 5e HP LaserJet 1220 PS HP LaserJet 1200 PCL 6 HP LaserJet 1200 PCL 5e HP LaserJet 1200 PS HP Mopier 320 PCL 6 (1) HP Mopier 320 PCL 5e (1) HP Mopier 320 PS (1) HP Mopier 240 PCL 6 (1) HP Mopier 240 PCL 5e (1) HP Mopier 240 PS (1) (1) Parallel port BIOS on the computer must be set to ECP mode. (2) Network support only NOTE: Windows 2000 and Window XP Users The LaserJet 3200, LaserJet 2200, LaserJet 1220, and the LaserJet 1200 are the only printer drivers that currently support Printer Status and Alerts over a direct connection in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. The drivers must be installed using the printing system installer, not the Windows add printer wizard. If you do not have the printing system CD that shipped with your printer, please download the printing system from the HP website or contact HP technical support as detailed in Section 2 - TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE The HP web site will be updated with new versions of the printer drivers that will support Printer Status and Alerts software over direct connection in Windows 2000 and Windows XP as soon as they are available. NOTE: Window XP Users HP Printer Status and Alerts will only provide status and alerts for User Mode based drivers. Kernel Mode drivers are designed for NT4.0 but some do run in Windows XP, however they will not be supported by Printer Status and Alerts. The HP web site contains the latest User Mode drivers which are designed for Windows 2000 and Windows XP. *********************************************************************** 1.3 NON-SUPPORTED PRINTER DRIVERS *********************************************************************** HP Color LaserJet 8500 - PCL HP LaserJet 3150 - All HP LaserJet 3100 - All HP LaserJet 2100 - All HP LaserJet 1100 - All *********************************************************************** 1.4 Printer Status and Alerts INSTALLATION *********************************************************************** Printer Status and Alerts functionality is available for printers connected over a network using the Windows drivers, or connected directly with either a parallel or USB cable. Printer Status and Alerts is supported on Windows operating systems 95, 98, Millennium, NT4, 2000, and XP when using Microsoft networking. Novell Networking is also supported when printing from Windows 95, 98, Millennium, NT4, Windows 2000 workstation, Windows XP Professional using 4.x through 5.1 servers with either Bindery or NDS queues. Novell NDPS is not supported for Printer Status and Alerts. The following important support restrictions also apply to Printer Status and Alerts installation: Not installed or supported on any version of Terminal Server. Not supported on Windows 2000 or XP Server or Advanced Server. Printer Status and Alerts works well on Windows 95, but you cannot install it on a Windows 95 system until the Microsoft “Winsock2” patch is first installed. This can be obtained by going to www.microsoft.com and typing “Winsock 2” in their search engine, then installing the patch. For Device Status (printer icons in Status window), computer must have Internet Explorer version 4.01 or greater installed. This version is reported as Version 4.72.XXXXX in HELP – “About Internet Explorer”. No Internet Explorer is necessary for getting status about jobs for network connected printers. Internet Explorer can be installed after Printer Status and Alerts. For the JAWS screen reader software to be able to read the device status window of the Printer Status and Alerts program, the computer must have Internet Explorer version 5.0 or greater installed. This version is reported as Version 5.00.XXXXX in HELP – “About Internet Explorer”. No Internet Explorer is necessary for getting status about jobs for network connected printers. Internet Explorer can be installed after Printer Status and Alerts. Some important considerations for using Printer Status and Alerts with Microsoft printer Sharing: (note: Printer Status and Alerts software does not support alerts on direct-connect shares) There is a Microsoft patch “Vredir” that is required if you want to use Printer Status and Alerts on a Millennium, 98, or 95 machine for a printer that has been shared directly from either a WinNT4.0 or Win2000 machine. Failure to install the patch could cause a blue screen on the client machine! For MS Shared printers, the host system must have either Printer Status and Alert or the HP driver auto configuration option from the HP installer on the machine. The client must have Printer Status and Alerts installed. Below are easy-to-follow instructions for downloading and installing the Printer Status and Alerts for Screen Reader Accessibility and Internet enabled supplies ordering. 1) Before proceeding with the software installation, the printer must first be properly set up, and the printer drivers must be already installed, and your computer must be ready to print. 2) Download the file to a folder on your hard drive. 3) Close any screen savers, virus protection programs, or any other software programs that are running on your computer. 4) Go to the folder where you downloaded the software and double click the file to extract the files. 5) Go to the folder where these files were extracted to, for example c:\ljxxxx, and double click on the setup.exe file to start the installation process. During the install process you will be asked to select options for "Display status window when." We suggest you select all of the options for Screen Reader Accessibility. 6) You only need to install the Printer Status and Alerts software once on each computer for all HP LaserJet printers connected, either on the network or direct. 7) Setting options during installation During the software install we suggest you review each of the options for status and alerts and select the ones you wish to receive for your printer. It is recommended that the settings be set to the following values if being used in conjunction with screen reader software: On the "Printer Status and Alerts Settings" screen during installation, and under "Display the status window when," check all boxes. Also, select "Administrative Settings...," and for "Check printer status," the status check rate should be set to "More Often." This will result in the fastest possible feedback, with a status check rate of about ten seconds. Changing options after installation These settings can be changed any time after installation by running the Printer Status and Alerts software and selecting the "Options" icon: Under "Options for: Alerts," and "Display the status window when," check all boxes. Under "Options for: Status check rate," and "Refresh document status information," the status check rate should be set to "More Often." This will result in the fastest possible feedback, with a status check rate of about ten seconds. NOTE: On direct-connect printers, setting the status check rate to "more often" will mean the screen reader will read the message every 10 seconds. If this is too often for your personal preference, you may close the Printer Status and Alerts window by using the Close button at the bottom right of the screen. A message will then pop up again the next time you attempt to print or if a new problem with the printer is encountered. Alternatively, you can decrease the status check rate on the Options screen as described above. You will then receive less timely feedback if an error occurs, but screen reader software will not repeat the message as often. ISSUE: When the HP Printer Status and Alerts software is installed on a client Novell Directory Services (NDS) installation, the installation may stall. DESCRIPTION: In Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000, the HP Printer Status and Alerts NDS installation hangs at 100%. This occurs because when the Novell login screen requests that you log into the Novell server to continue the installation, the Novell login screen is hidden behind the installer screen. WORKAROUND: Use Alt + Tab to select the Novell login screen and log into the server normally. After login, the install will continue as expected. *********************************************************************** 1.5 Printer Status and Alerts UNINSTALLER *********************************************************************** ISSUE: The uninstaller does not completely uninstall all of the software. DESCRIPTION: If the installer is used to install more than one language on the same system, only the files and components from the last installation will be removed. The installer only stores one uninstallation log file per system. WORKAROUND: Uninstall the software for the first language before installing the software for a second language. *********************************************************************** 1.6 PARALLEL AND USB SUPPORT *********************************************************************** ISSUE: HP JetDirect USB EIO card does not work. DESCRIPTION: The accessory JetDirect USB card is not supported for the HP LaserJet Printer Status and Alerts software at this time. WORKAROUND: None. *********************************************************************** 1.7 BI-DIRECTIONAL FUNCTIONALITY *********************************************************************** ISSUE: After installing Printer Status and Alerts for my parallel connected printer, printing sometimes slows down. DESCRIPTION: Some printers may experience slower performance due to the different ways that some computers and printers handle bi-directional communication over the parallel (LPT) interface. Some larger, more complex jobs may need more time to process and print due to the increased communication traffic over the parallel interface. WORKAROUND: None. ISSUE: On NT4 clients, a broken connection is displayed. DESCRIPTION: When running Printer Status and Alerts, from an NT4 client machine to a remote printer connected via an NT4 share, a broken connection is displayed. WORKAROUND: Check that the Network> Services> RPC Configuration service is correctly installed on both the client AND the host (print server ) machines, and that the RPC "Name Service Provider" field (click RPC - "Properties" to view information) is set to "Windows NT Locator." Windows 9x, Windows 2000, and Windows XP are not affected by this problem, only Windows NT4. *********************************************************************** 1.8 Printer Status and Alerts *********************************************************************** ISSUE: Job Status stops responding and print job icons freeze. DESCRIPTION: When Printer Status and Alerts is tracking a large number of print jobs, Job Status may stop responding. WORKAROUND: None ISSUE: Multiple copies of the same print job show up in the Printer Status and Alerts windows as separate print jobs. DESCRIPTION: Some applications send each copy of a print job as a separate job; therefore, Printer Status and Alerts will represent each copy as a separate job. WORKAROUND: Set the Check Status rate to Never, or turn off Job Status when using applications that send each copy of a print job as a separate job. ISSUE: A broken connection is displayed. DESCRIPTION: This problem may occur on Windows clients using bi-directional communication to a remote printer using a Windows printer share. WORKAROUND: Ensure that bi-directional communication software is installed on the server. This can be done by installing Printer Status and Alerts on the server. If no alerts are desired on the server, the Check Status rate can be set to Never to prevent alerts from occurring on the server. ISSUE: A print job gets stuck and creates a bottleneck in Printer Status and Alerts. DESCRIPTION: This problem was observed when sending many print jobs to the same printer. If the jobs begin to timeout, one job may be left stuck in a "Canceling" status. This stuck job affects the performance of Printer Status and Alerts on subsequent print jobs. The updating of job status for these new print jobs slows, causing some of the print jobs to timeout. NOTE: This problem does not affect printing performance. WORKAROUND: Follow this procedure to shutdown and restart the Printer Status and Alerts software: 1. Right-click the "Printer Status and Alerts" icon in the Windows system tray. 2. Click "Exit". 3. When prompted, select "Yes, start again after reboot". 4. Click "Start", and then click "Run". 5. Type "HPSTATUS.EXE" (do not type the quotation marks) 6. Click "OK" to start Printer Status and Alerts. ISSUE: When many jobs (for instance, over 40) are sent very quickly Printer Status and Alerts can sometimes have problems tracking and showing the jobs as finished. This can result in temporarily stuck icons in the "Printer Status and Alerts" window. DESCRIPTION: If this happens, the icons will eventually time out and disappear within 5 to 10 minutes. WORKAROUND: None. ISSUE: On Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me, installing two different copies of the same printer on the same port may result in job status being tracked for only one of the printers. DESCRIPTION: Having two copies of the same driver (Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me) sometimes results in no job or device status for either one. WORKAROUND: Delete the duplicate printer. *********************************************************************** 2. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE *********************************************************************** *********************************************************************** 2.1 OBTAINING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM HP SERVICES *********************************************************************** See the online user guide that was supplied on CD-ROM with the printer for additional methods of obtaining software and support information, such as driver distribution centers, and online services and support. *********************************************************************** 2.2 OBTAINING INFORMATION VIA THE INTERNET *********************************************************************** Printer drivers, updated HP printer software, and product and support information may be obtained from the following URLs. Access the Internet or FTP address and use the menus to locate the software or support of your choice. (Paths may change without notice.) In the U.S. http://www.hp.com/support/ In Europe http://www2.hp.com/ Printer drivers may be obtained from the following sites: In China ftp://www.hp.com.cn/support/ In Japan ftp://www.jpn.hp.com/support/ In Korea http://www.hp.co.kr/support/ In Taiwan http://www.hp.com/tw/support/ or the local driver website at http://www.dds.com.tw/ URL for Access to HP: http://www.hp.com/ *********************************************************************** 2.3 OBTAINING SUPPORT SERVICES OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES *********************************************************************** Visit the HP website at http://www.hp.com/ for more information on software distribution and customer support options, or contact your authorized HP Dealer. *********************************************************************** 3. LEGAL STATEMENTS *********************************************************************** *********************************************************************** 3.1 TRADEMARK NOTICES *********************************************************************** Adobe(r) and PostScript(r) are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated. Microsoft(r), Windows(r), Windows NT(r), Windows 2000(r), Windows XP(r), Internet Explorer(r), and Pscript(r) are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. *********************************************************************** 3.2 LEGAL NOTICE *********************************************************************** This Software is owned and copyrighted by Hewlett-Packard or its third party suppliers. Additional copies of the Software are available at the HP website: http://www.hp.com/ "NO WARRANTY. The information provided in this document and this software for the Hewlett-Packard Printer Status and Alerts is provided "As Is." No implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose are given. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. IN NO EVENT WILL HP OR HP SUPPLIERS BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL (INCLUDING LOSS OF USE OR LOSS OF DATA) OR OTHER DAMAGES ALLEGED TO BE CAUSED BY THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE." U.S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS: The Software and any accompanying documentation have been developed entirely at private expense. They are delivered and licensed as "commercial computer software" as defined in DFARS 252.227-7013 (Oct 1988 ), DFARS 252.211-7015 (May 1991) or DFARS 252.227-7014 (Jun 1995), as a "commercial item" as defined in FAR 2.101(a), or as "Restricted computer software" as defined in FAR 52.227-19 (Jun 1987) (or any equivalent agency regulation or contract clause), whichever is applicable. You have only those rights provided for such Software and any accompanying documentation by the applicable FAR or DFARS clause or the HP standard software agreement for the product involved. The owner is Hewlett-Packard Company, 3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, California 94304. The HP Printer Status and Alerts software may be copied and distributed only to users of HP LaserJet printers. The HP Printer Status and Alerts software may not be distributed for profit. *********************************************************************** 3.3 COPYRIGHT *********************************************************************** Copyright (c) 2001 Hewlett-Packard Company Copyright (c) 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp. All rights reserved.