HP LaserJet - Install an HP Universal

Print Driver (UPD) using a USB

connection to enable print-only
function in Windows 7
Introduction
About universal print drivers (UPDs)
When to use a UPD
UPD types
Which UPD do I choose?
Supported products
Step one: Download and run the driver setup
Step two: Install the driver on a new printer using a direct connection
(USB)
More information for MFPs and AiOs

Introduction
This document provides download and installation instructions for Universal Print Drivers
(UPDs) provided by HP for most LaserJet products that will be installed in Microsoft
Windows 7. This document also contains information about UPDs to help guide you in
selecting the correct UPD type or in determining whether or not a UPD is the best choice for
your product.
NOTE: Do NOT install a universal print driver (UPD) unless you have a print-only product
and you know that reinstalling using a UPD is the correct solution. If you are trying to resolve
a particular issue or error message, reinstalling a driver might not resolve the issue.
If you are not sure, go to How to Select the Correct Print Driver (c00751649) (in
English) or search for help documents that pertain to your specific issue or error message.
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About universal print drivers (UPDs)

Even if a Universal Printer Driver option(s) is listed, this may not be the best driver choice for
your product.
Universal print drivers (UPDs) are print-only drivers and are not recommended for use with
multifunction or all-in-one products where scanning or faxing software and drivers are
needed.
UPDs are 'one-size-fits-all' drivers (not product-specific) created to facilitate product
installations typically in a commercial or business environment where there are multiple
printer or product types and a series of drivers might be needed. UPDs are often used by
business administrators / IT Help desks that want to share or distribute a small driver that
enables basic software functionality.
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When to use a UPD

Normally, the full solution or product-specific driver is recommended for most products when
available for download at www.hp.com/go/support.
If the full solution or a product-specific driver is not available, you might use a UPD in one or
more of the following conditions:
 When you have a print-only product
 When there is no other Windows 7 driver available for your product (e.g. Full solution,
PCL 6 (non-UPD), Basic Print/Scan, Plug and Play, etc.)
 When installing Windows Vista drivers in compatibility mode is not an option for your
product
 When you are not already using a basic driver or do not have an In-OS driver included
in your Windows 7 operating system
 When printing in an enterprise or managed print server, static, or mobile print
environment (administrators or IT Help desks)
Universal Print Drivers (UPDs) are a good driver choice for print-only products because these
drivers ONLY provide print capability.
If you are using a multifunction or all-in-one product, and there is no other driver option
available, the In-OS driver included in the Windows 7 operating system is considered a better
choice than UPD. While some of the advanced software features might not be available,
customers can use this driver with either the product control panel or the Scan and Fax feature
in Windows. For more information, go to Use the software in Windows 7 (32-bit
and 64-bit versions) to fax and scan (c02539136) (in English).
If a UPD is not right for you or you are not sure, go to How to Select the Correct Print
Driver (c00751649) (in English) or search for driver installation instructions specific to your
product before trying a UPD.
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UPD types
The type of UPD driver you use may depend on your environment and printing needs.
NOTE: UPD drivers can be found under the Driver - Universal Print Driver section (shown
below) on the individual product support and driver page or directly at
www.hp.com/go/upd . The UPD type can be identified by the name appended to the end
of the file name (e.g. PCL 5, PCL 6, Postscript, etc.).
Figure 1: Universal Print Driver section found on the product page at www.hp.com
For instructions on how to download one of these driver options, see section Download
and save the driver .
If you know that you need a UPD driver but are not sure which driver to select, use the
following information as a guide.
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Which UPD do I choose?

In some cases, only one UPD driver is available for a product. In this case, use the available
driver.
If two or more UPD drivers are available, use the following information as a guide to select the driver
most appropriate for your environment:

Driver When to use

The HP Universal Print Driver for Windows PCL6 is

1 - HP Universal Print recommended for most printing options.
Driver for Windows
PCL6 When printing from general office applications such as
word processing, spreadsheet applications, or other general office
applications. This is the most commonly selected UPD driver.
When you know that you have a postscript printer
When printing from graphics intensive applications such
as Adobe
When printing documents containing a significant
2 - HP Universal Print number of graphics, high resolution images, or macros
Driver for Windows When printing in a mixed environment, for example,
PostScript printing from both Windows and Macintosh applications
NOTE: The product must have postscript (PS) printing
capability to use this driver. If you are not sure, use the PCL6
driver.

3 - HP Universal Print When you need to achieve backward compatibility with

Driver for Windows previous PCL versions or older LaserJet printers
PCL5 When printing in a mixed environment, for example,
printing from both Windows and Macintosh applications
When printing in an environment which requires the
 Driver When to use

language to be set to PCL 5, for example: UNIX, Linux, or

mainframe
When printing in an enterprise or managed print server
environment (administrators or IT Help desks)
When printing to multiple printer models in a static or
mobile print environment (administrators or IT Help desks)
For more information, go to www.hp.com/go/upd .
After you determine the correct UPD driver for your environment and printing needs, see
section Download and run the driver setup .
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Supported products
Drivers and Universal Print Drivers (UPDs) are available for most products. If none of the
drivers mentioned above are available, your product may not be supported. For more
information, go to Products Not Supported in Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit
versions) (c02535920) (in English).
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Step one: Download and run the driver

setup
This section provides information on how to download the Universal Print Driver (UPD) and
run the driver setup from www.hp.com/go/upd. The Universal Print Driver (UPD) is also
available for download from Support & Drivers .
NOTE: The following screen shots are intended as a guide. There may be slight variances
between products. Follow the on-screen prompts during the installation process to complete
the driver installation for your product.
1. Disconnect the USB cable from both the product and the computer (if you already
connected it).
NOTE: Do not connect the USB cable until prompted to do so during the software install
process.
2. Open a new browser window and go to www.hp.com/go/upd .
3. Under the green header Free Download section, click Download Software.
4. Select your language from the drop-down list and then select your operating system
(Windows 7).
5. Under the Driver - Universal Print Driver section, locate the driver option you want
to download, click Download, and then click Run and wait while the files download to
your computer.
NOTE: The HP Universal Print Driver for Windows PCL6 is recommended for most printing
options.
6. Click Unzip or Next, and then wait while the installer extracts the files.
NOTE: Make sure the When done unzipping open: autorun.exe check box is selected and
do not change the default location to which the installer saves the files.
 Figure 2: WinZIP Self-Extractor

NOTE: If you receive a notification that the files unzipped successfully, click OK.
7. The HP Universal Printing Installer launches.
Click Yes to accept the terms of the license agreement.

NOTE: You may need to select I accept the terms in the license agreement and then click
Next.
8. Select Dynamic mode, click Install, and then wait while the driver files are extracted
to the Driver store.
 NOTE: If Windows detects another driver version for the printer, select Replace the current
driver if you are installing a new printer and want this to be your default, or select Use the
driver that is currently installed (recommended) if you are installing an optional driver for
an existing product.
9. If prompted, click Finish to close the window.
NOTE: You might need to restart the computer to complete the installation.
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Step two: Install the driver on a new printer

using a direct connection (USB)
After downloading the UPD, follow these steps to install the driver files using a USB cable.
NOTE: If you receive a Windows security alert(s), allow the installation to continue.
1. Turn on the product and then wait until the printer is in a Ready state.
2. Connect the USB cable to the product and to the computer and then wait while
Windows automatically detects the product, locates, and installs the driver files.
NOTE: A notification in the lower right corner of your screen will indicate the progress of the
installation.
3. When the Devices and Printers window automatically opens, make sure that the
printer is set as the default (indicated by a green check mark).
NOTE: If it is not selected as the default, right-click the printer, click Set as default printer,
and select the HP printer.
4. Print a test page.
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More information for MFPs and AiOs

Universal print drivers are recommended primarily for printers and not for multifunction or
all-in-one products because these 'print' drivers do not have scan or fax drivers included. If
you are using a Multifunction or All-in-One product, first try a full solution or other non-UPD
driver.
In some cases, a separate driver download may be available to enable scan and fax software
functionality. These options should be used INSTEAD of a UPD. Examples of fax and/or scan
drivers include the following:
 HP LaserJet MFP Wizard Console
 HP MFP Digital Sending Software
 HP PC Send Fax Driver
 Plug and Play Print/Scan (USB install)
These are typically located on the individual product pages under the Software, Driver, or
Utility sections.
If there are no fax or scan drivers available for your product, or when full software
functionality is not available through the product driver, you might be able to fax and scan
using the Scan and Fax feature in Windows. For more information, go to Use the software
in Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit versions) to fax and scan (c02539136) (in
English).