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Printer Basics
Overview
Congratulations on your purchase of an HP LaserJet 5100 series printer. If you have not done so, see the start guide provided with the printer for setup instructions.
Now that the printer is set up and ready to use, take a few moments to get to know the printer. This chapter introduces the following:
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Features and benefits of the printer.
•
Important printer parts and locations.
•
Accessories and supplies available for the printer.
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The layout and basic operation of the printer’s control panel.
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Helpful printer software for increased printing flexibility.
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Printer Features and Benefits
Many of the printer’s features and benefits are outlined below.
Specific chapters contain more information on each feature. See this guide’s index or contents to locate this information.
Wide Format Printing
Increased capability from your laser printer:
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Prints on paper sizes up to 312 x 470 mm (12.28 x 18.5 inches).
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Prints full bleed images (up to A3 size and 279 x 432 mm
[11 x 17 inches]) by printing images on larger paper that can be trimmed to the edges.
High Print Quality
Professional results that meet the demands of complex documents:
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ProRes 1200 (true 1200 dpi) for highest quality graphics printing.
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FastRes 1200 for fast, high-quality image printing.
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HP UltraPrecise toner for high quality print.
High Performance
Faster printing for improved productivity:
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Prints 22 pages per minute (A4) or 11 pages per minute (A3).
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300 MHz RISC microprocessor.
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Prints the first page in less than 13 seconds.
Ease of Use
Easy to use and administer:
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Helpful printer software provided on a compact disc.
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Expandability
Ability to grow with the printing needs of workgroups:
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3 built-in DIMM slots for memory expansion.
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Available flash and memory DIMM cards.
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Up to 192 MB maximum memory capability.
Paper Handling
Versatile to meet a combination of user needs:
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100 sheet multi-purpose tray.
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250 sheet paper tray.
Best Value
Providing industry-leading value to customers:
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10,000 page print cartridge.
Euro Character
Equipping customers for a changing world market:
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This printer is currently enabled to print the all-new euro character.
HP is committed to maximizing document portability through supporting and promoting euro symbol standards.
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To learn more about printing the euro character, visit HP’s
LaserJet euro website at http://www.hp.com/go/laserjeteuro .
Environmental Features
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EconoMode uses approximately 50% less toner, which extends the life of the print cartridge (HP does not recommend full-time use of EconoMode)
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PowerSave setting saves energy (meets E
NERGY
S
TAR guidelines)
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Printer Information
Congratulations on your purchase of the HP LaserJet 5100Le printer! This printer (product number: Q1863A) is a 22 pages per minute (ppm) laser printer that comes standard with a 100-sheet multi-purpose Tray 1, a 250-sheet Tray 2, and 16 MB of memory.
The printer is able to print full-bleed images on paper sizes up to
A3 and 11 x 17 in (279 x 432 mm).
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Control panel and display
Printer Parts and Locations
Top output bin Paper stop
Top cover
Product and serial numbers
(located on the underside of the top cover)
Tray 1
(100-sheet)
Paper level indicator
Tray 2
(250-sheet) Paper size indicator
(set with dial inside tray)
Latches (to open rear door) Rear door
(paper jam access)
Power switch
Rear output bin
(straight-through paper path)
Power connector
Figure 1 Printer Parts (front and rear views)
Parallel interface connector
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Accessories and Supplies
You can increase the capabilities of the printer with optional accessories and supplies.
Memory, font, or flash DIMM
Note Use accessories and supplies specifically designed for the printer to ensure optimum performance.
Figure 2 Optional Accessories
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Ordering Information
Use only accessories specifically designed for this printer. To order an accessory, contact an HP-authorized service or support provider. (See the telephone support flyer included with the printer.)
Ordering Information
Item
HP Multipurpose Paper
HP LaserJet Paper
HP LaserJet Recycled
Paper
Print Cartridge
(10,000 pages)
Dual In-line Memory
Module (DIMM)
SDRAM DIMMs
Flash DIMM
Parallel Cables
Description or Use
HP brand paper for a variety of uses
(1 box of 10 reams, 500 sheets each). To order a sample, in the U.S. call 1-800-471-4701.
Premium HP brand paper for use with HP LaserJet printers (1 box of
10 reams, 500 sheets each). To order a sample, in the U.S. call
1-800-471-4701.
HP brand recycled paper for a variety of uses. 500 sheets. To order a sample, in the U.S. call
1-800-471-4701.
Replacement HP UltraPrecise print cartridge.
Boosts the ability of the printer to handle large print jobs (maximum
192 MB with HP brand DIMMs):
16 MB
32 MB
64 MB
Permanent storage for fonts and forms:
2 MB
4 MB
2 Meter IEEE-1284 cable
3 Meter IEEE-1284 cable
Part Number
HPM1120
HPJ1124
E1120
C4129J
C7843A
C7845A
C9680A
C4286A
C4287A
C2950A
C2951A
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Ordering Information (Continued)
Item
HP LaserJet Printer Family
Print Media Guide
Description or Use
A guide to using paper and other print media with HP LaserJet printers.
A guide to using printer commands with HP LaserJet printers.
Part Number
5963-7863
PCL 5/PJL Technical
Reference Documentation
CD
HP LaserJet 5100Le Start
Guide
Printer Maintenance Kit
An additional copy of the start guide.
Q1860-90901
Contains user-replaceable parts and instructions for routine printer maintenance.
110 V printer: new exchange
220 V printer: new exchange
5961-0976
Q1860-67902
Q1860-69002
Q1860-67903
Q1860-69003
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Control Panel Layout
The printer’s control panel consists of the following:
2-line display
READY
Ready
Go
Data Attention
Menu
Item
Cancel
Job
- Value +
Select
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Figure 3 Control Panel Layout
Control Panel Lights
Light
Ready
Data
Attention
Indication
The printer is ready to print.
The printer is processing information.
Action is required. See the control panel display.
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Control Panel Keys
Key
[Go]
[Cancel Job]
[Menu]
[Item]
[- Value +]
[Select]
Function
• Places the printer either online or offline.
• Prints any data residing in the printer’s buffer.
• Allows the printer to resume printing after being offline. Clears most printer messages and places the printer online.
• Allows the printer to continue printing with an error message such as
TRAY x LOAD [TYPE] [SIZE] or UNEXPECTED PAPER SIZE .
• Confirms a manual feed request if Tray 1 is loaded and TRAY 1
MODE=CASSETTE has been set from the Paper Handling Menu in the printer’s control panel.
• Overrides a manual feed request from Tray 1 by selecting paper from the next available tray.
• Exits the control panel menus. (To save a selected control panel setting, first press [Select] .)
Cancels the print job that the printer is processing. The time it takes to cancel depends on the size of the print job. (Press it only once.)
Cycles through the control panel menus. Press the right end of the button to move forward or the left end of the button to move backward.
Cycles through the selected menu’s items. Press the right end of the button to move forward or the left end of the button to move backward.
Cycles through the selected menu item’s values. Press [+] to move forward or [-] to move backward.
• Saves the selected value for that item. An asterisk (*) appears next to the selection, indicating that it is the new default. Default settings remain when the printer is switched off or reset (unless you reset all factory defaults from the Resets Menu).
• Prints one of the printer information pages from the control panel.
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Note
Control Panel Menus
For a complete list of control panel items and possible values, see page B-1.
Press [Menu] for access to all control panel menus.
To change a control panel setting:
1 Press [Menu] until the desired menu appears.
2 Press [Item] until the desired item appears.
3 Press [- Value +] until the desired setting appears.
4 Press [Select] to save the selection. An asterisk (*) appears next to the selection in the display, indicating that it is now the default.
5 Press [Go] to exit the menu.
Settings in the printer driver and software application override control panel settings. (Software application settings override printer driver settings.)
If you cannot access a menu or item, it is not an option for the printer.
To print a control panel menu map:
To see the current settings for all of the menus and items available in the control panel, print a control panel menu map.
1 Press [Menu] until INFORMATION MENU appears.
2 Press [Item] until PRINT MENU MAP appears.
3 Press [Select] to print the menu map.
You might want to store the menu map near the printer for reference.
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Note
Configure the control panel display language
(Optional)
By default, the control panel on the printer displays messages in
English. If necessary, set the printer to display messages and print configuration pages in another supported language.
1 Turn the printer off.
2 Hold down [Select] while turning on the printer.
3 When SELECT LANGUAGE appears in the LED display, release
[Select] .
4 After the printer has finished initializing, LANGUAGE = ENGLISH will appear in the LED display.
5 When LANGUAGE = ENGLISH appears in the display, press
[- VALUE +] to scroll through the available languages.
6 Press [Select] to save the desired language as the new default.
7 Press [Go] to return to READY .
8 To activate your new language choice, turn the printer off and then turn the printer on.
9 The LED display text should now appear in the selected language.
For Japanese, language selection will change the default symbol set for the specific language. For all other languages, the default symbol set is PC-8.
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Note
Printer Software
The printer comes with helpful software on a compact disc. See the start guide for installation instructions.
Check the ReadMe file provided on the compact disc for additional software included and supported languages.
The printer drivers provided on the compact disc must be installed to take full advantage of the printer’s features. The other software programs are recommended, but are not required for operation. See the ReadMe file for more information.
The most recent drivers, additional drivers, and other software are available from the Internet. Depending on the configuration of
Windows-driven computers, the installation program for the printer software automatically checks the computer for Internet access to obtain the latest software. If you do not have access to the Internet, see the telephone support flyer included with the printer to obtain the most recent software.
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Note
Printer Drivers
Printer drivers access the printer features and allow the computer to communicate with the printer (via a printer language).
Check the ReadMe file provided on the compact disc for additional software included and supported languages.
Certain printer features are available only from the PCL 6 driver.
See the printer software help for availability of features.
Drivers Included with the Printer
The following printer drivers are included with the printer. The most recent drivers are available on the Internet. Depending on the configuration of Windows computers, the installation program for the printer software automatically checks the computer for Internet access to obtain the latest drivers.
PCL 5e
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows Me
1
Windows NT® 4.0
Windows 2000
Windows XP
1. Microsoft® Windows® Millennium Edition
PCL 6
Within the computer installation program, select Typical Install to install the PCL 5e, and PCL 6 drivers. Select Custom Install to install only the software you prefer, or if you are a network administrator. Select Minimum Install to install only the PCL 6 driver for basic printing.
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Note
Additional Drivers
You can obtain the following printer drivers by downloading them from the Internet, or by requesting them from an HP-authorized service or support provider. (See the telephone support flyer included with the printer.)
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OS/2 PCL/PCL 6 printer driver*
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AutoCAD™ (Rev. 15 compatible Windows printer driver available on the compact disc. Rev. 14 printer driver available with
HP LaserJet 5100 printer drivers ( http://www,hp.com/lj5100 ).)
*The OS/2 drivers are also available from IBM, and are packaged with OS/2.
If the desired printer driver is not on the compact disc or is not listed here, check the software application’s installation disks or ReadMe files to see if they include support for the printer. If not, contact the software manufacturer or distributor and request a driver for the printer.
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Software for Windows
Use the Typical Install or Custom Install option to install the HP software. (This includes several printer drivers. For more
information, see page 17.)
Access the Windows Printer Driver
To configure the driver, access it in one of the following ways:
Operating System
Windows 95,
Windows 98, and
Windows Me
Windows NT 4.0
Windows 2000
Windows XP
Temporarily Change Settings
(from a software application)
From the File menu, click Print, and then click Setup or
Properties. (The actual steps can vary; this is the most common method.)
From the File menu, click Print, and then click Setup or
Properties. (The actual steps can vary; this is the most common method.)
From the File menu, click Print, and then click Setup or
Properties. (The actual steps can vary; this is the most common method.)
From the File menu, click Print, and then click Setup or
Properties. (The actual steps can vary; this is the most common method.)
Change Default Settings
(across all applications)
Click the Start button, point to
Settings, and then click Printers.
Right-click the printer icon, and select Properties.
Click the Start button, point to
Settings, and then click Printers.
Right-click the printer icon, and select Document Defaults or
Properties.
Click the Start button, point to
Settings, and then click Printers.
Right-click the printer icon, and select Printing Preferences or
Properties.
Click the Start button, point to
Printers and Faxes. Right-click the printer icon, and select
Properties
Note Settings in the printer driver and software application override control panel settings. (Software application settings override printer driver settings.)
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Choose the Right Driver for Your Needs
Choose a printer driver based on the way you use the printer.
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Use the PCL 6 driver to take full advantage of the printer’s features. Unless backward compatibility with previous PCL drivers or older printers is necessary, the PCL 6 driver is recommended.
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Use the PCL 5e driver if you want print results to look comparable to those from older printers. Certain features are not available in this driver. (Do not use the PCL 5e driver provided with this printer with older printers.)
Printer Driver Help
Each printer driver has help screens that can be activated either from the Help button, the F1 key, or a question mark symbol in the upper right corner in the printer driver (depending on the Windows operating system used). These help screens give detailed information about the specific driver. Printer driver help is separate from the software application help.
Software for Linux
For information about Linux support for the printer, see the HP Linux support homepage: http://hp.sourceforge.net/ .
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