How can I fix an old HP LaserJet 4050N?

Solution 1:

There appear to be quite a few things wrong with this "working" printer.

Error 41.5 refers to paper feed errors. That also explains why it jams regularly. This page lists some things you can try. You may need to clean and/or replace various parts in the paper path, starting with the feed rollers.

The only mention I found for 79.x errors refer to a faulty formatter board. If that is your problem, then you will need to replace it. But I suspect you can get newer and better printers for less than the formatter!

Before you replace it, try a cold reset on the printer, to reset everything to factory defaults, like this:

Remove the Jetdirect card. Turn printer off. Hold the GO key. Turn printer on. Continue to hold the GO key until the printer reads COLD RESET. Release GO. INITIALIZING appears. Then RESTORING FACTORY SETTINGS Followed by OFFLINE. Press the GO key to put back on line. Switch off and reinstall the Jetdirect.

More info is here.

Solution 2:

For anyone else who finds this page when tracking down this error, Error 79.8109 is simply the result of using the wrong printer driver (i.e. the HP Universal PCL6 driver, as provided under Windows 8 and 10). This driver does not work correctly with this printer. In general this error isn't a formatter problem.

Since Windows 10 no longer provides the proper driver for this printer, the Universal PCL6 driver does seem a reasonable choice, but it simply isn't compatible. You'll then need to delete/uninstall the printer and power cycle it before trying anything else.

If you have a generic Postscript driver available, this can often be made to work correctly, although you won't get to select things like Economode or set the resolution. HP do offer a working Windows 10 compatible driver on their website, but I can't currently provide a link since their driver downloads site is down. (When their site is functional again, I'll endeavour to come back and provide the details.)