The Big Sur Compatibility Blues

[pm-r]

Unless I misunderstood something, the Mac that could be used for that is soon to go to a new home.

Good point Sly, I guess I missed that little detail. Maybe they have another Mac they could use in its place.


- Patrick
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[Mikeo512]

Feeling kinda lonely here - the only one who can't get his HP printer to print!

Jag 500 says:
I'm currently running Big Sur 11.2 on a 2017 15 MBP. Just this mornning HP updated their HP Smart browser software and it works perfectly with my HP Envy 7640 printer/scanner. It worked before the update as well. Did you try the update?

I tried to download the software for the HP Envy 7460 - but it refused to come down from HP when the latter realised there was no such printer here. (It's connected with a USB cable BTW.)

Is this behaviour by HP some kind of planned obsolesce ploy? Declining to provide a driver for their HP 3050 J610 that's still in good working order? And this in the expectation that they'll sell another printer? Am I the only person with such a printer and Big Sur that's confronted with this problem? The 'Air Drop' / 'network' solution is all well and good but I really don't want to tie up the other Mac just for this.

If I'm eventually forced into buying a new printer, it will not be an HP.

M

 

[pm-r]

The 'Air Drop' / 'network' solution is all well and good but I really don't want to tie up the other Mac just for this.

If I'm eventually forced into buying a new printer, it will not be an HP.

M

FWIW: when we were using HandyPrint as a print server, we were never really interrupted or bothered when using the slave Mac.

But I just checked with HP Canada site for any software for your HP 3050 J610 printer and was rather surprised that the most recent version of the software they had was for Mac OS X 10.8!!!

Gheese, if I had such a long-lasting printer, and spare cartridges, I'm pretty sure I would be installing a previous mac OS version where that printer still worked, than what you have just installed, unless you really need some new feature of the latest mac OS version you did install that killed off the printer.

Did you consider doing that, rather than going out and buying another printer that possibly isn't built nearly as well?


- Patrick
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[Mikeo512]

OK Patrick and thanks.
I'd not thought about going back to a previous version of OS.
The printer works with 10.13.6 - how straightforward would it be, temporarily at least, take my new MBP back to that OS?
But might a reversion to an earlier OS cause other problems, for example with MS Office?
I have a new version of Office for Mac (Word on this is 16.45).
I also wonder about Photos that have been transferred.
M

 

[chscag]

I'd not thought about going back to a previous version of OS.

Don't think about it because you can't do it with your 2019 MacBook Pro. That machine shipped with Catalina 10.15.1. That's as far back as you can go.

 

[JeffL]

Feeling kinda lonely here - the only one who can't get his HP printer to print!

Jag 500 says:
I'm currently running Big Sur 11.2 on a 2017 15 MBP. Just this mornning HP updated their HP Smart browser software and it works perfectly with my HP Envy 7640 printer/scanner. It worked before the update as well. Did you try the update?

I tried to download the software for the HP Envy 7460 - but it refused to come down from HP when the latter realised there was no such printer here. (It's connected with a USB cable BTW.)

Is this behaviour by HP some kind of planned obsolesce ploy? Declining to provide a driver for their HP 3050 J610 that's still in good working order? And this in the expectation that they'll sell another printer? Am I the only person with such a printer and Big Sur that's confronted with this problem? The 'Air Drop' / 'network' solution is all well and good but I really don't want to tie up the other Mac just for this.

If I'm eventually forced into buying a new printer, it will not be an HP.

M

I've always had Canon printers. I currently have a very cheap MG4250 and it's fine with my new MBA M1 via bluetooth. It's a fairly slow noisy printer but it's only for home use so it's fine for the amount of printing I do.

 

[Mikeo512]

Thanks to "chscag" and to Jeff for the helpful replies.
All noted.
M

 

[pm-r]

Don't think about it because you can't do it with your 2019 MacBook Pro. That machine shipped with Catalina 10.15.1. That's as far back as you can go.

Good catch Charlie, I missed that rather important detail.

What model Mac and OS version was being used with that printer before the purchase of the new Mac model???

I guess one still really needs to check and double-check one's requirements and compatibility before purchasing a newer Mac.


- Patrick
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[Mikeo512]

OK Patrick:
The older Mac is on 10.13.6
It's a MBPro, Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2014
2.2 GHz Intel Core 17
The HP 3050 J610 still works with that computer

Not sure when I bought the printer but it may have been in 2011. I've always bought (and would continue to buy) genuine HP cartridges. Instead of courting bad publicity, HP should be proud that one of its printers is still going strong. The days of the throw-away culture are supposed to be over.

Finally, can someone who knows about programming pse tell us just how big a deal it would be for those clever guys at HP to write a driver that would keep their HP 3050 J610 running?

M

 

[chscag]

I'm rather surprised that your HP does not work with Big Sur. I have an HP LaserJet 1012 that's going on 18 years old and it still works great with Big Sur.

I realize that drivers for my LaserJet are much less complex than your printer, but it would seem that HP could update them easy enough. I'm betting your printer works fine with the latest release of Windows 10. HP has always given priority to Windows.

 

[pm-r]

Finally, can someone who knows about programming pse tell us just how big a deal it would be for those clever guys at HP to write a driver that would keep their HP 3050 J610 running?

Why not give them a call or drop them a line and ask???

I'm sure no programmer, but. I had to do a small modification to a file for my old HP 4ML Laserjet way back when, and it was basically just a text file with a bunch of, I gather, instructions for the printer to follow, and I probably used TextEdit or maybe even SimpleText or the free BBEdit at the time.

The HP 3050 J610 still works with that computer

Maybe give HandyPrint.app a try while you wait for an answer and see if it doesn't give you a chance to use your old printer again from your new Mac.



- Patrick
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[Mikeo512]

Just seen some encouraging posts on the HP support website about the printer issue - cannot do anything right now but will report back in due course.
M

 

[pm-r]

Just seen some encouraging posts on the HP support website about the printer issue - cannot do anything right now but will report back in due course.
M

Have you tried this fix that has worked for some:

printer drivers for Mac os big sur 11.0.1

My wife's computer has Mac OS Big Sur 11.0.1. I need to download a driver for the Photosmart 2600 series printer. My printer does not work with that OS.

h30434.www3.hp.com

Or:
HP Printer Drivers v5.1 for macOS

HP 5.1.1 Printer Software Update - Apple Support

HP 5.1.1 Printer Software Update can be installed on macOS Monterey and is recommended for all users.

support.apple.com

- Patrick
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[chscag]

HP Printer Drivers v5.1 for macOS

This set of drivers from HP (5.1) also included a driver for my ancient HP LJ 1012, so it might work for "Mikeo512".

 

[Mikeo512]

Oh joy, oh rapture!
The printer works ... that driver suggested by Patrick and endorsed by 'chscag' has done the trick.
This is really good news and I just hope that it will carry on.
The Mac with Big Sur is connected via a USB C cable to the HP printer.
Thanks very much to everyone on the forum for their help.
M

 

[pm-r]

Oh joy, oh rapture!
The printer works ...

Glory be, great to hear... all to the trumpet and organ sounds playing Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring...

Now if I could only get my own Canon PIXMA MX922 printer working with wireless/AirPrint with this new router my ISP provided, I'll be a happy camper.

What a PITA hassle it's been trying to get it to work, yet everything was so easy on the previous wireless modem. Maybe I'll just get them to replace it and get things back the way they used to be.

"New and improved" my fanny...!!!

Anyway, I called them to get the tech over here tomorrow morning so we shall see what he/she can do.


- Patrick
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[chscag]

Anyway, I called them to get the tech over here tomorrow morning so we shall see what he/she can do.

"Good Morning Sir, I'm here to work on your problem that you're having with our newest and greatest router."

"Oh, I'm sorry sir, we don't normally work on Macs, they're just so different!"

 

[pm-r]

"Oh, I'm sorry sir, we don't normally work on Macs, they're just so different!"

Actually, Mike, the Shaw tech was excellent, even though not successful, but all the settings on their Hitron router are as they should be, but they are not really expected to work on printer and airport express problems. They did that as a courtesy, as I even have problems connecting and disconnecting an ethernet connector due to the psoriasis rheumatism arthritis condition in my hands.

We did try a few other setup options, but alas, no AirPrint printing from any of our iOS devices. All other things we need are working with our wireless LAN.

I don't want to try going back to an older router and getting all the other setups working once again. As the tech said, technically this new router is far superior to the older ones. It's just unfortunate that it's such a pain in the butt to get it configured to use with AirPrint.

So if anyone knows how to get a Canon PIXMA MX 922 setup and working with AirPrint with or without using an Apple Express connected to a Hitron CODA-4582 router, I would sure appreciate hearing from them.

I got the normal wireless printing using the Hitron CODA-4582 router working by changing the security login method settings thanks to some web user comments.


- Patrick
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[pm-r]

@chscag
OT Charlie, but I just wanted to say that I hope you and many other Texans are managing and keeping reasonably warm during the God-awful COLD whether you seem to be having down that area.

At least it looks like you still have some power and are able to be online.

And no, Canada did not send it down there. We need to keep most of it up here to keep up our reputation for ice and snow and below zero temperatures and we don't have an awful lot to spare.

Keep safe, healthy and well.

- Patrick
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[chscag]

OT Charlie, but I just wanted to say that I hope you and many other Texans are managing and keeping reasonably warm during the God-awful COLD whether you seem to be having down that area.

A bit of a late reply, been busy today.

We were fortunate in that our power never did go off. We are not on one of the big power company routes but rather we get our power thru a country co-op. Water pressure was down for several hours due to a problem with the water distribution plant but they fixed it in less than a day.

Still no garbage collection or mail delivery as of today. Hopefully they get back on schedule tomorrow Friday.

Had to thaw out my kitchen cold water feed several times due to the low temps at night. I have small heater that I place under the sink cabinet and that works well.

What a mess across Texas. Really crazy since Texas produces more oil and natural gas than anywhere else in the US but the power grid went down. Wind Turbine generators were off line and most of the coal fired plants have been shut down due to climate change worries.

Grocery stores are empty and gasoline stations are dry.

Makes me wonder what we will do when a real crisis occurs like war or a severe earthquake.

Stay safe up there and I hope your arthritis gets better.

Charlie