Duplex Printing with the HP Color Laserjet 2605, 2605dn, 2605dtn (Windows Vista / Windows 7)

by Phillip H. Blanton 12. February 2009 12:31

I have an HP 2605dn that is a great color laserjet. It comes with a built-in duplexer and works wonderfully under Windows XP, but in Vista (64-bit in my case) the duplexer option is not available. I spent some time digging through many forum posts, none of which were helpful. One said to use the generic PCL6 driver, but that caused the printer to stop printing in color, and only offered a manual style of duplexing. I was beginning to get mad. Then I found this...

http://forums13.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/getattachment.do?attachmentId=289144&ext=.pdf

The gist of the dcument is this...

  • Use the HP Color LaserJet 2605/2605dn/2605dtn PS driver that comes with Vista.
  • Right click on the printer and select "Properties" from the context menu.
  • Select the Device Settings tab. 
  • Scroll down to the Installable Options section and click the setting next to Duplex Unit (for 2-Sided Printing) to switch it from
    Not Installed to Installed.
  • Also in the Installed Options change the following Hard Drive options...
       Change "Printer Hard Disk" from Installed to Not Installed 
       Change "Job Storage" from Enabled to Disabled.

Save the changes and the next time you print, the duplexing option will be available and you will still be able to print in color.

Later in the document it says...

     "Download and Install the Printer Drivers from HP.com when they become available"

But as that document is over two years old, HP has not released new drivers for this printer, and Windows 7 is about to debut, I reckon new drivers aren't forthcoming. In fact, I'd bet that they release a new printer with slightly modified firmware and bump the rev so that they can justify abandoning this printer and force us to buy a new one.

Note: The same instructions work for Windows 7 Beta. I am currently running 64-bit Windows 7 (Version 6.1 Build 7000)

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Comments

Terry United States on 2/22/2009 6:47:32 AM

Hello Mr.Blanton I read about your problem about the HP2605DN printer, I was hoping that you could help me out in anyway. I have the same printer, but I have Windows Xp 64. I can't even install my printer at all, I have the factory disc and everything else that came with the printer. I would like to do duplex printing like you, but right now I would just be happy to install it and be able to print in color for now. Could you please help me or direct me in a direction that could help me out. I don't want to buy another printer or get rid of my operating system. I would just like to be able to 1. Use the printer 2. Print in color of course.

Phillip United States on 3/5/2009 2:00:06 AM

Hmm. I use the 64-bit version of Vista, and the driver is already installed in the OS. HP has the 64-bit XP driver listed here http://tinyurl.com/bpj78s but as I don't run 64-bit XP I can't test it for you.

Good luck!

James McFarland United States on 4/23/2009 3:08:18 PM

Hi Mr. Blanton - I just installed 64-bit Vista, and we also noticed no more duplexing option - then I found your blog via Googel, and I followed your digest of the article referenced - and viola! - It worked great.  We now have duplex printing on our HP 2605dn under Vista.
THANKS!

john United States on 9/16/2009 2:46:45 AM

Actually, the duplex support is in the driver, but its not detected correctly. If you check properties, device settings, Installable Options (duplex unit) it says Not Installed. Change that to Installed, and you'll get a duplex option under finishing, as you should.

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