Installing an HP LaserJet 1012 printer in Windows Vista

Windows Vista LogoUPDATE 1-22-09: Apparently HP has added the drivers for 32 and 64 bit Vista! See comments section for more details. If you’ve beeen to HP’s site looking for a Vista driver for your LaserJet 1012, you probably noticed there wasn’t one. If you’re like me, you downloaded the XP driver and hoped for the best, but the install crashed. If you’re not ready to trash your trusty old printer, here’s what you can do:

  1. If you don’t already have it, download the XP driver from ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib/software8/COL4313/lj-14154-2/lj1010serieshb-en.exe
  2. Remove any reference to the failed HP LaserJet 1012 install in the Printers menu. Make sure the printer is NOT connected to the computer.
  3. Choose “Add Printer” and proceed to add a local printer on LPT1. Select “Have Disk” when prompted to and navigate to the folder into which you extracted the drivers. You should have a choice of three drivers: LaserJet 1012, 1015, and 1018. Select the 1015 drivers and finish up the install.
  4. Now comes the fun. Plug the printer in, and Vista will immediately go out and try to install an HP 1012 printer. It will probably fail to install if you haven’t tried before, or just show up (but not work) if you’ve already plugged it in before.
  5. Once Vista is done wasting your time, right-click on the HP LaserJet 1012 icon in the Printers menu, and choose Properties.
  6. Click the Advanced tab and look for the Driver pull-down menu. It should list the non-working HP LaserJet 1012 driver, so pull it down and pick the HP LaserJet 1015 driver (that’s why we installed the non-existent printer–to get that option in the pull-down list).
  7. Click Apply and close the dialog. The printer will now be named something like HP LaserJet 1015 (Copy 1). Rename it whatever you want and delete the fake HP LaserJet 1015. Right-click on the real printer and choose Properties, then Print Test Page to make sure it all works.

NB: If you ever see an error about the Print Spooler or don’t see any printers listed in the Printers menu, click the Start button and type ‘services.msc’ (without the quotes) into the bar and hit Enter. That will bring up the Windows services list, and you can restart or start the Print Spooler service.

Oct 19, 2008

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Comments

Tony (Nov 17, 2008)

You are absolutely a genius!!!!

I have fought this dilemma for a year and had finally given up hope.

supercat (Nov 26, 2008)

Crap. Sadly, it didn’t work for me – asks for a x64 based driver…

Bob (Dec 21, 2008)

Same problem as supercat. any workaround?

Vasken (Dec 23, 2008)

Not that I know of, short of installing the 32-bit version of Vista instead of the 64-bit version…but that seems a bit drastic. I suppose you could also try poking around on HP’s site to see if there’s a 64-bit version of the XP driver and try the same procedure using that driver.

Joyce (Jan 03, 2009)

I just purchased another computer [HP Slimline with vista installed] since my old one was 5 years old. I have tried diligently SEVERAL times to get this to work and it STILL won’t let me use my 1012. Although I have another printer HP1600 Color Laser, I need to use the 1012 with this computer. Any hope for me? Thanks for your help! I’ve been sitting here for 3 hours trying to get this thing to work correctly!

Vasken (Jan 05, 2009)

Joyce,

Did you try the instructions in my blog post? If so, what error/problem are you getting now? Also, is the slimline by any chance running Vista 64-bit? If so, the workaround will probably not work for you, since the 64-bit driver is different. Let me know…

Joyce (Jan 05, 2009)

Ahhhh…. It IS a 64-bit Vista!! I purchased it open box with a good price but now I’m wondering if it was really worth it! I haven’t tried to install the color HP 1600 yet. Says it is supported but we’ll see! Thanks for your help and web site!

Rafael (Jan 06, 2009)

Hi i do that but i have another problem when i send it to print 2 copies it only print one -.-

Eric (Jan 22, 2009)

The HP drivers for the 1012 are now available! Visit the HP website. Both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions worked for my two vista machines.

Anne-Marie Erickson (Feb 17, 2009)

My computer does not respond when I plug the printer (step 4). Any tips for me ?