We purchased a couple of dirt cheap LaserJet 1020 printers for the office and home. While they work fine in Windows and Ubuntu Linux (with proper hackery applied) getting it to work on OSX is not straight forward. If you google around you’ll find both success and horror stories on this printer. It seems HP supports the newer 1022 model officially but not the 1020. Turns out the 1022 driver will work fine for a 1020 if, and that’s a big IF, you get Mac OSX to list it in the printer list. This thread on macosxhints.com was the most informative of all. I tried the suggestions a couple of days ago but to no avail. This morning I tried again and with success! All the steps seem to be there, but the following order worked for me:
- Download; http://www.railsguru.com/assets/2007/4/16/1601_LJ_1022_Series_OSX.dmg;
- If you have anything for the HP 1020 in ”/Library/Reciepts” delete it.
- Delete anything for the HP 1020 in Printer in “Printer Setup Utility”
- Install the downloaded printer drivers
- Remove all files from /Library/Printers/hp/laserjet. Leave the 1020 subfolder! You’ll need the contents in the next step;
- Move all files from the 1020 subfolder to /Library/Printers/hp/laserjet (the parent);
- Restart Mac OSX, just for luck;
- Add new printer in “Printer Setup Utility”, select HP LaserJet 1020, driver should come up, click ADD
Disclaimer: this worked for me™. No guarantee the above steps will hose your printer setup or other things.
I have had lots of promblems with the HP laserjet 1320. It installs ok but sometimes when you send a print document to it the spool file is swallowed by something and nothing prints. It is also extremely hard to set it up on the network.
Followed your lead.
Worked for me.
Thanks.
I just got the 1020 and haven’t been able to get it working. I recently upgraded to 10.4.8 and was wondering if it still worked under 10.4.8 for you.
Thanks.
Oh man, I forgot to reinstall the package after moving the files around. Sorry, PEBCAK error.
I couldn’t get it to work on my MBP (10.4.8) using your exact procedure. However, I went back to the procedure I used for my PowerPC Mac Mini, and that worked. Basically, follow the procedure detailed in the blog post, but omit steps 5 & 6. Worked beautifully.
Does anyone know whether or not a printer driver that works under 10.4.7 will ultimately still work say for Leopard?
In other words, do drivers generally need to be updated all the time to work with new OS updates?
I’d hate to this 1020 useless in a year or so.
thanks
Good question! Unfortunaly I have no idea! I only started with OS X @ 10.4.6. Anyone?
-andy
Thanks a lot for the tip. It worked for me and my HP 1020 connected to an Intel Imac.
I would like to add that I too was becoming very frustrated until I connected the printer USB cable directly into the Imac, ie not via a hub.
Before I connected direct to the Imac, the computer did not recognise the printer driver and/or the printer itself depending on which USB hub I was connecting through.
I was on the point of selling the printer until I fixed it tonight so thanks again to you all for your help.
On a similar note, I was having problems connecting my external USB Audio Capture box (Edirol UA-25) to the Imac for exactly the same reason. So my tip is if you’re having problems connecting a USB device to one of the new Imacs then try a direct connection.
- Pete
Btw, I am using OS X 10.4.8
- Pete
MACBOOK USERS: Found on another thread I followed the instructions that I’ve now included below. I was on OSX 10.4.7. No matter how closely these instructions were followed, I still wasn’t able to get my LJ 1020 working with my MacBook. I’d been reluctant to upgrade to 10.4.8 as I’d heard absolute horror stories about it from other users. Reluctantly, I upgraded my OS and then again (for the millionth time) followed the instructions that TheMane posted in the other forum (at macosxhints.com) (I’ve posted them below so that you don’t have to go and search). It would seem that upgrading the OS to 10.4.8 is what has made all the difference. My new HP LJ1020 is working correctly (I am completely in utter shock!) and I can now finally get my essay done.
If you aren’t already on OSX 10.4.8, upgrade now and then follow these steps:
For The MacBook (make sure you’re on OSX 10.4.8):
1) Disconnect the HP 1020 if it is currently connected to the MacBook.
Run the installer package downloaded in step 2
2) Download; [url]http://www.narc.ca/1601-LJ_1022_Series_OSX.dmg[/url] (Old version)
3) Delete anything for the HP 1020 in Printer in "Printer Setup Utility"
4) If you have anything for the HP 1020 (or the 1022 from a failed installation) in "/Library/Reciepts" delete it.
5) Remove the 1020Series folder from "/Library/Printers/hp/laserjet" directory if it exists.
6) Reset the print system from the Printer Setup Utility
7) Reboot (the HP 1020 is still disconnected from the MacBook)
9) Shut down the MacBook completely
10) While the MacBook is off, connect the HP 1020 and power the PRINTER on
11) Power on the MacBook
12) Add new printer in "Printer Setup Utility", select HP LaserJet 1020, driver should come up, click ADD
Thanks TheMane for posting instructions that are made for Intel Mac users.
hi, Thanks a lot for these instructions– it didn’t work at first with moving the items into the parent folder; when i just left it alone after downloading it worked fine though!
Hot damn. I spent all weekend struggling to get my HP1018 to work with my intel imac. eventually i managed to exchange it for a hp1020, which as i read here, had more chance of working. so then… i brought it home and it was all the same. hot damn. i was developing a nervous tic.
i tried to follow all the directions here, and to an extent they worked. but when i went into the printer setup utility i couldn’t see ‘HP’ as an option… so…
(this is after restarting the computer by the way.)
i selected ‘other’ in the printer setup utility. so now it’s all about finding the right file on your own. i went to library/printers/hp/laserjet and if you’ve followed the directions above, you should see the file hplj1020PM.plugin. select it. that worked for me.
i had tried selcting it a thousand times before, but i think the reason it eventually worked was that i had restarted, and followed the intructions above.
thanks to all for the help, it saved me.
It still works today!
thanks very much for the hp 1020 driver info. It installed by itself on my old imacG4, but not on the new macbook. without your instructions, i’d never have gotten it to print .
thanks again
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! The difference in your suggestions and others (and what made it finally work for me) was moving the files from the 1020 subfolder into the main laserjet folder. And I didn’t even have to reset (for luck)! I can’t thank you enough. I was about to have to purchase a new printer… now this one is saved.
btw — in case it helps others, I used these instructions on my Intel MacBook Pro. Perfecto!
Like Chris, I also couldn’t get it working for PowerPC. I did exactly what Chris mentioned (omitting steps 5 and 6) and it worked.
However I couldn’t get the printer to show in the list of printers to add in the "Print using:" section.
I had to add it via Bonjour, it works!
Thanks.
Hi
Link http://www.narc.ca/1601-LJ_1022_Series_OSX.dmg does not work any more. Somebody please send me this driver to inbox@vancouverlaptops.com
Thank you!
Andrei
hi all,
same as above – desperatly need the driver! Please email to jonathan_byers@hotmail.com
or post online!
THANKs
If anyone finds this .dmg please send it to me too and I’ll put up a local copy here. Thanks!
-andy
I have a local copy of the driver now! Much thanks to Philip Luedtke!
-andy
miremba it work! thanks!
Thank you Andy. Much appreciated. I live on an island and returning the 1020 would have been a two-day trip (more than the cost of the printer). I followed your directions and have been happily printing all morning! Many thanks.
-Jim
someone please send me the driver for the 1020 for OSX to jtarin10@yahoo.com.
@justin: you can fetch a copy of the driver at the top of this page
-andy
Andy,
Great procedure! I just used on a brand new Mac with Intel Core II Duo processor running 10.4.8.
I had to do one extra little think to get the procedure to work.
After completing the procedure and on the first attempt to add in my HP 1020, the Printer Setup Utility saw the printer on the USB port but no 1020 driver was listed in the LLLLOOONNNGGG list of HP printers. To fix, I moved the file that contained HP printer drivers in the /library/receipts to the desktop (later I moved to an archive folder). I forget this file’s name but it was something like ‘HPprinterdrivers’. By the way, there was no file in /library/receipts that had the words ‘HP 1020′ in the filename or could even be construed to refer to the words ‘HP 1020′. Next I rebooted. I went to add the printer and viola! there is was and it had already selected the correct driver.
Thanks loads for starting this thread. You should set up a paypal acount and ask everyone that was helped by this procedure to send you $10!
Thanks,
Tim Golden
Thank you so much for posting this! It took me 2 tries but I’m back up and running! The first thing I’m printing is your instructions so I’ll never have to deal with this again.
Yay! I was just about to return this 1020 and exchange for the HP 1022 ($100. more!) because it didn’t come with Mac software. Thanks to these instructions, I am keeping the 1020 and printing perfectly with my Apple Express and Mac Book.
THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! oh very smart person!
Thank you for figuring this out. I never would have tried moving the contents of the folder like that. Sheer Genius!!!
I just had success on a 12" G4 Powerbook running 10.4.8. I first installed the most recent drivers from HP for the 1022 printer. I then removed the package from /Library/Resources/. I then installed the package from the link above.
When then adding the printer the 1020 did not show up in the HP list. But ask I clicked around looking for it, the machine auto detected the 1020 and picked that as the choice in the drop down. It felt very strange. I would suggest, after picking the USB printer, to wait a while and see if the system picks the correct driver.
Good luck all.
And thanks for having the link to the older driver… saved my butt.
HOW TO PRINT IN A HP LASERJET 1020 WITH A MAC
I have a PowerBook G4 with OSX 10.4.8, an Airpor Express, and the cheap HP Laserjet 1020. I tried several methods without success, but the only one and really simple is to plug the USB printer connector to an Airport Express. Open Printer Utility, ckick add a printer, and the computer will recognize the printer as a Bonjour printer. You can print anything.
I found that using the dmg linked to on this pages worked if I did the following:
Completely deleted the laserjet folder in the Library/Printers/Hp folder.
Then completed the install. I did not have to move files out of the new laserjet/1020 series folder. No restarting, no reseting, etc.
Deleting the laserjet folder was the trick.
Thank you.
Thankyou for this
Had the 1020 working no prob on my ibook and this was a royal pain on the macbook
Thanks
Thanks, Andy. That did the trick.
The directions left by miremba worked perfectly for my macbook. Thanks very much for the help.
Yahoo!
Blessings of a Thousand Virgins Bestowed upon you my Brother!!!
THANK YOU! This actually worked!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks thanks.
I am using a Dual 2.3 PPC G5, 10.4.8
Awsome info… Dual 2.3 G5 on 10.4.8 too, working flawless even shared on my local network… u rox pal.
At last, the struggle is over! After trying pretty much everything, like trying to share it on the network as a virtual postscript printer and then i tried to install the laserjet 1022 driver without any success. Thank god it worked this time. I don’t need a windows machine any more to use my printer
Fantastic!!!!
Spent ALL day trying to reinstall HP’s 1022 driver for the 1020 printer on my Mac. (They must have updated it/and crippled it for macs)
5 minutes with yours, BINGO.
Sincerely, THANK YOU!!!!!!!
(G5 running 10.4.8)
Ok, I can get the printer to show up with the proper driver option, but still nothing happens when I try to print. I have a G5 imac with 10.4.8 and an airport express hub.
Same procedure works for the laserjet 1018?????
Thank you! I wasn’t able to delete the items from the 1020 subfolder, so I tried printing and it worked!
Miremba – THANKS! Worked perfectly for MBP on 10.4.8
Has anyone been able to print using a MacBook with the Airport Extreme? I managed to get the Print Utility to recognize the printer and add it, which I thought would be the fix, but when I send something to print now, it gets stuck "looking" for the printer. What’s going on? Do I need a network compatible driver? I see that others with the Aiport Express haven’t had a problem….
Any help would be *very much* appreciated! (And thanks for the directions that enabled me to print with the printer connected directly to my MacBook. At least it works that way!)
Thank you!! It worked for me on my new Black MacBook (OS X: 10.4.8) and LJ 1020 without any difficulty.
Cheers!
Please, someone send me that driver to braintree75@gmail.com, Thanks!
If someone could e-mail me the old driver I would greatly appreciate it…I have an iMac 17 inch with Intel Core Duo and a new hp 1020 and I already tried the 1022 driver and it didn’t work. When I try the drivers from the links above it says "nothing to install". Any help is appreciated…thanks!
drmalloy@yahoo.com
MM
I followed these steps exactly with my new white Macbook, started MS Word, went to ‘Print’ and ‘Add a printer,’ and it worked perfectly. I’m printing away on my new HP Laserjet 1020 without any problems.
I used your driver, rebooted the MacBook, unplugged the Airport Extreme and printer, then plugged the Airport Extreme and printer back in then re-connected the USB between the Airport base station and the printer. Then tried to print a simple doc which gave the opportunity to select the Bonjour version of the printer driver and voila.
Mnay thanks for your help! We’d be taking the printer back to where we bought it without it.