HP Z-Series Firmware and Drivers

[Mark Lindquist]

I recently upgraded a Z3200 24" firmware from TR12 RB 10.0.0.2  to TR12-RB_13.0.0.2
Since my printer is a Revision A, (Q6718A)  I used the RB download for Revision A printers.

HP Utility works fine when running on my Mac Pro Tower system running Mavericks.

On our PC machines, HP utility does NOT work correctly (color center, synchronize papers) is grayed out.

Any HP Z series users out there with copies of PC version downloads archived?  (I have Mac versions archived but not PC.)

It seems now HP only offers very few options, and no going back.

Appreciate any experience, advise,  expertise, etc.

-Mark

[Geraldo Garcia]

Mark,

I had that color center problem in the past and the cause was the version of the Internet Explorer. Yeah... that is right! The program uses the IE interface to open its windows so it can mess things up. Try to update  the Internet explorer, if that does not work I will dig my archives for some different versions of the HP Printer Utility.

[Mark Lindquist]

Geraldo,
I upgraded to IE 11, and I've fiddled with the security settings but the color center synchronize still doesn't work.  Wonder if there is a particular browser setting that is blocking it?  Or possibly firewall or something?

I haven't been a Windows guy since XP which is now discontinued....

So this Windows stuff is weird to me.

[Geraldo Garcia]

But can you actually calibrate and profile paper from windows?
I remember being unable to perform calibration, profiling and sync.
When it happened to me I had to revert to a previous IE update for it to work, don't remember the version. Today it works fine with the most recent IE.
Will check the versions of HP printer utility I have stored tomorrow and send you a link through PM.

[Mark Lindquist]

Eureka!  I got it!!!!

This is cool, for anyone in the same bind.

I upgraded to IE 11  (not sure if critical or not).

Installed the firmware patch (not sure if critical or not)

CRITICAL:

Downloaded the latest driver for Windows 7 64 bit

I deleted the printer, then added it back in.

Ran the driver install software, chose my 24" printer and finished the install.

Voila!  Works and updated the papers in the Paper Presets Menu.

Hot Dog!

Actually, I think the solution to any and all of this stuff is to delete the printer, add it back in and run the correct drivers.  Ugh.  What a nightmare, but I'm there.

Thanks Geraldo for you help - it's good to have the support, even if it is good plain old fashioned moral support!

-Mark

[Mark Lindquist]

But can you actually calibrate and profile paper from windows?
I remember being unable to perform calibration, profiling and sync.

Yup - was like working blind.  I am sooooo happy I finally got it by uninstalling the printer, then reinstalling it and the correct drivers.  Wow.....

But can you actually calibrate and profile paper from windows?
I remember being unable to perform calibration, profiling and sync.
When it happened to me I had to revert to a previous IE update for it to work, don't remember the version. Today it works fine with the most recent IE.
Will check the versions of HP printer utility I have stored tomorrow and send you a link through PM.

Edit:  To clarify, Geraldo, I was able to perform profiling, calibration, etc., but unable to sync paper presets, as "synchronize paper presets" was grayred out.  The other aspects of color center worked.  Once the correct driver was installed (meaning printer chosen from the driver utility, then driver installed), the Synchronize paper presets worked again as shown in the above image.

[Phil Indeblanc]

Generally speaking, if your printer is working fine, DON"T do a firmware update.
I have heard of "bad" firmware making the printer worse or limiting its use on future adaptability.
If it has an issue and the Firmware is addressing it, great!

[Mark Lindquist]

Generally speaking, if your printer is working fine, DON"T do a firmware update.
I have heard of "bad" firmware making the printer worse or limiting its use on future adaptability.
If it has an issue and the Firmware is addressing it, great!

Hi Phil,

Thanks for commenting.  When I did update the firmware for my Z3200, (since Microsoft had issued a statement that they no longer support XP), and I was having issues with running the printer on XP,  and planned to move to the more recent operating system(s) I did upgrade.

The upgrade turned out to be fine and I don't see how it will limit its use in the future.  I'd be interested in a link to that information.  

Given that this machine was manufactured in 2009, it is now 5-6 years old.

It does work perfectly, on both Mac and PC systems now with the upgrades, so I can't say one way or another.

What I can say is that apparently it has done no harm to upgrade the firmware.

According to HP:

"...Update the firmware
The printer's various functions are controlled by software that resides in the printer, otherwise known as firmware.
From time to time firmware updates will be available from Hewlett-Packard. These updates increase the printer's functionality and enhance its features...."

Regarding upgrading, there is the aspect of Revision A versus Revision B, and I have not found out any concrete info, other than internet anecdotal information that "A is an early model and only B is being made now"  Since I have three of these machines, I can say that the earlier model (2006) ends in the suffix "A"  and a current model just 2 years old ends in "B", while the 5-6 year old model ends in A.  The newest, (2013) ends with Suffix B.

I reason that the printers with an "A" suffix product number require revision A firmware upgrades, and printers with the suffix B, require revision B firmware upgrades - that simple.

It occurs to me that it just wouldn't work to upload incorrectly, A to B or B to A.


HP recommends often within the service manual upgrading to the latest firmware version.

-Mark

[Mark Lindquist]

Regarding installing 2 or more printers (ps and plain versions) in MS Windows, I just recently found out a few things.

(The systems are installed through VMWare on a Mac Pro Tower).

Windows 7 seems to work fine.  The drivers overwrite one another, when adding a ps version or a plain version, etc.
(This would not be any kind of issue if only adding one printer.  All must be done through the downloaded HP Setup/install software, unless going through printer properties and Advanced>Windows update, which in some cases can be done.  Just trying to use the color center paper presets profiling does not work in the utility for printers found by windows itself, they must be upgraded (YMMV).  One type of printer driver, ps versus PLC installs over the other via a driver software "overwrite".  Then they both work.

Windows 8.1 Pro works fine with two different Z Series printers, but a few problems:

There appears NOT to be a ps version driver that works in 8.1 Pro.  My workaround was to install all Windows 7 64 bit drivers via the above described method, and they work perfectly.  I installed the printers by opening the  Z3200ps driver first, allowing it to find and install the 44" Z3200ps first.  Next, I Installed the Z3200 24" through the same driver , choosing the printer.  Since Windows would not allow me to overwrite the driver file because a more recent version exists on the computer, I went to the newly installed printer (in printers) right clicked and went to properties, advanced, updated driver using Windows update, which installed the correct driver for the 24" Z3200.

Both printers could be seen and operated fully in Color center, excepting, of course, Job Queue on the 24" which I guess never works for the 24" model.  (If it does, please, someone tell me).

So both Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 Pro allow fully functioning Z Series printers to work on their systems, if using Windows 7 64 bit drivers, and can be "stacked". 

That has been my experience, now.

Trying to determine which system to really go for now, however.  In planning to install several programs, I have to choose one or the other.  I'm inclined to play it safe and stick with Windows 7, but Windows 8.1 Pro seems to work fine, and perhaps in the long run I'd be ahead.

It would be nice to hear any opinions about using the two systems, and preferences.

-Mark