HP Designjet 2500CP - HELP ME PLEASE!

wills1970 · October 7th, 2008, 09:29 PM

I recently purchased a used HP Designjet 2500CP wide format printer. Originally I was just going to use it for blueprints. I have been trying to find more information on it, but see that it must be a dated printer. I would like to start doing some of my own promotional items such as stickers, magnets, banners, etc. Unfortunately I cannot do any of this stuff because I have Vista! LOL I guess I should have done this investigation prior to the purchase. Anyway, I looked on the website and I can still download drivers for PC format in XP and older or Mac in format 8, 9 or X. So since I need to get a different platform to operate the printer, I have decided to try to find a used computer on Ebay. Now for the million dollar question.........Which format will suit me best and what programs should I be looking for that are already loaded onto the computer? Also, there is a parallel port and a 10/100 port. If I am only using a single computer for the sole purpose of running the printer, which connection is fastest and easiest to set up? Does anyone out there have a HP 2500CP or 3500CP? Any interest in helping me set mine up? I would greatly appreciate any and all assistance I can possibly get. Thank you.

**RicheemxX** · October 7th, 2008, 10:09 PM

One thread is all you need!

I'm not sure where you looked but they've got vista drivers listed on the HP site HP Designjet 2500/3500cp Printer series*-* Download drivers and software - HP Business Support Center

wills1970 · October 9th, 2008, 12:36 PM

That is the site I was on and there are no driver's available for Vista. When you click on the "obtain software" link, in a round about way it takes you to a table that shows there is no further support for this printer on the Vista platform. I wanted to find an older mac that possibly had Adbobe CS, Quark, etc as I have heard these machines would really let me do alot of great things with the printer and there are drivers available for the older classic versions of Mac OS 8, 9 and I believe up to 10.4. I also have an old laptop that has XP on it, I downloaded the drivers for the printer and from that point on I am completely lost. Should I look into getting an older mac to run this printer or just stick with this older laptop with XP? Also, the printer has a jet direct card with 10/100 ethernet as well as a parallel port. I have heard that using a parallel to usb adapter causes all kinds of problems so I tried to connect the laptop to the printer using an ethernet cable. I tried to add the printer, but I have no idea what I am doing as far as selecting the port, etc to get the computer to recognize the printer. Could you possibly help me out in this department. It would be so much easier if I could just go from usb to usb, but unfortunately the printer does not have one.........Thanks again for any help.

Spada · October 9th, 2008, 12:50 PM

It could work it could not, but have you 'tried' the xp driver? I had some small success with that when vista came out and there weren't a lot of drivers for my gear/peripherals

wills1970 · October 9th, 2008, 01:00 PM

Yes, I have the driver downloaded for the XP laptop. I am not a pro by any means at this stuff. There is only a connection via parallel and ethernet using the jet direct card. I have heard that all kinds of problems occur when you use a usb to parallel adapter so I currently have it connected via ethernet. Unfortunately I have no idea as to how to set up the computer to see the printer? I tried to add printer, but it cannot find it when it does the scan. Do you have any idea how I set it up via ethernet cable? Thank you so much in advance for your help. I have been thinking about getting an old mac with Adobe and quark or similar just to run the printer, or should I just stick with the XP printer for what I am using it for?

Spada · October 9th, 2008, 03:34 PM

to set up over the network, you'll have to obtain the ip from the printer itself (usually in the menu there is something like network connections or configuration etc etc, just poke around till you find it). Then you go to printers/faxes -> add new printer. Then you go to local printer, uncheck the box for automatic -> next. Next screen on the bottom you can choose a port (make a new one under tcp/ip). Enter in the address you get from the printer, then click next. now it should search and find it. Then install the drivers with the 'have disk' option. *note* if it's going to the jet direct then the printer, I believe iirc you have to pull the ip from the jetdirect.

wills1970 · October 9th, 2008, 03:43 PM

I recognize all of what you are saying since I had tried to do this already, but how do I get the IP address for the printer/jetdirect card?

wills1970 · October 9th, 2008, 04:01 PM

I currently have an ethernet cable going from the laptop into the jetdirect card of the printer, do I need to use a network router instead?

Spada · October 9th, 2008, 04:05 PM

What end it plugged into your computer, a serial connection or the ethernet?
Either way:
1) Hook up the jetdirect to the printer you want on it.
2) Hold down the test button on the jetdirect and it will print out a config page.
3) From the config page get the IP address it has assigned to it.

wills1970 · October 9th, 2008, 05:11 PM

There is no test button on the jet direct card. Just the BNC, 10/100 and the (2) thumbscrews. Am I missing something?