Fix PDF Printing Problems on Windows 7 with HP P2035n Printer
Question details
PDF documents fail to print or stop printing midway from a Windows 7 machine to a networked HP P2035n printer.
- Product
- PDF Reader / HP P2035n
- Device & OS
- Windows 7 Professional
- Scenario
- Attempting to print PDF files over a network to an HP P2035n printer using PCL drivers.
- Observed behavior
- The PDF documents stop printing, fail to spool correctly, or result in errors when communicating with the network printer.
Ensure your HP P2035n printer is properly connected to the network, powered on, and has sufficient paper and toner before troubleshooting software configurations.
Print the PDF as an Image
Bypass complex PDF font rendering and formatting errors by sending the document to the printer as a standard image.
Network printers using PCL drivers sometimes struggle to process complex vector graphics or un-embedded fonts found in certain PDF files. Forcing the software to rasterize the file first usually resolves the error.
Open the problematic PDF file in your default PDF reader and click 'File' > 'Print', or press Ctrl+P.
In the Print dialog box, look for and click on the 'Advanced' button.
Check the box labeled 'Print as Image'. Click 'OK' to save the setting.
Click 'Print' to send the flattened image data to your HP P2035n printer.
Update or Reinstall the HP P2035n PCL Driver
Fix communication and formatting issues by ensuring you have the correct and most recent PCL drivers installed for Windows 7.
Test with an Alternative PDF Viewer
Determine if the issue is isolated to your current PDF software by using a different, lightweight PDF reader.
Print and Manage PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
WPS Office includes a powerful and lightweight PDF reader that minimizes rendering issues and communicates smoothly with network printers like the HP P2035n, even on older systems like Windows 7.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your Windows 7 PC.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS PDF and open the document you wish to print.
- 3. Print the Document: Click the Print icon or press Ctrl+P, select your HP P2035n network printer, and hit Print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my HP P2035n print random characters instead of the PDF text?
This is usually caused by a font embedding problem or a miscommunication with the PCL driver. Using the 'Print as Image' feature in your PDF reader's advanced print settings typically resolves this issue.
How do I know if the problem is the PDF file or my network printer?
Try printing a simple text document (like a Notepad TXT or Word file). If it prints successfully over the network, the printer and connection are fine, and the issue is specific to the PDF file or your PDF reader software.
Are PCL drivers the best choice for printing PDFs on Windows 7?
While PCL (Printer Command Language) drivers are fast and standard for general office printing on HP printers, PostScript (PS) drivers are often better equipped to handle complex PDF graphics and fonts. If your printer supports it, trying a PS driver might fix persistent PDF errors.
Where is the 'Print as Image' option located in most PDF readers?
In most standard PDF software, you can find the 'Print as Image' checkbox by pressing Ctrl+P to open the Print dialog and then clicking on the 'Advanced' button.
