Author Topic: URGENT Need for OS/2 Compatible Inkjet Printer  (Read 2034 times)

TowerMark

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URGENT Need for OS/2 Compatible Inkjet Printer
« on: May 30, 2025, 04:54:53 pm »
I work for Tower Semiconductor, we manufacture IC's and inside our fab we have some VERY old tools & equipment.  One of our tools is still running OS/2 Warp.  The printer that it's been using for years was the HP Deskjet 6122 but it finally kicked the bucket and it's impossible to get a replacement.

We need a replacement inkjet printer and it needs to either be compatible with the HP print driver already installed, or come with it's own OS/2 driver.  It also has to be inkjet as we can't have laser toner inside the clean room.  Even the inkjet printers have to be inside housings. 

I've searched for a website or form that identified what current HP printers are compatible with the old OS/2 driver but couldn't find anything that definitively stated what will or won't work, it's just too old. 
We can switch to a printer other than HP but it has to have its own OS/2 driver then. 

Any ideas for what printer(s) are compatible or have their own driver? 

~God bless

Martin Iturbide

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Re: URGENT Need for OS/2 Compatible Inkjet Printer
« Reply #1 on: May 30, 2025, 05:58:23 pm »
Hello Mark, welcome to the forum.

Just some questions here:
1) Which version of OS/2 are you using. Can you execute on the commend line "ver /r" and let us know?
2) Is there any specific request for printing? Was the printer parallel or USB?
3) Do you have any other printers models around the office that you may try? Can you share the models?

My personal documented experience is with the "Epson L4150 Printer" (USB).


Regards
« Last Edit: May 30, 2025, 06:01:46 pm by Martin Iturbide »
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Lars

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Re: URGENT Need for OS/2 Compatible Inkjet Printer
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2025, 06:53:36 pm »
Looks like the HP Deskjet 6122 has a USB connection which is good to start with.
The easiest will be to buy a Postscript capable printer with a USB connection or even Ethernet connection.
Postscript was and is still pretty well supported by OS/2. I am using a Postscript Printer (Brother MFC-L8650CDW: but this is a Laserprinter) and that works well with the OS/2 supplied Postscript Driver.

Bogdan

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Re: URGENT Need for OS/2 Compatible Inkjet Printer
« Reply #3 on: May 30, 2025, 10:12:22 pm »
Epson Workforce Pro WF-M5399DW supports PCL and PS.

David McKenna

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Andi B.

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Re: URGENT Need for OS/2 Compatible Inkjet Printer
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2025, 10:17:45 pm »
Brother MFC-J6957DW
HP Officejet Pro X476dw MFP

Both can handle Postscript (and PCL) so work with psdriver (basic functions, no borderless printing or similar special things).

Neil Waldhauer

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Re: URGENT Need for OS/2 Compatible Inkjet Printer
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2025, 03:25:02 pm »
I provided OS/2 support to several semiconductor equipment manufacturers. The equipment lived in a clean-room environment, and the OS/2 computers were embedded in the equipment. The operating system was OS/2 Warp 3/Connect with no fixpaks.

USB is out of the question for Warp 3/Connect. If you've got Warp 3/Connect, then Ethernet would be available, and you can print that way, which would be superior to the USB/parallel port. If you have TCP/IP installed at all, you should be able to find the TCP/IP configuration panel for it.

While I doubt an inkjet printer will be available with a parallel port, perhaps an ethernet connection would work. I'd recommend that with one of the printers that supports PCL. You may have to use the HP Laserjet 4 driver already in Warp 3.
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Klafi

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Re: URGENT Need for OS/2 Compatible Inkjet Printer
« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2025, 12:58:37 am »
Look here

https://www.geocities.ws/os2_shutterbug/os2-printers.html



Compatible older HP inkjet printers for OS/2 Warp
HP DeskJet series (PCL 3):

HP DeskJet 500 / 510 / 520 / 540 / 550C / 560C / 600 / 610C / 630C / 660C / 690C / 693C / 695C / 697C / 810C / 840C / 850C / 870Cse / 895Cse
(Many of these even run on parallel port and USB; OMNI.DRV recommended.)

HP DeskWriter series (for Mac, but partly PCL):

HP DeskWriter 550C, 560C
(Only of limited relevance - mostly intended for Apple)

HP DeskJet Plus, HP DeskJet FAX

HP DeskJet Plus, HP DeskJet FAX
(same driver basis as above)

HP OfficeJet (older models, PCL 3):

HP OfficeJet 500 / 600 / 700 / 1170C / 1175C
(Attention: Newer OfficeJets usually no longer compatible!)

HP Photosmart (older models):

HP Photosmart P1000 / P1100
(Early models only - later models use proprietary languages.)


good luck ...