HP original laser printer 2686A: bargain or boat anchor?
“This printer is (i’m told) supposed to print a test page full of assorted characters yet only prints multiple parallel lines. Also, i’m unsure of the proper hookup to Win95, parallel or serial interface. To clarify, I bought this thing used from someone who ‘knew nothing about it’ and the HP web site volunteers little information.” (From: Gerald Chafee (GChafee@worldnet.att.net>).) If I remember right the original Laserjet has a “test switch” located towards the back that only tests the print engine and is supposed to only print parallel lines. I think that you can take the printer off-line from the front panel and get some sort of printout by holding down a self-test switch on the front or a combination of switches. Somewhere I have a service manual for this unit and I will try to look it up. BTW, the LJ I’s were invariably a serial port only printer which made them a pain to interface. They do give a good print for such old technology, but you only have 1 or 2 resident fonts and I b
