Having trouble setting up your HP Deskjet 2130 scanner on your macOS system? Let’s explore some common solutions to get your scanning functionality up and running.
First, it’s helpful to know where your driver was initially installed from. Knowing this can give clues if there were issues during the installation process.
A good initial step is to reset your Mac’s printing system. This can often resolve underlying software conflicts that might be hindering your scanner setup. Apple provides a helpful guide on how to do this: Reset the Mac printing system to solve a problem – Apple Support. After resetting, you’ll need to re-add your printer. Apple also has a guide for this process: Add a printer on Mac – Apple Support. During the re-addition, check if macOS automatically suggests and installs a suitable driver for your HP Deskjet 2130.
Another useful tool is HP Easy Start. HP’s support page for the Deskjet 2130 series (https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-deskjet-2130-all-in-one-printer-series/7174550/model/7174551) often references HP Easy Start as a way to find and install the necessary drivers. It’s worth checking if this utility can help you locate the correct driver for scanning.
If these methods don’t work, you might need to explore drivers for similar HP printer models. Identifying similar models can be tricky, but resources like the IBM article on HP printers (https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/information-printers-hp) can be useful for comparing printer data streams. According to HP’s documentation (https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-deskjet-2130-all-in-one-printer-series/7174550/model/7174551/document/c04616318), the DeskJet 2130 uses HP PCL 3 GUI. Searching for “HP PCL 3 GUI” within the IBM article could lead you to other compatible printer models.
Furthermore, Apple provides a driver download package named “HP Printer Drivers v5.1 for macOS” (https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1888?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US) which, despite its age (December 11, 2020), might contain a suitable driver for your Deskjet 2130.
Important Considerations When Experimenting with Drivers:
Using drivers for older printers or different models carries potential risks. Software conflicts are possible, and data loss, though less likely, cannot be completely ruled out. In extreme cases, you might even need to reinstall your operating system. Hardware problems are less probable but still a remote possibility.
Therefore, before you proceed with driver experiments, ensure you understand the potential risks. Crucially, back up your important files – photos, documents, etc. – at least three times before making significant system changes. This precaution is essential to safeguard your data.
