Getting an HP812C to print greyscale by default

Is there any way to configure Windows 98SE to print to an HP812C DeskJet
in greyscale by default? I've been doing quite a bit of printing e-mails
as well asdirections from Mapquest, and it's a waste of the color
cartridge to print in color. Not to mention that the color cartidges are
more expensive. However, In order to print in greyscale, I have to go
through the printing options each time wading through several panels. Is
there any way to get the greyscale button to stay checked so I can just
hit "print" and say "OK"? By stay checked, I mean surviving reboots and
shutdowns, not just for the current session.

I wouldn't mind if the few times I need color I'd have to go through the
hoops I do now to print in greyscale.

There's nothing in the printer manual about this. Again, I'm using
Windows 98SE and have the HP DeskJet software installed.

SlickRCBD <> wrote:
>Is there any way to configure Windows 98SE to print to an HP812C DeskJet
>in greyscale by default? I've been doing quite a bit of printing e-mails
>as well asdirections from Mapquest, and it's a waste of the color
>cartridge to print in color. Not to mention that the color cartidges are
>more expensive. However, In order to print in greyscale, I have to go
>through the printing options each time wading through several panels. Is
>there any way to get the greyscale button to stay checked so I can just
>hit "print" and say "OK"? By stay checked, I mean surviving reboots and
>shutdowns, not just for the current session.
>
>I wouldn't mind if the few times I need color I'd have to go through the
>hoops I do now to print in greyscale.
>
>There's nothing in the printer manual about this. Again, I'm using
>Windows 98SE and have the HP DeskJet software installed.

Are you setting the grescale option from your application or from the printer
driver accessed from the control panel?
If you set it in the control panel applet it should remain set unless you
overide it in an application.
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

"Tony" <> wrote in message
news...
> SlickRCBD <> wrote:
>>Is there any way to configure Windows 98SE to print to an HP812C DeskJet
>>in greyscale by default? [snip]

> Are you setting the grescale option from your application or from the
> printer
> driver accessed from the control panel?
> If you set it in the control panel applet it should remain set unless you
> overide it in an application.

Also be aware that you need to check the "use black cartridge only" if you
actually want to save anything, as by default graphics are printed with the
color cartridge. From an economy standpoint it may be better to print in
fast or draft mode, this will use about half the ink and is generally fine
for emails and throway printing.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging

One workaround that I have found to make it simpler for my clients to use is to
configure a black-and-white-only DeskJet 600 on exactly the same port as the
color DeskJet, in your case the 812C. This definitely survives reboots. You
select the B&W printer whenever you do not want to print in color. To Bob
Headrick's point, I am pretty sure, but not absolutely certain, that printing
this way uses only the black cartridge, no color... Ben Myers

On Sat, 28 Apr 2007 19:40:48 -0500, SlickRCBD <> wrote:

>Is there any way to configure Windows 98SE to print to an HP812C DeskJet
>in greyscale by default? I've been doing quite a bit of printing e-mails
>as well asdirections from Mapquest, and it's a waste of the color
>cartridge to print in color. Not to mention that the color cartidges are
>more expensive. However, In order to print in greyscale, I have to go
>through the printing options each time wading through several panels. Is
>there any way to get the greyscale button to stay checked so I can just
>hit "print" and say "OK"? By stay checked, I mean surviving reboots and
>shutdowns, not just for the current session.
>
>I wouldn't mind if the few times I need color I'd have to go through the
>hoops I do now to print in greyscale.
>
>There's nothing in the printer manual about this. Again, I'm using
>Windows 98SE and have the HP DeskJet software installed.

Bob Headrick wrote:
>
> Also be aware that you need to check the "use black cartridge only" if
> you actually want to save anything, as by default graphics are printed
> with the color cartridge. From an economy standpoint it may be better
> to print in fast or draft mode, this will use about half the ink and is
> generally fine for emails and throway printing.
>
> Regards,
> Bob Headrick, MS MVP Printing/Imaging
Where is that option? I don't see it anywhere on the configuration options.

Ben Myers wrote:
> One workaround that I have found to make it simpler for my clients to use is to
> configure a black-and-white-only DeskJet 600 on exactly the same port as the
> color DeskJet, in your case the 812C. This definitely survives reboots. You
> select the B&W printer whenever you do not want to print in color. To Bob
> Headrick's point, I am pretty sure, but not absolutely certain, that printing
> this way uses only the black cartridge, no color... Ben Myers
>
> On Sat, 28 Apr 2007 19:40:48 -0500, SlickRCBD <> wrote:
>
>
>
I've seen that trick at work, but I had no idea what a compadible B&W
printer would be for the 812.

Are you sure the 600 would work with the 812? I know it's probably
apples and oranges, but the 600 is not on the list of printers
compadible with the #15 black ink cartridge. None of the deskjets on the
list are in my list of options for my copy of Windows 98SE. I know the
850 is compadible, but it is also color. I know it's more the printer
software than the type of cartridge, but I'd assume one that uses a
similar cartridge would have similar software.

As for Bob Headrick's comment, I can't find that option anywhere, and
it's exactly what I need to permently set. The only thing I could find
was "print in greyscale".

SlickRCBD <> wrote:
>Is there any way to configure Windows 98SE to print to an HP812C DeskJet
>in greyscale by default? I've been doing quite a bit of printing e-mails
>as well asdirections from Mapquest, and it's a waste of the color
>cartridge to print in color. Not to mention that the color cartidges are
>more expensive. However, In order to print in greyscale, I have to go
>through the printing options each time wading through several panels. Is
>there any way to get the greyscale button to stay checked so I can just
>hit "print" and say "OK"? By stay checked, I mean surviving reboots and
>shutdowns, not just for the current session.
>
>I wouldn't mind if the few times I need color I'd have to go through the
>hoops I do now to print in greyscale.
>
>There's nothing in the printer manual about this. Again, I'm using
>Windows 98SE and have the HP DeskJet software installed.

I don't have the Win98SE driver but the XP driver does the following.
Right click on the printer in the Control Panel Applet, select Properties,
Printing Preferences, Paper Quality, Black and White. The Win98SE driver is
almost certainly different but hopefully it is there somewhere.
Tony

Compatibility of printer drivers has nothing to do with ink cartridges, or the
printer hardware interface (USB or parallel). IIRC, the 812C uses a version of
HP's Printer Control Language (PCL) that is a superset of the 600 monochrome
PCL. In other words, the 600 monochrome DRIVER is compatible with the 812C.
Rather than testing my sometimes imperfect memory, simply try it. You cannot
break the printer by doing so. If it does not work, all that will happen is
that a page or two of unintelligible garbage will be printed.

There are some HP inkjets that are "Windows" printers, which do not use PCL.
Once again, IIRC, they were the 700-series inkjets. But I have never bothered
to keep a spreadsheet of which HP DeskJets and OfficeJets work with a B&W
driver.

To install the 600 B&W driver for use with the 812C, do the usual add printer
bit, select local printer (does Win 98 even have this menu?), select the same
port as the 812C (e.g. USB001), and select the 600 B&W from the list of HP
printer drivers. As always, Windows 98 will ask you to insert the install CD.
Once completed, print a test page to see the results.

Over the years, many people have figured out ways to use HP inkjets way beyond
what HP designed and what HP supports. But, being a pragmatic person, if it
works, use it... Ben Myers

On Sun, 29 Apr 2007 00:41:31 -0500, SlickRCBD <> wrote:

>Ben Myers wrote:
>> One workaround that I have found to make it simpler for my clients to use is to
>> configure a black-and-white-only DeskJet 600 on exactly the same port as the
>> color DeskJet, in your case the 812C. This definitely survives reboots. You
>> select the B&W printer whenever you do not want to print in color. To Bob
>> Headrick's point, I am pretty sure, but not absolutely certain, that printing
>> this way uses only the black cartridge, no color... Ben Myers
>>
>> On Sat, 28 Apr 2007 19:40:48 -0500, SlickRCBD <> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>I've seen that trick at work, but I had no idea what a compadible B&W
>printer would be for the 812.
>
>Are you sure the 600 would work with the 812? I know it's probably
>apples and oranges, but the 600 is not on the list of printers
>compadible with the #15 black ink cartridge. None of the deskjets on the
>list are in my list of options for my copy of Windows 98SE. I know the
>850 is compadible, but it is also color. I know it's more the printer
>software than the type of cartridge, but I'd assume one that uses a
>similar cartridge would have similar software.
>
>As for Bob Headrick's comment, I can't find that option anywhere, and
>it's exactly what I need to permently set. The only thing I could find
>was "print in greyscale".