FIXED: HP Universal Printing Driver Not Printing 2-Sided in Color in Windows 7

I recently spent way too many hours figuring out why our HP Color LaserJet 2605dn printer would not print both 2-sided (duplex) and color.  I tried every driver available from HP with no luck.  After no help from the internet and quite a bit of fiddling, I discovered a solution.

Update HP Printer Options

1. Start > Devices and Printers
2. Right-click on HP Universal Printing PCL 6 and choose Printer Properties
3. Click on the Device Settings tab
4. Under Installable Options, set Automatic Configuration to Update Now
   • This should trigger an immediate update from the printer.  After doing this update, you should have all of the appropriate setting options available.
5. Click OK to accept and save changes

You may also wish to set your printer defaults so that you don’t have to set them every time you print.  You may wish to leave the printer set to grayscale except when you need color.  This saves toner but you have to remember to enable color from the print preferences when you need it.  This can be done from the print dialog that appears in most programs after choosing File > Print.

Setting Printer Defaults

1. Start > Devices and Printers
2. Right-click on HP Universal Printing PCL 6 and choose Printer Properties
3. Click the Preferences button
4. Configure all settings appropriately
5. Click OK
6. Click OK once more

Did you find this helpful?  Do you have similar issues with a different printer?  Leave a comment.