HP LaserJet P3015 – Troubleshooting Notes (DriverFiles)
Most people arrived here assuming a driver or firmware problem because the P3015 powered on, accepted jobs, or appeared correctly installed, yet failed in specific ways. In practice, several cases turned out to be mechanical or controller-related, while others never fully lined up with driver behavior. These notes exist to record what actually happened when driver-related fixes did not explain the symptoms.
Problem: Printer runs but never picks up paper
What users observed: The printer behaved as if it were printing, with the engine running continuously, but paper was never picked up. Removing Tray 2 caused the printer to continue running and request paper from Tray 1 instead.
What was tried: Extensive component-level work was performed, including tray swaps, fuser replacement, firmware updates, solenoid and clutch gear replacement, and full resets.
What this turned out to be: A failed engine control board.
Where this sometimes ended: Once the engine control board was identified as faulty, the cause of the behavior became clear. The issue was not related to drivers or trays.
Problem: Tray 2 will not release or open
What users observed: Tray 2 could not be opened even when empty, preventing normal paper loading.
What was tried: Inspection of the tray mechanism rather than software or printer settings.
What this turned out to be: A bent lift tray section and a displaced front spring.
Where this sometimes ended: After correcting the mechanical alignment, the tray began working normally.
Problem: Duplex capability resets after each Windows session
What users observed: On one newer Windows system, the duplex unit repeatedly reverted to “not installed” after signing out of Windows. Other computers on the same network printed duplex without issue.
What was tried: Printer device settings were manually reconfigured at the start of every session.
How this played out: No confirmed resolution was documented. The behavior persisted across both Windows 10 and Windows 11, despite driver updates being suggested.
Problem: Printer will not print at all over USB
What users observed: The printer could not print test pages or jobs when connected by USB. The issue appeared suddenly after a driver update.
What was tried: Driver updates, restarts, and basic connection checks were suggested.
How this played out: No confirmed outcome was recorded. The printer remained unable to print during troubleshooting.
Problem: USB connection not detected by Windows
What users observed: The P3015 was not detected when connected via USB on a Windows 10 system.
What was tried: Attention shifted to potential driver conflicts from other USB devices.
What this turned out to be: A conflicting USB driver unrelated to the printer.
Where this sometimes ended: Installing a compatible driver resolved detection issues.
Problem: Duplex printing only works with manual feeding
What users observed: The printer would not print double-sided automatically and only allowed manual duplex attempts.
What was tried: Network configuration and driver behavior were questioned.
What this turned out to be: A model limitation.
Where this sometimes ended: The standard P3015 does not support duplex printing. Only the P3015dn model includes that capability.
Other printers showing similar behavior:
- Scans your system for missing or outdated drivers
- Downloads and installs the correct versions
- Creates a restore point before making changes