Printer won't recognize optional trays 3, 4, 5

You should see them if you have the Correct model; Correct Printer driver installed.

Many a times, you should carefully understand the tray numbers printed/embossed on the the plastic itself.

Some printer vendors refer Tray one as Multi Function tray including envelops.
Tray two as the 250 sheet automatic feeder tray
And larger capacity tray as optional add-on try attachment.

Hi j9999w,
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If you recently had to printer off of tray 3 there is a possiblity that the connector broke when putting the printer back on. You say not recognized, is that through the printer driver? Print the configuration page for the printer and see is it shows a tray 3, or go to the diagnostics menu on the control panel of the printer and then go to paper path test. Under the "source" see what options it offers. If tray 3 shows here then it is likely just your print driver.

you should not be using a universal print driver for advanced printer functionality. i.e additional trays. please download the correct driver from the following link, but be sure to remove the universal driver first
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?prodNameId=3980559&lang=en&cc=uk&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=3878808&taskId=135

Use a damp lint free cloth and clean the feeder rollers.
Print out a configuration page to make sure that the printer recognizes that the feeder is installed.
Usually the envelope feeder problems stem from age and/or dirty rollers.
Make sure that your software app sees that the feeder is attached.

This is caused by an option on the printer not be seated correctly or there's a prob. with 2000-sheet feeder option.

Usual Cause:

1. Reset power or power the printer off and on.
2. If this does not resolve the error:
3. Power the printer off.
4. Reseat all of the paper feed options on the printer:
   • Remove all optional drawer options, like a tray 2 or tray 3 drawer, and reposition them from the bottom up.
   • Reseat the printer on top of the duplex option, if one is installed.
   • Reseat other options such as the envelope feeder or additional output bins.

2000-sheet feeder option? See below:


Explanation of the Issue
A cable can come loose inside the 2000-sheet feeder option and cause one of the following three conditions to occur:

• The printer displays a 982.xx error. NOTE: The .xx extension can be any number.
• The printer displays a 990.xx error. NOTE: The .xx extension can be any number.
• The printer does not recognize the 2000-sheet feeder option installed.

The issue is with a toroid on one of the cables (see the blue/black wire cable highlighted in the image below). When the 2000-sheet feeder option is moved, the toroid can pull the cable loose, causing an error. NOTE: This toroid was removed in later versions of the 2000-sheet feeder.

if you are gettiing a 201 error without any paper in the printer you will need change the main motor drive if it fails to initialize this is the error that will show up and there is no other way to reset it

I would suggest checking printer properties in the computer and ensure the paper size and source is Letter and set to Automatic Choose. Another choice may be to deleted the printer driver and re-install it. You can also go into the menu options until you get to Set factory defaults, press Select, then try the print job again.
I really suspect a program is controlling this from the computer.
To get a list of the existing printer settings, Select Menu and use the Right Arrow button until you get to Printer Menu Settings. The printed report should tell you what your actuall settings are. Maybe the default is set to Custom, instead of Letter.
The Set Factory Defaults option should fix most problems.
Good Luck John Moser

what page is this in the user guide?

Table 3-7. Paper Handling Menu
Item Values Explanation
ENVELOPE FEEDER
SIZE=COM10
For supported paper sizes
see page 1-12.
This item appears only when the
optional envelope feeder is installed.
Set the value to correspond with the
envelope size currently loaded in the
envelope feeder.
ENVELOPE FEEDER
TYPE=PLAIN
For supported paper types
see page 1-12.
This item appears only when the
optional envelope feeder is installed.
Set the value to correspond with the
envelope type currently loaded in the
envelope feeder.
TRAY 1 MODE=
FIRST
FIRST
CASSETTE
Determine how the printer will use
Tray 1.
FIRST: If paper is loaded in Tray 1,
the printer will pull paper from that
tray first.
CASSETTE: A paper size must be
assigned to Tray 1 using the
TRAY 1 SIZE option (the next item
in this menu when TRAY 1
MODE=CASSETTE). This allows Tray 1
to be used as a reserved tray.
TRAY 1 SIZE=
LETTER
For supported paper sizes
see page 1-12.
This item appears only when TRAY 1
MODE= CASSETTE. Set the value to
correspond with the paper size
currently