HP LaserJet Pro M404dn
Desktop mono laser for small workgroups. Duplex, Gigabit Ethernet, no wireless on the dn variant.
On this page
1. Specifications 2. Installation 3. Drivers and network 4. Maintenance schedule 5. Common faults1. Specifications
| Type | Monochrome laser, single function |
|---|---|
| Print speed | Up to 38 ppm (A4, simplex) |
| First page out | About 5.5 s from ready |
| Resolution | 1200 x 1200 dpi effective |
| Duplex | Automatic, built in |
| Paper handling | 250-sheet tray, 100-sheet multipurpose tray |
| Monthly duty cycle | Up to 80,000 pages; recommended 750 to 4,000 |
| Connectivity | Gigabit Ethernet, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 |
| Toner | HP 59A standard, 59X high yield |
| Memory | 256 MB |
2. Installation
- Remove all orange shipping tape and the cardboard insert behind the front door. Sheets of tape left inside the toner path are the single most common cause of a first-day jam.
- Rock the toner cartridge gently end to end five or six times, pull the sealing strip straight out, then slide the cartridge in until it clicks.
- Load the tray below the maximum fill line and set both side guides snug against the stack, without bowing it.
- Connect Ethernet before power. The printer requests an address by DHCP and prints its configuration page on request from the control panel.
- Print the configuration page (hold the Resume button for three seconds on the ready screen) and note the IPv4 address.
3. Drivers and network
- Windows: install the HP Universal Print Driver in PCL 6 mode for fleets, or the model-specific driver for single machines. Add the printer by its IP as a Standard TCP/IP port, not by WSD, if the queue must survive an address change.
- macOS: the driver ships with the operating system. Add the printer from System Settings, choose the AirPrint profile unless you need tray selection and stapling controls.
- Linux: works through the built-in IPP Everywhere profile; no vendor package needed for normal printing.
4. Maintenance schedule
Intervals below are for typical office use. Machines in dusty rooms or running heavy graphics need the shorter end of each range.
| Every 5,000 pages | Wipe the paper path and pickup roller with a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with water. Never use alcohol on rubber rollers, it hardens them. |
|---|---|
| Every 20,000 pages | Inspect the separation pad. A shiny, glazed pad causes multi-sheet pulls and should be replaced. |
| Every 100,000 pages | Fuser and transfer roller reach end of design life. Replace as a set during a scheduled visit. |
| As needed | Run Clean Page from the control panel when you see repeating marks down the page. |
5. Common faults
Repeating marks at a fixed interval
A defect on a rotating part. Measure the spacing: about 38 mm points at the developer roller, about 94 mm at the drum. A drum-related mark means the cartridge needs replacing.
Toner smears when you rub the page
The fuser is not reaching temperature or the paper is too heavy for the current setting. Check the media type in the tray settings first, then test with 80 gsm plain paper.
Grey background across the whole sheet
Usually a cartridge near end of life, or paper stored in damp conditions. Try a fresh ream before ordering parts.
Printer disappears from the network after a reboot
The DHCP lease changed. Reserve the address on your router or set a static address in the embedded web server under Networking.
Jam 13.xx on the display
The number after the dot tells you where. 13.A is the tray area, 13.B the paper path around the fuser. Clear it by pulling the sheet in the direction of travel; pulling backwards leaves toner in the path.