HP may have abandoned the LaserJet 1010, but the community has not. By downloading and installing a patched driver for Windows 10 64-bit, you can extend the life of one of the most durable printers ever made.
Final Checklist:
If you follow this guide carefully, your HP LaserJet 1010 will once again roar to life, printing crisp black-and-white pages on modern Windows 10 64-bit — no new printer purchase required.
Call to Action: Did this guide help you? Share your experience in the comments below. If you found a different working patched driver source, post the link (non-spam) to help others.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes. Download and modify drivers at your own risk. Always back up your data before making system changes.
The official stance from HP Support is that the LaserJet 1010 Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
is not natively supported on Windows 10. However, you can successfully use this classic printer by utilizing a "patched" manual installation method—typically by using Windows Vista 64-bit drivers or the HP LaserJet 3055 PCL5 driver as a compatible substitute. Step-by-Step Installation Guide 1. Download the "Patched" Driver
Since no official Windows 10 driver exists, community members and experts recommend downloading the Windows Vista 64-bit driver package from the HP Software and Driver Downloads page.
Download the file (often a .zip or self-extracting archive).
Extract the contents to a folder on your desktop using a tool like 7-Zip or WinRAR. 2. Configure the Printing Port LaserJet 1010
often requires a specific DOT4 port to communicate correctly with Windows 10.
The HP LaserJet 1010 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. HP may have abandoned the LaserJet 1010, but
does not have official drivers for Windows 10 64-bit, as HP Support
only officially supports it up to Windows Vista. To use this printer on Windows 10, you must use a compatible substitute driver like the HP LaserJet 3055 PCL5 or manually install the Windows Vista 64-bit driver. Option 1: The "Patched" Manual Installation (Vista Driver)
This method involves downloading the original 64-bit Vista driver and forcing Windows 10 to recognize it.
Download the Driver: Visit the HP Support Page and manually select Windows Vista (64-bit) as your operating system.
Extract the Files: Download the basic driver (typically a .zip or .exe file) and extract it to a folder on your desktop. Use Device Manager: Right-click Start and open Device Manager.
Find your printer (often under "Unknown devices" or "Other devices").
Right-click it, select Update driver, then Browse my computer for drivers.
Navigate to your extracted folder and click Next to install.
Disable Signature Enforcement: If the driver fails to install, you may need to disable driver signature enforcement in Windows 10 settings. Option 2: The "Substitute" Driver Method (Recommended) Many users find that using the built-in HP LaserJet 3055 PCL5 driver is the most stable way to get the 1010 working.
Open Printer Settings: Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers and click Add a printer.
Manual Setup: Select "The printer that I want isn't listed," then choose Add a local printer with manual settings. If you follow this guide carefully, your HP
Select the Port: This is critical. Do not select USB001. Instead, choose the DOT4_001 (HP Print Device) port if available. Choose the Driver: Select HP as the manufacturer. In the printer list, find and select HP LaserJet 3055 PCL5 .
If it’s not there, click Windows Update to refresh the list.
Complete and Rename: Finish the wizard and rename the printer to " HP LaserJet 1010 " for your convenience. Troubleshooting Connectivity
Port Issues: If the printer doesn't print, go to Printer Properties > Ports and try switching between different DOT4 or USB ports until a test page successfully prints.
DOT4 Port Fix: If the DOT4 port is missing, you can find standalone DOT4PRT drivers on the Microsoft Update Catalog.
Advanced users on the HP community took the last official 64-bit driver for Windows Vista (which shares code with early Windows 7) and patched the hplj1010.inf file to include NTamd64.10.0 sections.
Source: Dropbox/Google Drive links shared on HP Support Forums (verified thread ID). Always check comments to see if the link is still live and clean.
The HP LaserJet 1010 is built like a tank. Genuine toner is cheap. If you already own one and have moderate technical skill, downloading and installing a patched driver for HP LaserJet 1010 on Windows 10 64-bit is a satisfying DIY project.
However, for business environments or non-technical users, the occasional glitches (driver updates breaking printing, unsigned driver warnings) may be frustrating. In that case, upgrading to a modern, supported printer is the stress-free path.
If you decide to proceed, remember: only download patched drivers from reputable community sources (GitHub, HP official forums, or a trusted guide like this one). Avoid executable files from suspicious driver download websites.
Q: Is it legal to download a patched driver? A: Yes, as long as you own the original HP LaserJet 1010. You are modifying a driver for personal use, not redistributing HP’s copyrighted code for profit. Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes
Q: Will this work on Windows 11 64-bit? A: Usually yes. The same patched driver for Windows 10 64-bit often works on Windows 11, as the driver architecture is identical. You will still need to disable driver signature enforcement.
Q: Does the patched driver support duplex printing or scanning? A: The HP LaserJet 1010 has no scanner and no duplex unit. It is a basic mono printer. The patched driver supports only standard single-sided printing.
Q: Can I use the patched driver over a network (USB to Wi-Fi adapter)? A: Not directly. The patched driver expects direct USB connection. For network printing, you need a host PC sharing the printer or a USB print server with built-in driver emulation.
The HP LaserJet 1010 is widely regarded as one of the most reliable, tank-like monochrome laser printers ever produced. Launched in the early 2000s, it was designed for Windows 98, ME, 2000, and XP. Fast forward to today, and millions of these printers are still operational, with toner cartridges readily available.
However, there is a well-known problem: HP officially stopped supporting the LaserJet 1010 for Windows 10, especially the 64-bit version. If you plug this printer into a modern Windows 10 64-bit PC, the operating system either fails to recognize it or installs a generic driver that doesn’t work.
The solution? A "patched driver" — a modified version of the original HP driver that tricks Windows 10 64-bit into accepting and communicating with the legacy hardware.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through exactly what a patched driver is, where to find it safely, how to download it, and the step-by-step installation process on Windows 10 64-bit.
Do not download from random "driver download" pop-up sites. They are full of malware. Stick to reputable tech forums.
You have two safe options:
Pre-Patched Package (Community)
Critical Check: Ensure the file you download has a .exe (self-extracting) or .zip containing a *.inf file. Scan any downloaded file with Windows Defender before opening.
Because this is a patched driver, it isn't signed by Microsoft. For a clean install, you must reboot Windows into "Disable Driver Signature Enforcement" mode.
Some external print servers (like the D-Link DPR-1020) have built-in drivers that emulate an older HP protocol that Windows 10 can talk to without needing a patched driver.