Automatically Print Both Sides with HP LaserJet P2015dn and Window 7

Since i upgraded my laptop with Windows 7, i couldn't figure out how to automatically print in both sides with my office's HP LaserJet P2015dn. On windows XP and Vista that had "HP LaserJet P2015 PCL5 Plug and Play Print Driver Package" HP drivers installed, there was an easy-to-find-and-understand option (Two-sided Printing) on Print → Preferences → Printing Shortcuts tab. Unfortunately, on Windows 7 the only driver available is the one coming with Windows 7 but there is no such tab and the closest option to it, is to print duplex manually.
Today i tried to fix this, but having spent allot of time using the good old fashion way of trial and error, I decided to call HP's support. They tried to help (not that effectively) but i managed to find the solution by my own while i was waiting for reply...

So here are the steps to fix this:

1. Click on Start
2. Click on "Devices and Printers"
3. Right click on the printer listed there
4. Click on "Printer Properties"
5. Select "Device Settings" tab
6. On the "Installable Options" there is an option named "Duplex Unit (for 2-sided Printing)", select "Installed" from the drop down menu
7. Press OK
8. Now you are able to auto print on both sides by selecting: Print → Preferences → Finishing tab → Print on Both Sides

I'm posting this because I couldn't find anything useful Googling around. BTW, if you decide to contact hp for support on this matter, you will get a dialog something like the following one :

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:49 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

Hello, I have a HP P2015dn printer in me network and it work's fine but i can't manage how to automatically print on both sides using Windows 7. On XP and vista i was able to define that through printer's preferences just before print something. With the included drivers on windows 7 there is only an option to manually print on both sides. I already tried to install the old drivers i used to install on XP and Vista systems ("HP LaserJet P2015 PCL5 Plug and Play Print Driver Package") but i failed to install them successfully (i couldn't open the printing preferences).

Can you help me on how can i automatically print on both sides on windows 7?

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:49 PM] -- Automatically generated message:

A Support specialist, ***** has been assigned to your case.
[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:50 PM] -- ***** says:Hello Christos, thank you for contacting HP Instant Support. My name is *****. Please give me 2 min to go through your information. Thank you.

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:53 PM] -- ***** says:

I understand that you need assistance in printing on both sides on windows 7. Is that correct?

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:53 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

yes

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:54 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

but automatically not manually

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:54 PM] -- ***** says:

The printer driver is available in windows 7 itself. Have you installed it?
[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:55 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

yes that is correct

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:55 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

i can see the network printer and i can print single side

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:56 PM] -- ***** says:

I understand that you have installed the printer driver from windows 7. Is that correct?

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:56 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

yes

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:56 PM] -- ***** says:

The driver is available in windows 7 only and you did not install it from the CD or via download. Is that correct?

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:57 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

i am currently using the one from Windows 7 named "HP LaserJet P2015 PCL6"

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:58 PM] -- ***** says:

Okay, thank you for providing the information

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:59 PM] -- ***** says:

Give me a moment while I refer to my resources

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:59 PM] -- ***** says:

Give me a moment while I refer to my resources

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:04 PM] -- ***** says:

Thanks for being online. Follow the below steps


1. Click on Start
2. Click on Printers and Devices
3. Right click on the printer driver listed there
4. Click on properties
5. A window opens saying that it is requesting for Device properties
6. It takes time to open the properties window
7. Let me know when it opens the properties window

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:05 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

i got it open

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:10 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

I just made it print in both sides...

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:11 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

do you want me to tell how i did it to keep it in future reference?

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:13 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

1. Click on Start

2. Click on Devices and Printers

3. Right click on the printer listed there

4. Click on Printer Properties (not Properties)

5. A window opens

6. Select Device Settings tab

7. on the Installable Options there is an option named Duplex Unit (for 2-sided Printing), select Installed from the drop down menu

8. Press OK

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:15 PM] -- ***** says:

Okay.

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:16 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

now i'm able to select the auto double side printing from Print->Preferences-> Finishing tab-> Print on Both Sides

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:17 PM] -- ***** says:

Okay.

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:17 PM] -- ***** says:

Select that and try printing

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:17 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

thank you for your time anyway. Keep that for future assistant on your customers. It worked fine for me...

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:18 PM] -- ***** says:

You're welcome

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:18 PM] -- ***** says:

Christos, would you agree that we have resolved the issue and may I mark this interaction as closed?

[Tuesday, October 06, 2009 10:19 PM] -- Christos Botsikas says:

yes you can. Please note to your resources that the suggestion you had is not applying for this problem on windows 7...