PCL XL Error — Subsystem KERNEL, IllegalMediaSize & Missing Attribute

Fix PCL XL (PCL6) printer errors including IllegalMediaSize, MissingAttribute, InternalError, and Subsystem KERNEL failures on HP, Lexmark, and other laser printers. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: PCL XL (also called PCL6) is a page description language for laser printers. PCL XL errors print as error pages: 'PCL XL Error Subsystem: KERNEL Error: IllegalMediaSize'. The error means the PCL XL data stream contains commands the printer cannot process. Common errors: IllegalMediaSize, MissingAttribute, InternalError 0x50, IllegalTag. Usually a driver problem, not a printer hardware issue. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: PCL6 driver sending commands incompatible with the printer firmware version. Paper size mismatch between driver settings and loaded paper. Complex documents (many fonts, images) exceeding printer memory. Corrupted printer driver installation. Network data corruption during print job transmission. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Switch from PCL6 to PCL5 driver in printer properties > Advanced > Driver. Alternatively, use the printer's PostScript driver instead of PCL. Match paper size in driver to loaded paper: Printer Properties > Paper/Quality > Paper Size. Enable 'Send True Type as Bitmap' in Advanced printing options. Reinstall the printer driver — download the latest version from the manufacturer. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our Printer Error Codes collection on Error Codes Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.