Printer Offline

[Zach]

Using network printer HP 1320n from 3 XP PCs and 1 Vista PC. No problems
with it for the past 2+ years with XP. With Vista, this printer has status
of "Offline" when looking at the printer in Control Panel ==> Printers. The
printer gets the problem at some unknown point. After installing the driver,
it has the correct "Ready" status and have printed succesffully multiple
times from Vista. The last time this problem occurred, I had to reinstall
the driver but cannot keep doing this.

1) How do I stop the printer from being "offline".
2) Is there any way to make it "Ready" without reinstalling the driver ?

Appreciate any help.

 

[Zach]

Matthew...thanks for the suggestion but what have already checked what you're
suggesting. Have been using this printer from 3 XP PCs on the same network
for a long time and the new Vista PC has a different computer name and the
same workgroup name as the XP PCs.

Pls let me know if you think of anything else.....thx

 

[Zach]

Found the problem. For whatever reason, the driver installation process in
the VISTA environment makes the assumption that static IP addressing is being
used on the network when in fact I am using DHCP. There are no
network-related options in the installation process. Defined a port using
the printer's host name instead of the "current" IP address, which is what
the installation process does, deleted all the IP address-based ports, and
that did it.

 

[scgilman]

Found the problem.  For whatever reason, the driver installation processin
the VISTA environment makes the assumption that static IP addressing is being
used on the network when in fact I am using DHCP.  There are no
network-related options in the installation process.  Defined a port using
the printer's host name instead of the "current" IP address, which is what
the installation process does, deleted all the IP address-based ports, and
that did it.
--
Zach





- Show quoted text -

Zach-- can you please describe how you accomplish those steps that
were successful?
Thanks,
Stuart

 

[Zach]

Stuart,

Here it is. FYI, after thinking about it, I think this problem was caused
by the print driver install shield procedure and not Vista.

1. Control Panel | Printers | Right click on the appropriate printer | Left
click properties | Select Ports tab

2. Deleted every port which had an IP address in its name (192.xxxx
)....left column of port list, select port, Delete button.

3. Added a port........ Add Port button and selected Standard TCP/IP Port.

4. Printed my printer's configuration page (printer-specific, see manual)

5. Highlighted newly defined port, then button Configure Port as follows:

- For Port Name and Printer Name or IP Address, typed-in the printer's
(actually the print server's) hostname (hostname obtained from step #4).

- Protocol: Raw
- Port Number: 9100
- SNMP Status Enabled: checked
- OK
- OK

Printer came online immediately. Good luck !