Can't network Print to HP 2840

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Can't network Print to HP 2840

Hi
I've a macbook running os x 10.3.9 and I'm having great difficulty getting it to print over an ethernet lan to an HP Colour Laserjet 2840 printer. I've downloaded the relevant OS X drivers from the HP website and installed them on the mac but can't get it to print. The mac can ping the printer, so basic ip connectivity is good. Pc's on the lan can print fine to the same printer. I don't know what I'm missing on the mac - I've been through the printer setup routines a dozen times, uninstalled then re-installed the HP drivers but it just won't print over the network. It's not a firewall issue as that's disabled. Appletalk is enabled.

Can anyone suggest what else to try ?

TIA

Tim

macbook, Mac OS X (10.3.x)

Posted on Dec 4, 2007 1:47 AM

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Answer 1

Allan Jones

Level 9

78,284 points

Dec 4, 2007 3:37 AM in response to timosgb

We had the same problem at work nearly 9 years ago with an HP8000N b/w workgroup laser. Same details as you describe right down to the ping behavior. We had to go to the physical control panel on the printer and use the set-up menus to turn ON the EtherTalk protocol (it's off by default). After that, the printer had no trouble with Mac jobs. Was still working perfectly when I retired last April.

If the newer printers have abandoned the on-case control panel for software control, then someone's computer has admin rights to the printer and can turn EtherTalk on that way.

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Answer 2

timosgb Author

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Dec 4, 2007 9:13 AM in response to Allan Jones

Thanks for the tip. I checked the menu again on the laserjet 2840 but it doesn't have an option for ethertalk. You can just set the tcp/ip variables and that's it. If I goto print setup utility and add a printer, then choose Rendezvous for example, it sees the printer on the network. When I ran the HP AiO software, it found the printer on the network and installed it in the printer list, with a name of : HP Color Laserjet 2840 (C1F035)and a location of local. If I try to print, a message pops up in the queue window stating that it is printing, but nothing comes out of the printer, and no other message either on the printer or the computer.

Is it possible that some preferences have been corrupted and need deleting ?

Thanks in advance

Tim

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Answer 3

Sparkito

Level 1

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Dec 5, 2007 4:50 PM in response to timosgb

Hi,

I wish I could say I had an answer, but I just have the same problem. My Powerbook G4 running Leopard detects the printers, gives me options, tells me how much toner they have, but when I print, the computer acts like it's printing, but nothing comes out of the printer. Sad. I'll keep you posted if I figure it out. Have you figured it out?

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Answer 4

timosgb Author

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Dec 5, 2007 11:12 PM in response to Sparkito

not figured it yet, but next thing I'll do is create a new user and log in under that user and see if it works. I'm wondering if it's a preferences problem. I also read that it might be worth trying the disk utility in applications/utilities. I don't have the ibook with me to try this until tomorrow. Perhaps you could try and report back ?

Rgds

Tim

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Answer 5

Sparkito

Level 1

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Dec 8, 2007 5:38 PM in response to timosgb

Hi,

I figured out what my problem was. I think I've been sending print jobs to one printer and looking for output at another. That's why the Powerbook appeared to be sending OK. It was.

We have different scenarios. I'm using wirless and I have OS 10.5. You're on an ethernet connection with the older 10.3. I use what appears to be called "Bonjour" printing while you're using "Rendezvous." People report they're nearly the same. I dunno. I have in my system preferences a "print and fax" pane. There's a list of printers, I hit the + sign to add a printer then put in the IP address that my kind co-workers have put on the printer. The Powerbook automatically looks for the printer, gets its model from the printer and picks the corresponding driver, although if I disagree, I can change drivers. Once I get the right printer in there with the right driver, there's an icon that actually looks like the printer, which I have to admit is kind of handy.

What I can't explain is at some point after I upgrade from 10.3 to 10.5, I did something that automatically detected printers. It detected the HP 4700 color and the 2840 all-in-one but missed the 2200 BW. (Could it have been idel and undetectable?) I was all cornfused and kept looking for BW output at the 2200 but I think it was probably spewing out of the 2840. Good thing it was actually work-related!

I did have the 2200 and 4700 working fine under 10.3.9 myself, so I betcha you can get your 2840 working. Memory is always limited of such details, but I think I had to put the IP address into some printer list to get it to work back then.

Sparky

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