unable to connect to printer will retry in 30 seconds...

Question

Level 1

0 points

unable to connect to printer will retry in 30 seconds...

I have upgraded to 10.6 and now can't print using our normal ethernet network, or print a pdf file.

In System Preference - Print & Fax, I have set up the 2 printers I use plus plus PDF 8.0 and 9.0.

I do have the latest drivers for these and the printers are seen as Bonjour printers.

But every time I go to print I get the following message "unable to connect to printer will retry in 30 seconds...", and if I try to print a pdf it looks like it is printing but no pdf is produced and no error message.

Also as on optionI have also set one of the printers up using the IP address, so it clearly sees the printer.

I have been able to use one of the printers but set up as a USB connection but I don't want this as a permanent solution.

Help

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Sep 3, 2009 3:18 AM

Reply

Answer 1

vvprints

Level 1

0 points

Sep 9, 2009 4:16 PM in response to Lone_Ranger

I am getting the exact same message. I too recently upgraded to OS X 10.6 and my MacBook Pro no longer will print to my Xerox Phaser 7300N. It is on the list of supported printers and I uploaded the new driver. The computer knows the printer is there and shows it. However whenever I try to print anything I get the message, "Unable to connect to printer. Will retry in 30 seconds."

This is very frustrating as I have to be able to use this printer. I am about ready to dump 10.6 and go back to 10.5 which was working with the AppleTalk with my printer.

Reply

Answer 2

Sep 14, 2009 8:26 PM in response to vvprints

I have a Brother 4070 with the same issues, I can print via USB fine, I can see it on the Bonjour network and set it up. I just get the error message when I print. Not much use as a network printer. No big deal if I did not have three of the things!

Reply

Answer 3

jwhitt

Level 1

6 points

Sep 14, 2009 11:16 PM in response to Lone_Ranger

Same problem here. Just bought a new Mac Pro tower with Snow 10.6.1. Can't print to my HP LaserJet 8100 via Eternet. Error message: Unable to connect to printer; will retry in 30 seconds...

Get on the ball Apple.

Reply

Answer 4

Lone_Ranger Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 15, 2009 5:00 AM in response to Lone_Ranger

Original poster here

Well I've give up on 10.6 and reverted back to 10.5.

The printing was just one of a few issues that was irritating me, took a couple of hours to get back to 10.5 and all the software working again, but was worth it.

Good luck if your going to stay with 10.6

Reply

Answer 5

Sep 15, 2009 9:50 AM in response to Lone_Ranger

Yeah, I'm at that stage now. When I go in to add a printer I don't see any except Bonjour printers under the "Default" icon. If I select "Windows" icon I see our network and can navigate to the printer and install it with a new driver (also Tektronix 7700 DN) but when I go to print it tells me "Authentication Required" which I guess relates to the network user and password I had to enter to set up the printer (that was new too). Never get passed "Authentication Required" and print job on hold.

How did you revert the OS to 10.5?

Reply

Answer 6

jwhitt

Level 1

6 points

Sep 15, 2009 10:35 AM in response to Lone_Ranger

What other issues did you have besides printing?

Thanks

Reply

Answer 7

Lone_Ranger Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 23, 2009 5:03 AM in response to Michael Eastman

When you go back to 10.5, the obvious is to back all work just in case.

So when I put my 10.5 OS CD in I selected the option that installs with the option of a "previous systems" folder as you will need to hook out various bits from it.

I had a few problems with Adobe applications not loading properly but was sorted buy searching the problems on the internet. Plus a few other niggles again sorted via the net.

If you are not overly confident of sorting problems I would not do it.

It took me a couple of hours to get back to where I wanted to be after I reinstalled 10.5.

Reply

Answer 8

Lone_Ranger Author

Level 1

0 points

Sep 23, 2009 5:08 AM in response to jwhitt

Other problems I had other than printing were fonts not working and little things like screen shots.

Reply

Answer 9

tierpin

Level 1

0 points

Oct 2, 2009 12:54 PM in response to Lone_Ranger

Same problem here, Apple needs to get this problem fixed.

Reply

Answer 10

meo81

Level 1

0 points

Oct 7, 2009 7:34 AM in response to Lone_Ranger

Same here. Every printer in the network appears on the list but I can't connect.
A workaround was to customize the clients.conf file of CUPS, but why? On Leopard I didn't need it...

Reply

Answer 11

drewcwsj

Level 1

0 points

Oct 7, 2009 8:59 AM in response to meo81

Any updates on this issue? I have two network printers and both have stopped working under 10.6. One is a Canon ImageRunner C2880 and the other is a basic HP 7280 inkjet. Both install fine but give the "unable to connect" error when trying to print.

Reply