Printing Issues (Unable to connect to ‘EPSON XP-7100 Series._ipps._tcp.local.’ due to an error.)

Question

Printing Issues (Unable to connect to ‘EPSON XP-7100 Series._ipps._tcp.local.’ due to an error.)

The printer is on the network, and I am able to access the wireless scanning features just fine. I have installed/reinstalled/and verified/re-verified that everything is as it should be. When attempting to add the printer using the appropriate drivers, I get the parenthetically displayed error shown in the subject line above. It puzzles me that I can print from my iPad Pro - but cannot print from my iPhone nor setup/print from my MacBook Pro. Now, understand that printing from my phone and macbook was functioning just fine until very recently. I'm operating a MacBook Pro (late 2012) w/Catalina 10.15.6.

One thing I noticed that when attempting to re-install and print, there is an "nearby printers" option in the print dialog box, which lists my wifi printer with a lock icon. I suspect this "nearby" printer thing is at the root of my problem. Selecting it gives a spinner, stating it is attempting to install the printer and rather promptly present a very vague "an error occurred" message. At present the only way I can print is via the Epson Remote (email) feature :/

I think it is fair to say that I am not running any kind of server network -

Thanks,

Robert

MacBook Pro Retina

Posted on Aug 1, 2020 3:15 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 2, 2020 12:21 PM in response to SeraphicImago

Hold down the Option key while you click on the Wi-Fi Icon in the menuBar.

Is your Printer shown on the list of available Networks?

-- If YES, it has been set up as its OWN Base Station for use by your phone. That will not allow printing from your Mac.

-- If it is NOT, then it should show in the list of available printers under Add-A-Printer dialog, and it should say it is a Bonjour Printer, not Bonjour-Shared.:

If not shown under Add-A-printer, be sure you have enabled under Wi-Fi:

ipv6 : link-local ONLY ... and not OFF.

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Answer 2

Aug 2, 2020 2:03 PM in response to SeraphicImago

Well, I just solved my problem . . . though it still raises the question: WHY!

I am not quite sure as to why this is the case, understand that until 3 weeks ago - this was not a problem as the printer functioned as initially installed.

I was forced to select the "IP" option and manually enter the device IP address and the IPP protocol selected.

I don't think this is the ideal method- but ... I was able to install and print.

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Answer 3

Aug 2, 2020 2:04 PM in response to SeraphicImago

and what if you choose a different printer off the Add-A-Printer menu, like EPSON 7100 series IP ?

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Answer 4

Aug 1, 2020 4:51 PM in response to SeraphicImago

Many printer makers seem to think its is a really "cute trick" to allow your phone to print directly to the Printer. To that end, their default is to turn the Printer into its own Base Station. In a crowded area, this mucks up the Wi-Fi for everyone, and does not work well, and does not allow printing from your Home Network.

So the biggest thing you have to overcome is the maker's zeal for this "cute trick" and set your printer up "the right way" so that it can be used by all devices on your Network.

to do this over Wi-Fi, the Printer needs to know three things:

1) what network-name is it supposed to join

2) what is the password to get on that network

3) how is it supposed to get an IP address (DHCP or manual at a specified address)

without all three of these, it can't join your home network, so it can't be 'discovered'.

There are basically two ways to get these into the Printer:

a) fat-finger it in through the printer's "front panel"

b) connect using a USB cable first, tell it the stuff, then disconnect the cable

There is one more way, but it is unbearably inconvenient. Leave the USB cable connected and the computer powered on at all times, and print over the network to a queue on the connected computer.

--------

In addition, the path of least resistance is to use the AirPrint Drivers. Again this is part of the cute trick of printing directly from your phone. The problem with that is you get NO Access to printer special features such as alternate paper sizes, two-sided printing, manual feed, and features you paid extra for.

You must take great care to select the driver intended for Network use, not the (Often default) AirPrint driver.

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Answer 5

Aug 1, 2020 5:26 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant,

Thanks for your input, but . . . the printer is correctly configured with an IP Address from the router/gateway. I am confident that something has changed with either a recent OS update or perhaps a printer firmware update. It is interesting to me that I can email to the printer, and it will print - I can use the iPrint feature from the tablet or phone and it will print. AirPrint does not. More than that is the issue of not being able to spit a print job through the MacBook :/ I realize my macbook is quite the dinosaur (in modern computing terms) - but it was all working correctly until about 2 weeks ago.

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Answer 6

Aug 2, 2020 10:15 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant,

As I stated in my initial post, I did the whole reset thing and cleared all printers; even removed and re-installed the printers drivers and software. Deleted and reconnected the printer to the router - still, there’s a lock-icon on the printer in the ‘printers near me’ option when attempting a printer selection. Interesting that the Mac sees the printer on the network, but then is unable to communicate with it ... guess it’s locked or protected somehow.

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Answer 7

Aug 2, 2020 10:31 AM in response to SeraphicImago

when you create a Print queue, you have the option to restrict access to only certain users.

System preferences > Printers&Scanners:

that button labeled (Sharing Preferences) may be related. But if you check the box that says "Share this printer on the Network" that says you want everyone using the Printer to print through THIS print queue, on this computer, only.

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Answer 8

Aug 2, 2020 1:52 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

It is not listed under the wifi menu bar.

I have 3 options

And this is what I see from in-app print menu:

If I click on the "locked" printer - it will attempt to install the printer, but fails with a rather generic error.

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Answer 9

Aug 2, 2020 2:59 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

The EPSON IP option sets up without error, but does not print.

What is interesting is that the locked- Epson XP7100 Series shows in the drop down as a nearby printer. Still fails to install when selected. I guess I haven't "fixed" the problem, but rather found a way around it. My iphone won't airprint to the printer unless I use the epson iprint software component - again, not been an issue until very recently. This is problematic since printing from the mail app doesn't allow you to select any external printing software. Anyway, it is resolve for the time being - I'm due to upgrade both my phone and macbook.

When stuff like this starts happening, it is the writing on the wall.

Thanks for walking with me on this adventure.

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Answer 10

Aug 3, 2020 12:38 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

In a nutshell, nothing!

When attempting to print the test page, nothing transpires. The status indicator in printers & scanners will change color from ready to busy, and there it remains. Nothing prints. Anyway- for the time being, I'm done with this matter. I am seeing this as the time to upgrade and strip the 2012 macbook down to single-purpose operation.

Thanks again, for your time with this.

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Answer 11

Aug 1, 2020 7:03 PM in response to SeraphicImago

Did you try re-adding it as if it were a new printer?

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Answer 12

Aug 2, 2020 1:56 PM in response to SeraphicImago

This is what happens . . .

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Answer 13

Aug 2, 2020 3:14 PM in response to SeraphicImago

<<but does not print.>>

what happens instead?

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Answer 14

Aug 2, 2020 10:53 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Grant,

Yes, yes you do . . . But you have to reach that step. I am unable to get that far due to the aforementioned error message, see parenthetical notation in original post’s subject line. We have to ‘add’ the printer before we can choose to share it, and for whatever reason the printer is not being added. Yes, I can ‘continue’ continue anyway - but that doesn’t work (tried it).

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Printing Issues (Unable to connect to ‘EPSON XP-7100 Series._ipps._tcp.local.’ due to an error.)

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