Mac can't find printer via windows network

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Mac can't find printer via windows network

Hope I am not recreating a post - tried to find my issue in both Network and Printer issues!

I have a MacBook 10.5.8, connecting to a windows 7 home network via Linksys wireless router. Mac is successfully getting to internet via this set up, but can not locate the printer (hp c4280) on the network any longer. Just seemed to stop.

I have removed printer via system pref/print&fax, downloaded latest drivers from hp, gone back in and tried to add (system pref/printer&fax/+/windows) and the workgroup is not available any longer. It used to be! I have tried to add manually through system pref/printer&fax/+/IP and input the router IP address. This adds the printer but does not print. Message is "Attempting to connect to host..., Unable to connect to printer." Keeps retrying. Printer is marked for sharing on Mac and the workgroup is set for sharing.

Other windows 7 machines (both desktop that is the wired hub of network and a wireless laptop) are printing fine. I have 3-4 hours into trying to figure out and not getting anywhere. Guess I shouldn't look for a new job as a QC analyst! Any thoughts would be appreciated!

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Oct 16, 2010 12:58 PM

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Answer 1

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Oct 16, 2010 5:28 PM in response to beyah1

Try searching again, for "Windows printer."

You can't use an HP driver made for USB-only HP printers, because they wrote the driver to only work via USB. To use the CUPS Windows printer protocol, you need a driver written to use CUPS. The Gutenprint drivers Apple included in OS X are CUPS drivers. There are more HP CUPS drivers here:
http://www.linuxfoundation.org/collaborate/workgroups/openprinting/macosx
and:
http://www.printfab.net

HTH

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Answer 2

Colc

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Jan 10, 2011 3:54 PM in response to beyah1

I have a very similar issue.

I can't see the printer through discovery and have tried all the recommended smb and lpd routes from my airbook to connect up.

The printer is a canon iP4850 which I have been trying to connect to using a generic postscript driver.

I have rechecked all the settings on the windows side and all seems fine, there are no problems printing to the printer from networked pcs.

Help!!!

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Answer 3

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Jan 10, 2011 8:50 PM in response to Colc

(it would have been better to start a new topic - to get more attention to your particular issue...)

Your printer isn't a postscript printer. You will need a CUPS driver to use smb or lpd connection protocols.

For troubleshooting - can you connect to the Windows computer and file share?

Tell us more details about your network - router(s) ethernet, wireless, etc.

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Answer 4

Colc

Level 1

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Jan 12, 2011 3:40 PM in response to greg sahli

Thanks - didn't know how to start a new topic. will check out for the future.

I started off with a canon CUPS driver but so many posts said that the canon drivers were an issue I tried the generic and Gutenprint drivers.

The router is a Belkin F5D8635-4, connected to a Windows 7 PC. File sharing etc is set on the windows PC and windows laptops have no problem discovering the printer.

I can connect in both directions to access files.

I've tried connecting both wirelessly and via ethernet, same outcome, if trying lpd protocol, I get the message 'unable to connect to printer, will retry in 30 seconds...' if using smb I get 'session setup failed: NT STATUS_INVALIDPARAMETER'.

My printer is a Canon Pixma iP4850.

Using a brand new MacBook Air 13in and 10.6.5.

I've scoured the discussion threads and been to an Apple store, all to no avail so far!

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Answer 5

Colc

Level 1

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Jan 12, 2011 3:45 PM in response to Colc

Should also have added that I'm using CA anti virus on the PC side.

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Answer 6

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Jan 13, 2011 3:45 PM in response to Colc

Canon doesn't provide ANY CUPS-style drivers. They have named some drivers with CUPS in the name - but those drivers still bypass CUPS (this means that Windows printing and standard IP printing don't work with these drivers).
Your printer may be supported by these CUPS drivers:
http://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php
http://www.printfab.net

When adding the printer on OS X,
If you use the lpd protocol, you will need to enter a queue name (the Windows printer share name) in the add printer dialog.
If you want to use "Windows Printing," you will have to disable the new "homegroup" feature of Windows 7, to revert to normal windows sharing (smb). (I caution that I don't have Win 7 - this is what I've read.)

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