Canon MX870 HELP PLEASE

I'm going crazy with this problem. I have OS X 10.9, Canon MF8230Cn, updated drivers and OS. I have a problem: sometimes printer just refuses to print. I have tried deleting printer, adding it again with different settings, shortening printer name etc. I'm using Airport Extreme and wired Ethernet to connect all my devices together.

What worked for me: I'm using VMWare Fusion and Windows 8.1. I opened the document in Windows and printed from there - it worked. Actually, this does not make any sense since Fusion just redirects the print job to OS X side and prints the doc from there.

Still cannot print from OS X.... thank you Canon and Apple, for the marvellous compatibility between your devices 😟

So many suggestions with this but to RESOLVE the printer failing to activate/print/scan and showing as 'paused' the answer really does concern the network settings:

1) Swich of router and printer and reboot mac

2) Find IP address & MAC address of printer on your network - I bought IP Scanner app from App Store (cheap & simple)

3) open 'Airport Utility', select router i.e. Time Capsule/Airport Extreme/Airport Express, click 'Edit', Select 'Network' tab

4) Under 'DHCP Reservations':

a) 'Description' - Type name such as 'MX870'

b) Leave 'Reserve Address By' as 'MAC Address'

c) 'MAC Address' - enter mac address of printer

d) 'IPv4 Address' - enter the printer's IP address - as with (c) make sure you enter correctly then 'Save'

5) Restart Printer/Router/Mac - done!!

Essentially, as I discovered after many months of grief the issues is related to DHCP; basically, your router reallocates a different IP address and no longer 'sees' the printer Here, you are establishing a firm link (fixed IP address) ensuring a connection at all times.

I'm no techie but hope it makes sense to others having this problem. Of course, if you have a router other than an Apple type you need to fine the necessary settings to create a fixed IP for your printer. Hope this helps!!!

Unfortunately setting fixed IP address doesn't help me - I have had the fixed IP address for the printer for some months now, but the problem still persists.

I've observed the same as Grockle. The last couple times I've had this issue, turning my router off, and then on, has fixed it.

Timo3382, seems you're experiencing a very different issue to mine on a very different printer. A bit confused though as just spotted your original message states you have wired ethernet to connect all devices. This being so amkes my previous suggestion entirely irrelevant.

IMHO, if not done already, all I can suggest are the usual maintenace tweaks:

a) Repair disk permissions

b) Run in 'Safe Mode'

c) Run 'Onyx' - the new update of course!

I do sympathise as printer issues are a REAL pain!! Good luck!

Steve1081;

After upgrading to the latest Airport Extreme tower, I experienced the same problem of having no printer recognition through the usual Bonjour settings or using Canon's Wireless Assistant (although the password and network name did appear).

The solution: configure the printer through the actual MX870 LCD screen!

On your MX870 panel, hit the SETUP button. Turn the "OK" dial to Wireless LAN Setup. Hit OK and follow the Easy Install instructions. From there, you should see your Access Point (network name) and you will enter the Passphrase (Canonspeak for password). Use the physical number keyboard on your printer to enter the password. Note: the "star" key let's you chose between Caps, lowercase and numbers on the keypad. After entering the password, hit OK and it should set up the printer to the wireless network.

Finally, on your Mac, open System Preferences > Printers and Scanners, hit the + sign and the Canon MX870 series _XXXXXXXXXXX wireless item should show up in the ADD dialogue box.

A lot of grief would be avoided should Canon actually update their online instructions regularly ;-)

Good luck :-)

(posted earlier today to Steve1081);

After upgrading to the latest Airport Extreme tower, I experienced the same problem of having no printer recognition through the usual Bonjour settings or using Canon's Wireless Assistant (although the password and network name did appear).

The solution: configure the printer through the actual MX870 LCD screen!

On your MX870 panel, hit the SETUP button. Turn the "OK" dial to Wireless LAN Setup. Hit OK and follow the Easy Install instructions. From there, you should see your Access Point (network name) and you will enter the Passphrase (Canonspeak for password). Use the physical number keyboard on your printer to enter the password. Note: the "star" key let's you chose between Caps, lowercase and numbers on the keypad. After entering the password, hit OK and it should set up the printer to the wireless network.

Finally, on your Mac, open System Preferences > Printers and Scanners, hit the + sign and the Canon MX870 series _XXXXXXXXXXX wireless item should show up in the ADD dialogue box.

A lot of grief would be avoided should Canon actually update their online instructions regularly ;-)

Good luck :-)

Grockle,

Thank you!!! I am so relieved to have a working printer again. It's a huge deal!

I lurk here occasionally, but it was important enough to say thank you that I actually signed in.

🙂

LizKat

LizKatB wrote:

Grockle,

Thank you!!! I am so relieved to have a working printer again. It's a huge deal!

I lurk here occasionally, but it was important enough to say thank you that I actually signed in.

🙂

LizKat

Thanks for the kind words and glad you have your printer back in working order and let's hope, like mine, it stays that way 😉

🙂

Grockle

Yes, a version of Chris Eckman's solution worked for me too. The key is to avoid any Bonjour-mediated version in the list of found printers. When I deleted the printer from the Systems & Preferences -> Print & Fax dialogue box, then re-added the non-Bonjour version, she perked right up. No more finished jobs lingering the print queue, no more communication errors occuring, not more ignoring rear tray directions etc. Thanks Chris!

Thank you so much! FINALLY a solution to this problem that actually works. 🙂

I was at a point that I was going to go buy another printer. You saved me $$$.