Cannot print since HP Printer Software Update 2.5.2

I too am having this problem and have tried everything here. It seems that HP really doesn't care about apple products and users. The company continues to put its head in the sand and not realize that 10% of the market is a large enough audience to make sure things work. They are a pathetic company and continue to lose market share (no wonder). If they want to maintain a premium position in the market they should align themselves with the premium computer company and work with Apple to address these issues. I think we may need to start an executive email carpet bomb to HP executive support. 281-927-1103 should be a direct line to Sandra Ganann, a senior HP case manager.

Hi All,

It looks like my issue has been resolved now.

Since my last post, I went through the whole process again and reinstalling the 2.5.2 update and initial tests look like my printing is OK.

In summary I did the following;
1. Trashed hp_ files from /System/Library/Extensions
2. Turned off and disconnected Printer (HP Color Laserjet 2550L)
3. Deleted printer from System Preferences/Print & Fax
4. Reset Printing System (to do this, Control Click on the Printers field in the Print & Fax Window)
5. Empty Trash
6. Restarted Mac
7. Connected and turned on Printer
8. Applied 2.5.2 update. This update took 15 minutes to apply - is that normal?
9. Restarted Mac
10. Tested Printer and all appears OK

Note: The hp_ files in /System/Library/Extensions never returned to my system after the 2.5.2 update.

I have some serious printing to do in the upcoming weekend, so that will be the true test if the issue is resolved.

Again thanks to all contributors especially John Blanchard and Janvier Smith for posting solutions to this issue.

A

I tried the above process - twice - and still no results. Rufus, I called Sandra a couple of times and most likely will not get a return call despite being exceedingly nice to her VM. I am dead in the water and probably now need to figure out how to downgrade away from 10.6.5 and 2.5.2 drivers. Any hints?

Have a look at this post http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2644180&tstart=0

User Gerrit DeWitt identify's the issue to be with the CUPS drivers and posts a fix here.

I must be doing something wrong! I thought I followed your advice to the letter, but after an hour on the phone with MAC support, then finding your post and following your advice, I am still not able to print. I am using a MAC pro, OS-X 10.6.6 with a HP color Laserjet 2500L. Are there other problems I should be checking for? Apple Support had me try so many things, I think the system may be as confused as I am.

I've got the same problem:
HP ColorLaserjet 2500 -> "Waiting for printer to become available..."

Tried everything: Trashing HP Extensions, resetting Printsystem, different USB-Cable...

Still: "Waiting for printer to become available..."

Frustrating!

I'm having a similar issue with our HP Laserjet 3390. Was working fine this morning. then installed Mac OS 10.6.6 and it asked to install the HP Printer Software update 2.5.2.

I've tried the steps listed earlier in this post but still no luck.

I'm going to try them all again and see what happens but are there any other work arounds?

thanks
Marc

Update: Still no luck. I even went to the HP site and downloaded the driver specific to my printer and reinstalled it. I still get he same error

"Waiting for the printer to become available..."

I am at a loss.

I was able to get an apple specialist on the phone and after deleting the HP folder in /library/printers and reinstalling the HP Printer software update 2.5.2 we were able through many tests figure out that certain multi-page pdf are the issue when printing with preview.

I'm not sure if this is an issue with the HP drivers or preview itself, but with certain documents it will print page 1 then the printer goes offline when it comes back online it's paused. Resume Printer causes it to resend the print data, and sometimes I get a blank page, sometimes I'll get a page or two then an incomplete page, the most i've gotten is 3 pages and then 1 blank before it goes offline again, then paused. (all this time keeping the same document in que).

I can't seem to find a pattern other than it will print a single page when requested but request 3 specific pages and it goes offline again. Supremely frustrating.

Now it won't even print page 7 of a 12 page document.

If anyone has any suggestions I'm open ears. I'm going to search the discussions for preview problems or .pdf printing problems.

thanks
Marc

Latest update. I've tried opening and printing the documents with Preview, Adobe Reader, and Safari and I have the same issue. I can view them perfectly, but the printer will choke after a few pages. With Preview and Adobe Reader the printer would go offline, with Safari the printer just sat there "sending print data..." Since this happens with different documents (all pdfs from various sources) it leads me to believe it's a printer driver issue. Can anyone confirm?

Sorry for so many posts, just trying to figure his out since I'm about 6hrs past a critical dead line because I can't print (some documents) after these software upgrades

it has to be the drivers. I borrowed a printer from another business (unfortunately they only had an HP to lend me) but it was an HP Laserjet 1320 and all the documents in question printed fine and with no issues.

1-Remove printers.
2-Reset printing system
3-Update to Mac OS X 10.6.6 using Mac OS X 10.6.6 Combo.

If you already have updated to Mac OS X 10.6.6, do what i said from 1 to 2 and reinstall Mac OS X 10.6.6 using Combo version!

Thanks Fmiguel.

I did the combo update earlier and still had the same issue.

I did however figure out the problem. It seems to be a voltage issue with the USB hub in the imac after the 10.6.6 update.

How I came to this conclusion is thus:

I got so frustrated with the problem, my last trouble shooting attempt was maybe a problem with my USB cable run (25'). So I moved the printer close to the imac and connected with a 3' cable. Everything worked fine. I bought a new 25' cable and tried my original placement of the printer, Same issues as before. I then took a powered USB hub and connected iMac (3' USB) Powered Hub (25' cable) Printer. NO ISSUES. Working great now. This leads me to believe there is a USB Hub bus voltage issue with the 10.6.6 update for everything worked fine in 10.6.5.

In conclusion, if you're having similar problems, put a powered USB hub in line for longer cable runs.

Thanks for everyone's help
-Marc

You are welcome.

Thanks for sharing your conclusions. Long cables lead to voltage drop, and some equipments are sensible to that. Try to use wireless printers, that will solve and avoid some problems with long cables.

Apple HP Printer Drivers 2.6 has solved this problem for me. The excellent workaround suggested by Janvier and John above, which I have been using since yesterday is no longer needed.