Paused print Problem

Question

Paused print Problem

From the printer icon on the dock it appears that the sent print job has gone to the wireless printer and then a green pause button appears on the printer icon. Print info shows the job is paused. Press resume print button and shows printing briefly then back to paused. Job info gives following job message:/usr/libexec/cups/backend/dnssd failed

Background: have 2 new mac's (in feb.)Imac and macbookair and a new linksys E3000 wireless router.

All printing was set up effortlessly and flawlessly for both computers. Printer is an existing HP5800 wireless inkjet.

This problem only effects the macbook and cropped up following a failed attempt to directly link the two computers with a physical Ethernet connection. After this attempt the wireless connection to the router was lost on the macbook and had to be re established. Then I've later discovered this printing problem.

The paused print job from the macbook does not prevent execution of a subsequent print job from the Imac, so seems clear that the problem lies in the MacBook and not with the printer or the wireless network.

Can anyone point me to a fix or a help resource?

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.6.8), see text

Posted on Jul 7, 2011 5:01 PM

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Answer 1

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Jul 8, 2011 12:16 AM in response to switcherfromak

The 10.6.8 update changed the backend printing services. This change stopped some models of printer from working after the update, the error would be as you described for the respective backend service being used.

Many have found the quickest solution is to replace the current 10.6.8 backend files with the 10.6.7 backend files. This requires you to have a 10.6.7 backup. If you have been using Time Machine then you can open Finder and select Go > Go to Folder. Then type /usr/libexec/cups/backend. This will show all the files inside the backend folder. If you then use Time Machine to go back to when you were using 10.6.7, you can restore the dnssd file. With the file restored you can try printing again, but it may be best to restart the Mac and then try printing/

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Answer 2

Jul 8, 2011 12:27 PM in response to switcherfromak

Thank you for your reply.

Have not been using time machine. both computers, same age, same os - current update, one prints as always and the mackbook does not. the dnssd file on each machine appears the same with exactly the same date and time stamp for created and modified, and both the same file size. the backend folder on the printing imac has a created date of 7/15/10 and a modification date of 6/23/11

The same folder on the macbook is created 6/24/10 and modified 6/25/11.

I guess I am not understanding how an update to the os would effect one and not the other when they both are updated.

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Answer 3

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Jul 8, 2011 5:16 PM in response to switcherfromak

switcherfromak wrote:

I guess I am not understanding how an update to the os would effect one and not the other when they both are updated.

Based on the experiences of others who have been posting on this forum about how their printer was no longer working after the 10.6.8 update, and how their Mac print queue was showing the same error message that you are getting, then that was the basis for my reply. Given that you have two identically configured Mac's and only one showing the symptom, then it is probable that the update was not the cause of the error and that you have some other cause. So apologies for the confusion of the first reply.

So some other actions to try on the non-printing Mac.

Remove and add the printer again. Open Print & Fax, select the printer and press the minus button. Then press the plus buton to add the network printer and try printing again.
Reset the printing system. This will remove all printers and scanners from Print & Fax but not their respective drivers. Instructions below.
Open Disk Utility and repair the disk permissions.
Download and install the 10.6.8 Combo update. The Bonjour service (dnssd) may have a problem and running the Combo update can fix these types of problems

How to Reset the Printing System

1. Open System Preferences > Print & Fax

2. Move your mouse over the Printers list

3. Hold down the Control button and click the mouse

4. Click the "Reset printing system ..." popup

5. Restart your Mac

After the restart, open Print & Fax and add the printer again. Then see if you can print without error.

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Answer 4

Jul 8, 2011 6:43 PM in response to PAHU

Or try this....

It worked for me.

Reed

Posted a fix on my blog, check it out here:

http://vcboy.com/mac-users-after-updating-to-10-6-8-getting-paused-printer-messa ge-fixed/

Download from:

http://s.vcboy.com/fixprinters

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Answer 5

Aug 20, 2011 10:12 AM in response to switcherfromak

Pahu, I have been unable to get back to this problem until now and as it turned out your first option of remove and add back the printer did the trick. Thank you so much!! 🙂

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