perplexed with hp printer install - OS X

Question

Level 1

4 points

perplexed with hp printer install - OS X

I am trying to re-install an all-in-one HP psc 2410 photosmart printer I've been using for several years. I am moving it from one room into another, and connecting it to my iMac with Snow Leopard, but I no longer wish to use the fax function (i.e. no phone line) - - - all I want to use are simple printing and document scanning functions. This printer appears to be supported with OS X internal software, but I am obviously missing something - - - I thought I would only need to provide power to the printer and connect a USB cord between the printer and the iMac. Having done so, when I attempt to print a document, I get no printing action and keep getting simple "Error" status messages when I open the printer window. I know this has to be a very simple installation procedure, but I cannot seem to determine the nature of the stated error, or begin to make any adjustments so that the computer is talking to the printer. Meanwhile, using a utilities menu with the HP Director, I am able to conduct 'ink level', 'clean', and 'calibrate' tests. Could someone please walk me thru this?

iMac 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Feb 11, 2012 4:11 PM

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Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Feb 11, 2012 5:26 PM in response to ra.ra

Won't work unless you installed the HP software on the iMac. Normally, not done unless you opted for it when installing SL. Get the latest from HP's site for your printer and follow that with the HP Update 2.8.

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Answer 2

ra.ra Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 12, 2012 4:16 PM in response to baltwo

Thanks so much for the prompt response, but I'll need some add'l help here. I have now installed HP software (with no effect apparently) but I am very certain that we did not opt to install it when SL was installed (I'm not even quite sure what this means...), so now what should I do to either backtrack or move forward? I have downloaded the HP Update 2.8, but in order to install, it says it will take 697.3 MB (!!!!!) space on computer. Is this possibly correct, and should I continue with this installation, or is there a way to activate my printer using the HP (for Mac) disk? Please bear in mind that when it comes to computer set-up and software installs, I need baby step explicit directions. Thx.

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Answer 3

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Feb 12, 2012 5:42 PM in response to ra.ra

Yes, it's correct. 700 MB is small when HD's contain 500 GB or more of space. Just install it. Then, System Preferences->Print & Fax and it should show up under Printers, if not, CONTROL-click & hold and select Reset Printer System. That should find and put your printer into that window. Ensure that it's hooked up and turned on.

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Answer 4

ra.ra Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 13, 2012 6:01 AM in response to baltwo

Thank you again. Before I follow your directions, I want to be sure I'm not being redundant. I seem to already have this printer being recognized (see below), but I cannot seem to de-activate the "Idle" description showing in Print & Fax. Also, when I have tried to print, the Error message below shows up and neither Job Info or Printer Setup gives me further information on correcting this error.

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Answer 5

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Feb 13, 2012 12:40 PM in response to ra.ra

There's no error message, just a message saying that the select MS Word doc is messed up. Select it and delete it. Reopen the doc, save it, and try printing again. Also, since printer sharing is turned off, deselect that option in the Print & Fax prefPane.

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Answer 6

ra.ra Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 13, 2012 6:04 PM in response to baltwo

Wow, step 4 and I'm only beginning to feel mucho stoopido. This has to be simpler than this and I am missing something very basic. I have seen this 'error' notification over and over from attempts at printing several simple documents (pdfs or MS Word docs), and I merely delete it (as you said) and then try again. So now I am trying to adjust this file sharing, and have adjusted my settings as shown below. Still getting same print 'error'. What next?

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Answer 7

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Feb 13, 2012 6:27 PM in response to ra.ra

Aside from reinstalling Office, I don't know, since I've never experienced the issue. Try at http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/mac

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Answer 8

ra.ra Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 14, 2012 6:29 AM in response to baltwo

Baltwo, thanks so much for staying with me on this issue. Like I stated, I'm reasonably inept at many of these set-up issues, but I still cannot understand what basic step(s) I am overlooking in what should be such a routine configuration sequence.

I know you suggested the my MS Word doc might be messed up, but I don't think so. I get the exact same 'error' results when I try to print an email or from a pdf. Would this still lead you to believe I should consider re-installing Office?

Even if we can't straighten this our now, thanks again for your help.

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Answer 9

wapsijim

Level 1

60 points

Feb 14, 2012 7:14 AM in response to ra.ra

ra.ra,

you might try deleting both the printer listings you have showing in print/fax. highlight each one and click the "-".

then click the "+" and add your hp psc 2400 back in.

was it connected via usb to this Mac when it sat in the other room or was it wireless?

:^{)

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Answer 10

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Feb 14, 2012 11:43 AM in response to ra.ra

ra.ra wrote:

I know you suggested the my MS Word doc might be messed up, but I don't think so. I get the exact same 'error' results when I try to print an email or from a pdf. Would this still lead you to believe I should consider re-installing Office?

Ah! The proverbial missing info. Try what wapsijim suggests.

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Answer 11

ra.ra Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 16, 2012 8:02 AM in response to baltwo

Arrrrgggh! Still no further progress. To respond to wapsijim, no, the printer has always had a USB connection, never had a wireless set-up. As suggested, I deleted the printer from print/fax and then re-added it again, and somewhere in my poking around I received a notice to re-install printer software, so I inserted HP disk and went thru all of that. Then, after install completed, I tried to test print a simple TIFF image which I open with Preview, and I received the attached error message with the word "fatal". That never sounds good.

Also, when I went to "add printer", I noticed something I did not understand (see below) - - - listing of a printer named Adobe PDF 8.0 which makes no sense to me - I've never used any other than this HP printer at home. Should I delete this, and if so how?

Again, thanks for the continued assistance

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Answer 12

Paul_31

Level 6

14,172 points

Feb 16, 2012 8:38 AM in response to ra.ra

Rather than just deleting the printer and adding it again, maybe a reset of the printing system will help - if you haven't tried it already.

System Preferences>Print & Fax, Control+click or right click on a printer on the left and select 'reset printing system'. All printers will be deleted and need to be added again.

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Answer 13

ra.ra Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 19, 2012 1:30 PM in response to Paul_31

Apologies for delayed response - I've been away briefly. Thanks so much for suggestion all the way from France, but I need to report that even after following this procedure, I appear to be no closer to resolving this

problem. When re-adding this printer, I was confronted with this prompt (see below), but I have already re-installed the HP software and then re-started the computer.

What is this prompt trying to tell me and, is that acknowledgement of Adobe PDF 8.0 printer getting in the way somehow? I'm beginning to think I have some other type of configuration issue that I am unable to detect.

Again, thanks to all who are trying to assist me.

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