I just upgraded to OSX 10.6.8 and now my printers cannot be found. I've downloaded upgraded drivers, and know where the other drivers are located. Now how do I get the drivers to be acknowledged and added to my list of printers?
Is it a wireless printer?
You may need to reset the printing system.
System Preferences>Print & Fax, Control+Click or Right Click in the space on the left where printers are listed and select 'reset printing system'. Any printers that are there will be deleted and added again.
No, it is ethernet. Could it be that I can only connect printers via USB with Snow Leopard?
I did that, and it lost the PDF option as well as the 2 inkjet printers that were already there. So now I have no printers, and none to add.
I'm sorry, let me specify -- "that" means that I reset the printing system.
Weird. Sometimes re-applying the software update using the combo updater can fix odd behaviour:
Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1
followed by another check in the Software Update menu to see if there are any subsequent updates (I note that there is a supplemental update listed at the top of this page) that may be relevant:
Paul_31 --- Updating to the most current 10.6.8 yesterday, and checking Software Update several times is exactly what's gotten me into this mess. Everything is totally current. I've put in a question to my printer manufacturer, so maybe they will have an answer. But if you, or anyone else, has any other suggestions. I'd greatly appreciate hearing them.
With the printers connected, return to the Printer & Fax prefPane and click on the + sign to add those. BTW, details on the printers that you have and the new one wouldn't hurt.
When you updated to 10.6.8 did you first install from a DVD with a version less than 10.6.8 on it and then check Software Update in the Apple menu? Did Software Update then offer some updates which you then proceeded to download and apply - nothing wrong in this, it's the normal procedure. It's just that sometimes things get broken when following this route and downloading and re-applying the updates using the standalone combo installer is often recommended and is sometimes successful in fixing things that have gotten borked when updating via the Software Update menu.
The combo includes ALL the updates to the OS since 10.6.0 - hence the size of the download. It's OK to install directly on top of your existing 10.6.8 system and may rectify your problem.
OK, so I'll try to get both sets of questions into this answer. I upgraded from DVD, I think it was 10.6.3. Then I did several checks of Software Update. That's what got me to 10.6.8. I see that you mentioned the combo installer. Will I be able to find that on the Apple website, or is it somewhere else?
Now, with the printer prefs. I do have an HP 5780, which showed up in the initial printer list. When I did the reset, even that one disappeared. However, I just happened to have it connected via USB (didn't know it was even connected since I never use it for printing). Anyway, I turned it on and was able to add it to the list, and print a page. (WooHoo, at least it's one success). However, my main printers are Xante Accel-A-Writer 8300 and Xante CL30. Both are connected via ethernet, and neither are showing up to add to the printer list. I've downloaded new drivers, but no success. I saw some little hint, and now forget where, that makes me think I can now only connect printers via USB. If that is true, the 8300 is utterly useless now. The CL30, I think, has a USB option, but I have to investigate further. These are expensive, huge production machines and I have to find a way to make them useable.
The link to the combo is in my second post.
Thanks for the feedback. Can't help with the Xante printers, since I've never used them.
The link to the combo didn't work. It just sat there and did nothing. I think I'll call Apple directly and see if they can help me. I'll figure out whether the CL30 will run via USB, and also wait to hear back from Xante. I think I've gone about as far as I can, now. At least I have an emergency printer. Thanks for the help!
bandit137 wrote:
OK, so I'll try to get both sets of questions into this answer. I upgraded from DVD, I think it was 10.6.3. Then I did several checks of Software Update. That's what got me to 10.6.8. I see that you mentioned the combo installer. Will I be able to find that on the Apple website, or is it somewhere else?
Now, with the printer prefs. I do have an HP 5780, which showed up in the initial printer list. When I did the reset, even that one disappeared. However, I just happened to have it connected via USB (didn't know it was even connected since I never use it for printing). Anyway, I turned it on and was able to add it to the list, and print a page. (WooHoo, at least it's one success). However, my main printers are Xante Accel-A-Writer 8300 and Xante CL30. Both are connected via ethernet, and neither are showing up to add to the printer list. I've downloaded new drivers, but no success. I saw some little hint, and now forget where, that makes me think I can now only connect printers via USB. If that is true, the 8300 is utterly useless now. The CL30, I think, has a USB option, but I have to investigate further. These are expensive, huge production machines and I have to find a way to make them useable.
Get the IP addresses of the printers, install them from the IP page in Print & Scan:
Ah Ha. I think you've hit on something. I just found that Snow Leopard doesn't support Appletalk, and I'm certain that's how I have them connected. Do you know ---- first, with an IP address, can I still connect via ethernet; and second, where is the likely place to determine my IP addresses?
how do i add a printer to my imac?
