Networked HP4200 printer problems

Question

Networked HP4200 printer problems

Here's the deal. A couple of weeks ago we seemed to have lost our office router for our network. But even after adding a new Netgear unit problems continued. We have 2 HP4200 printers, both wired direct to the router. With new router one of these printers did not show up as available to the network and not visible in Print and Scan. Swapped out the Ethernet board and still not visible to the network.

So down to one HP4200. Then it started to mess up. Overnight it would not work in the AM; a on/off seems to help, most times. Then during day work it would fail to print suddenly. Swapped out cables; did not help. Now, after an on/off off the printer it will take 5-10 minute to finish initializing - normally this takes about 45 seconds; some times it never gets thru this process so we do another on/off.

So one printer that the network does not see even though it is cabled into the router. Another that has problems staying available and is slow to set-up after an on/off. Regarding the one "working" printer, I have cabled it directly to the iMac and the system stills does not see it. Shouldn't it?? What am I missing?

I still think the first printer is OK, but for some reason is not making itself known to the network. For the second printer, it works fine when it works; this "now it does, now it doesn't" is not helping to know if there is a problem.

I figure there are some plist files to trash but would to have a knowledgeable guess from the forum. Help. Or what else could it be?

I have had these printers for years and both have be rebuilt at one time.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4), 100% Mac shop since 1984

Posted on Jun 12, 2013 1:01 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Jun 13, 2013 7:17 AM in response to Tim Horchler1

So here is what happens.

I did this :

Once you have set the printers up to have fixed IP addresses in the same subnet as the computers, Add the printer(s) in Print & Scan prefs using the IP > HP Jetdirect protocol.

The above seems to have worked but took some time. IP is 192.168.1.8 for printer and 192.168.1.6 for computer. I assume this is the same subnet. Was able to use the HP 4200 series driver. Printer has a duplexer and I have turned this on. Restarted the printer.

First print job of a simple mail piece took so much time that I was ready to give up. But after 2-3 minutes it printed. I reprinted the same email and it printed right away. An other emails also print "normal." So if this "fixes" the problem for this printer great. We will see if its availability goes away during the day or over night.

Now on to the another HP4200n that we lost first. A dump print of info for this printer shows an IP of 192.168.1.10. Will try to set this up now.

And I was able to get this printer going immediately. So both back on line.

Thanks for the push. Curious. Do you think the new router change was the source of the problem or just a case of me not knowing the best way to set up the printers?

Thanks Greg

Reply

Answer 2

Jun 12, 2013 1:20 PM in response to Tim Horchler1

One update please. So the second printer gets a jon, says it is looking for printer, then printing, then waiting to finish printing and after 5-10 minutes it acts like it did the job and ready to go again, but it never printed a thing. After a printer restarte I get a new thing; on the printer status window the following:

81.0180

EIO 1 Error

Is this a clue?

Reply

Answer 3

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Jun 12, 2013 1:25 PM in response to Tim Horchler1

Regarding the one "working" printer, I have cabled it directly to the iMac and the system stills does not see it. Shouldn't it??

Do you mean you connected via USB cable? Direct ethernet usually requires more setup steps than router network. Your first troubleshooting step should be to get the printers working via USB.

Is there any possiblity that both printers are stuck with manually fixed IP addresses from the old router, and they aren't in the same subnetwork as the current router and computers? Compare IP addresses of computers and printers - printers will print out current address with front panel buttons or rear "test" button.

Same/correct subnet looks like this: 192.168.0.2, 192.168.0.3, 192.168.0.4 (pattern - only the last part varies if they're in the same subnet).

(EIO error refers to printer ethernet card/circuit)

Any possibility that a power surge/lightning strike caused these failures?

Reply

Answer 4

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Jun 12, 2013 5:10 PM in response to Tim Horchler1

OK, (I'm jumping ahead without waiting on your other replies....)

Once you have set the printers up to have fixed IP addresses in the same subnet as the computers, Add the printer(s) in Print & Scan prefs using the IP > HP Jetdirect protocol.

Reply