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HP Laserjet 4050 Not Responding

Hello,


I just upgraded to Mavericks and my HP Laserjet 4050N is no longer connecting. I'm connecting via ethernet. I had previously set it up with these instructions:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2160549?answerId=12054783022#12054783022

I tried doing this over again, but still no luck. I also tried resetting the printing system. I already regret upgrading to Mavericks. Thanks, Apple. Ugh.

Please help! This is a great printer and I don't want to be forced to get a new one. I've tried looking for a current driver but can't find one. If anyone has a solution I would really appreciate it.


Thanks,


Joe

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Jan 21, 2014 2:38 PM

Reply
16 replies

Jan 21, 2014 4:36 PM in response to rastro4

Checking the specs for this model, it shows that it supports Postscript and PCL. So if you know the IP address of the HP, you can add the printer using the IP > HP Jetdirect-Socket protocol and using the Generic Postscript or Generic PCL driver.


If you have already created the print queue in this manner but it is failing to print, then you should check that the Mac has a working network path to the printer. To do so, open System Information and select Window > Network Utility. Then select the Ping and enter the IP address of the HP and press the Ping button. If there is a valid path then you should get a response to each packet. Does this happen?

Jan 21, 2014 6:03 PM in response to PAHU

Hi,

Thanks. I did indeed add the printer via IP HP Jetdirect Socket, but I wasn't having any luck. I downloaded a driver from HP and it seems to be working. HP says that all of their drivers are automatically updated through software update, but it didn't seem to be the case. So far, it's working. Thanks for your help!

Jan 21, 2014 11:20 PM in response to rastro4

Because it is self-assigned, if it changed due to a restart then it will stop the Mac from connecting to it and printing. So I would suggest you set a static IP address on the HP and the Mac Ethernet port.


For example, on the HP, I would set an IP address of 192.168.1.10 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Then on the Mac's Ethernet port, I would set an IP address of 192.168.1.5 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Once this is set you can then use the Ping utility to check that you get responses.


If the Ping works then you will then need to remove the existing printer in Printers & Scanners and add again, this time entering the new IP address.

Jan 21, 2014 11:45 PM in response to rastro4

On the Mac, you can choose Manually as shown below.


User uploaded file

As for the HP, if you can use the menu buttons on the printer then you would turn off DHCP and manually enter the settings. If there is no useable buttons/menus on the printer then you would need to use a HP utility. I don't have HP printers so I cannot guide you. Maybe someone else reading this that has experience with your model will be able to provide some help if you need it.

Jan 22, 2014 6:40 AM in response to PAHU

Thanks for your help. I'm going to try this a bit later, but one other question.


I would set an IP address of 192.168.1.10 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0. Then on the Mac's Ethernet port, I would set an IP address of 192.168.1.5 and a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0.


Shouldn't the IP addresses be the same?

Feb 8, 2014 2:14 AM in response to rastro4

I have a 4050 with a JetDirect network card, and it mostly* works under Mavericks.

HP's web page shows drivers for the Mac only for up to OS 10.7, and support for later OS versions is not likely to be forthcoming. Instead, the latest drivers for all attached printers are automatically downloaded and installed by Software Update - but only for printers connected and communicating with the OS. You might want to connect the printer via USB when you run Software update, to ensure that the printer is noticed. You'll need a USB-parallel adapter (~$15) to do it.

It does sound, however, like you have a bad network card in the printer. If so, the USB adapter ought to (sort of) solve the problem. A used nework card is about $25 on eBay.


*Apple's drivers are not free of bugs: ever since the Mavericks upgrade, specifying "landscape" fails to rotate the text in text boxes. (The boxes rotate, but not their contents!) I had to re-do some envelope, label, and check templates.

HP Laserjet 4050 Not Responding

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