Everything printing fine until suddenly I can't print to my HP 1606n printer. Tried from second computer, but get message that mac is looking for printer. Never finds it.
No updates, no new equipment, nothing like that.
I have no idea where to start on this. If anyone does I'd like to hear it.
Thanks
iPhone 6, iOS 9.0.2
Usually either the printer is off or is locked in some weird state, the printer has lost its settings or has been accidentally reconfigured somehow, or whatever common network connection is in use here isn't working quite right.
See if one computer can contact the other, using the same link that is used for the printer. Also see if the two computers can reach the Internet. That'll usually rule out the common network connection as the source of problems.
Confirm the IP address or the printer name that's configured on the printer is the address that your computers are using.
Most HP network-connected printers have a web interface. See if you can access that, using your web browser and the printer IP address.
Check that the printer is connected to your network, and powered up.
If the above don't help, what sort of network connection are you using? How is the printer connected? Wi-Fi or wired?
As of now both computers reach the internet.
Not sure where to find the IP address. Can you tell me?
Printer is definitely connected and powered.
Have tried both Wi-fi and wired, neither work.
The setup documentation for that HP printer is very weak, and I'd generally prefer to avoid needing any sort of add-on or set-up tool on OS X — something that HP seems dependent on here, at least this printer series. The P1600 series user manual is weak on details, too. In any case, go to page 53 and follow the instructions there to print a configuration page. According to the manual, somewhere on that configuration page is the current IP address for the printer.
Once you have that IP address, see if you can enter that IP address into Safari, and get to the HP web-based configuration interface. If you can get at that IP address, then you can view the configuration and settings for that printer.
In addition to access via your web browser, Apple has some configuration information available; use Spotlight search to launch Network Utility on your version of OS X — enter Network Utility into the search, and launch the app. If you can get to the web server in the printer from your web browser, then the ping command will almost certainly also work.
I can't tell if the printer uses DHCP — I'd expect it would — or if it supports setting an IP address manually — I'd hope that it would. I'd use a fixed ("static", "manual") IP address for your network. What address is used here and what address range your network is using depends on how your local network is configured.
Once you have the printer IP address, you can try removing existing printer definitions on OS X, and re-adding the printer. This via ?> System Preferences > Printers. You'll need the printer IP address to add the printer, once it's been removed.
Sudden problem connecting to printers on both computers
