Printing help, please?

[draggar]

My wife's laptop connects to our network via wireless (secure and locked on - LinkSys router). The printer we have (Office Jet J6480) is wired to the router.

My computer can print anytime to the printer with no issues but...

My wife's laptop always displays that the printer is offline so when she prints it gets put into the queue and never printed.

She complains to me and I go into the printer properties on her laptop, right click the printer, and select "use offline" and then the print jobs get printed.

A week later, when she tries to print, the same thing happens. I can't find anything in the settings that would cause this (and I used the CD to install the printer drivers).

Any suggestions? Her connection to the internet is fine and she is not connecting to another WiFi (we have several in the neighborhood - many unsecured).

 

[Johnn]

Could it be static IP or DHCP.?

 

[draggar]

No, locally her laptop has a consistent IP, even though it's set up as "automatic". I've verified that she's had the same IP address each time I look at it (IP accoridng to the router).

DHCP - I don't think so either.

Right now, her laptop shows offline but I can print to it with no problems but I'm sure tomorrow, or the next day, we'll have to do this again.

 

[Johnn]

Check the router to make sure that you have DHCP disable.
I think the problem is the router sends the wrong status to the laptop.
Sometimes the printer has the power save mode turn on - which explains why it is offline but when the laptop sends the print job it did not wake the printer up.

 

[BidNo]

Compare printer properties between your computer setup and her's (particularly printer name or IP address, and port) -- likely that's were you'll find the issue.

(And to John's questions, unless you explicitly setup static IP addresses, you're using DHCP).

Cheers,
BidNo

 

[draggar]

Check the router to make sure that you have DHCP disable.
I think the problem is the router sends the wrong status to the laptop.
Sometimes the printer has the power save mode turn on - which explains why it is offline but when the laptop sends the print job it did not wake the printer up.

DHCP was enabled - I disabled it and we'll see if that helps, thank you for the heads up.

Odd that it only does it with the laptop that's wireless and not the wired ones.

 

[south]

Any suggestions? Her connection to the internet is fine and she is not connecting to another WiFi (we have several in the neighborhood - many unsecured).

Can the HP. You'll make enough money in the time you save re-installing the software for 2 hours to buy a new Brother.

Really. I *HATE* HP's software. Have for years, but it just keeps getting worse.

Seriously though, if you need a hand, I could connect & take a look if you like. Just send me a PM to arrange it.

Scott

 

[draggar]

Brothers? Eh, I've never been crazy about them and I've had very few issues with HP in the past. I don't think this is a printer issue, either (and yes, their SW isn't the best).

 

[Johnn]

Take a look at the back of the printers - Both of them are made from the same place - not in the us.

 

[draggar]

I don't think any printers are made in the US.

 

[Johnn]

I have one that made in the US. dated 1976 - dot matrix printer.

 

[draggar]

By disabling the DHCP in the router the PCs in the network started to lose their connection one by one (wireless first) so I had to reenable it.