HP 2600n/2605dn Printing Problems

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Originally Posted by SimpleSi

Sorry to repeat but stop faffling with servers :)

Set up (using CD that comes with machine and following HP wizard - no clever shortcuts :) ) a single XP machine to print direct to one of the printers and see what happens.

KISS :) (But miss off the last S :) )
Simon

BTW if one doesn't work - try another - pref one that you haven't rebuilt (or firmware updated) from scratch :)

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I got into work early to give this a try, and I did what you told me to do, and it was unsuccessful. I tried 2 printers - one that had the firmware update and the other one that hadn't been touched, and neither one of them returned any results. Why? Because it would not detect the USB on it.

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Originally Posted by dhicks

Yes, quite right - I was just using PoE as an example to imply that cat5 cables can carry a current. If a power surge hit your school's power supply I suppose it might have travelled through the switch to your printers, frying some circuitry when it got there, but we're now wandering off topic somewhat.



Do you mean a USB-pluggable print server, or a replacement network card for your printer? If the former, and you've already tried hooking the machine up directly to a Windows XP workstation via USB, then I doubt that's going to get you any further. If the latter then I didn't think the 2600dn had a replaceable network interface - it's a cheap-as-possible laser printer, no on-board print processor and has to use Windows to do any print processing. You could always try eBay for JetDirect cards, we get them off there for our 4600 lasers and 1100 inkjets for around £10 each.

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David Hicks

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I don't have a USB print server and I'm guessing it wouldn't work, since the USB on the printer isn't working. In addition to that, I did at one stage get a quote for a replacement NIC a couple of months ago and I was being quoted nearing the £180 mark, when the printer alone only cost the school £120. It's beggars belief that HP products are so darn expensive.


Out of sheer desperation I've got one of the LA people to come in and take a look. Apparently he's the daddy of all daddies in printers. At £89/hour he better be! Mind you, if the school had LA support in the first place it would have been £69/hour. Still, at least it leaves me with my trousers on and I will leave it at that.

Sometimes you forget that forums aren't mind readers :(

When I said direct I meant direct over network e.g client computer connected to normal network and printer connected to network.

e.g the way I use them in schools without w2k3 servers.

But I honestly think that you a possible 2 fault or even 3 fault scenario :(

The problem is, I've (and you) never tried using these printers via USB so we don't know if there is a generic USB fault with them :(

But getting someone else in who'll start again from scratch sounds an excellent idea - of course all he'll probably do is switch off and on and they'll work fine :)

Good luck! :)

regards

Simon

Just so we can eliminate anything network wise if you set the printers network card to a static ip address on a class c range ie 192.168.x.y with the usual 255.255.255.0 subnet and the default gateway ip address set to the ip address of the computer ( laptop or desktop ) connected via a cross over cable to said computer with a different ip address ( obviously ) and same subnet ( again obviously )

Try again just trying to print to it using any of the latest drivers pcl 5, pcl 6 or whatever printer languages the printer has or can use.

Just so there are no switches / servers or anything else involved to narrow it down to the network card or something else on the printer assuming that the USB port on the printer works.

If it's any consolation, I can assure you these printers are a pain in the rear when they don't work, so don't lose hope! I've skim read this thread and although you've tried deleting and re-installing drivers, try restoring the spooler on your print server using Clean Spooler. It's in the 2003 Resource Kit.

Make a note of the printer names, sharenames and IPs, run Clean Spooler then install the printers from scratch.

The LA guy has been here since 9.30am and he looks like he's had enough himself. I got accused of changing the IP address to cause him a hindrance, so when he changed it to what it's supposed to be he looked dumbfounded when it didn't work.

He's done the obvious stuff that I've done to date and it's getting him nowhere. I wouldn't be surprised if he threw in the towel before 12.


I did change the IP address to the 192.x.x.x range using a crossover cable, which was connected to a standalone PC. That didn't work. It was pingable but just wouldn't print. I'm not sure what the drivers are 'cause it shows up as HP Color Laserjet 2600n and not indicating whether it is PS, PCL etc. Putting a switch in between the printer and PC resulted in nothing.

Michael, I don't think the Clean Spooler will work. The reason I say this is because I created a new Win 2003 just to try it out and that didn't work.

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Originally Posted by Chuckster

I don't have a USB print server and I'm guessing it wouldn't work, since the USB on the printer isn't working.

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Indeed - looks like your printers are good, old-fashioned dead, I'm afraid. Just for future reference, JetDirect cards are a lot cheaper on eBay - there's several companies that specialise in pulling them out of older HP printers and selling them on. I still don't think it's worth the bother for your £120 printers, though - time for some new printers. This might be a good time to try and convince mangement that the best way to do printing is with larger, rented multifunction copier/printer/scanner devices - if you have this kind of issue with those then someone's on call to come and fix it.

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David Hicks

Well thank the unspecified deity that the LA guy hasn't had much luck either. Always nice to have someone else to back you up!
I think you have done all you can and can now get rid of them with a clear conscience :)
Have a good weekend

Just want to say a huge thank you to all for helping me out. I appreciate all the suggestions that have come my way and, if anything, they proved very useful. It's always nice knowing I can rely on you all.

SMT are happy to go on a splurge and buy the school better printers.

Exact same happened to us. Was a complete nightmare. They have been relegated to a couple of offices where they are directly attached via a USB connection. THey are not shared in anyway and are working in that role. My personal opinion is that as a network printer they aren't worth the hassle but as a standalone they are ok.

Mine lost its grip on reality this morning!!!!
IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT :)