Problems sharing an HP Officejet 8000

[SimpleSi]

One of my K5400's died on me and I replaced it with the Officejet 8000 but I'm having a few issues with sharing it out on a w2k3 server.

 

1. From Word 2003, one SOME machines, if I try and print to it via the server, it gives this error msg

The printer has not yet responded, but the Microsoft Office program may be able to proceed without printer information. Do you want to continue and wait for the printer? Yes or No

 

Answering yes or no doesn't get you anywhere

 

If I create a local tcp/ip port and print via that - it works fine.

 

It also worked fine with previous K5400 via server and still prints fine to other K5400 via server.

 

Googling brings up lots of people having same fault with lots of printers but no I can't find any solutions other than local install.

 

I thought it was a one off but yesterday I installed another 8000 at another school and had the same problem

 

 

2. I don't seem able to set the server printer up to hold A4 paper settings for the 6 or so options it has and the clients seem to ignore any settings I manage to get on in my experience in the past , I just set up the printer on the server and the clients follow along like good little sheep.

 

 

I'm starting to think this printer is the WindowsME of HP business inkjet range

 

Help and suggestions welcome!

 

regards

 

Simon

PS Happy New School Year BTW

[L_Smith]

How is the printer being connected to the machine? ie GP or batch file etc etc.

[SimpleSi]

I used a vbs script

Option Explicit
Dim netPrinter, UNCpath
UNCpath = "\\server2\LJ8000
Set netPrinter = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
netPrinter.AddWindowsPrinterConnection UNCpath

 

The server is just a W2k3 machine operating as a DNS/DHCP/file/print server - my clients aren't on a domain.

 

Adding the printer using Add Printer in Control Panel and browsing for it gave same results.

 

regards

 

Simon

[L_Smith]

Have you tried removing connections of all printers on the computer? This would involve drivers in the "Server Properties" menu and also the contents of the "Spool" folder in "System32". Ive had alot of unexplained problems with printers in the past and generally this would solve the problem.

[SimpleSi]

This would involve drivers in the "Server Properties" menu

 

Not sure what you mean there

 

regards

 

Simon

[contink]

I haven't touched the 8000 series because it's all new chips, etc... (and lack of CIS potential at the mo')..

 

That said, as a guess... Have you tried deploying one of the printer under a startup script?

 

Only reason I suggest it is that the driver will install any "non-standard" files that WinXP won't recognise or allow without admin privs under a bog standard user account.

 

I'd give that a shot and see if it solves your problem..

[SimpleSi]

All my clients logon as admins.

 

regards

 

Simon

[SimpleSi]

This would involve drivers in the "Server Properties" menu

 

See it now in File

 

regards

 

Simon

[SimpleSi]

Well removing drivers/deleting spool files didn't work.

 

On a machine that does print to it via server - it is very slow to print, so I went into the printer via its web interface and found that the printer has zillions of options turned on such as auto ipv4/ipv6 select , a little DNS server and lots of status reporting via web/telex and carrier pigeon!

 

So I've turned off everything I could find that didn't actually make it print and the 2 computers in this school thta didn't work now work

 

I'll try it out at the other school next week and see if its repeatable.

 

regards

 

Simon

[mac_shinobi]

I used a vbs script

Option Explicit
Dim netPrinter, UNCpath
UNCpath = "\\server2\LJ8000
Set netPrinter = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
netPrinter.AddWindowsPrinterConnection UNCpath

 

The server is just a W2k3 machine operating as a DNS/DHCP/file/print server - my clients aren't on a domain.

 

Adding the printer using Add Printer in Control Panel and browsing for it gave same results.

 

regards

 

Simon

 

Use the source wisely

 

Option Explicit
Dim netPrinter, UNCpath
[b]UNCpath = "\\server2\LJ8000"[/b]
Set netPrinter = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
netPrinter.AddWindowsPrinterConnection UNCpath

 

Unless you copied and pasted it wrong you did not enclose the string that is assigned to the UNCpath variable with quotes ie

 

before

 

UNCpath = "\\server2\LJ8000

 

After

 

UNCpath = "\\server2\LJ8000"

 

Also when printing to the print server did you use a tcp/ip port or you using hp's own version of a tcp/ip port ?

 

Also under advanced options on the printer on the print server have you disabled bi directional support and also is it the latest printer driver from hp's website and am presuming its PCL 5 not 6 or another printer language ?

[SimpleSi]

I copied and pasted an install script from the school I was at (I use the same one at all my schools) and altered the UNCPath to be the one used at one of the schools with the problem but accidently deleted the closing " - well spotted - I'll bet your good at the Times Crossword

 

Also when printing to the print server did you use a tcp/ip port or you using hp's own version of a tcp/ip port ?

 

Dude - come on - no-one uses HP's port

 

(But maybe this is the one HP printer where we'll have to use HP's port instead?? )

 

Also under advanced options on the printer on the print server have you disabled bi directional support

 

Is the Pope catholic?

 

and also is it the latest printer driver from hp's website

 

Not intially but after intial problem I tried it

 

and am presuming its PCL 5 not 6 or another printer language

 

I think its actually some flavour of HP PCL 3

 

regards

 

Simon

[SimpleSi]

These printers are a load of %^&$

 

In desperation I tried running the CD from a client computer - it could even find the printer

 

It couldn't even find the printer when I told it the IP address

 

:(:(

 

Simon

[mac_shinobi]

These printers are a load of %^&$

 

In desperation I tried running the CD from a client computer - it could even find the printer

 

It couldn't even find the printer when I told it the IP address

 

:(:(

 

Simon

 

If its got a usb port just get a print server that goes from usb to RJ45 and do it that way ?

[mac_shinobi]

The only other thing I can think of is on the Ricoh range you can go into service mode and flash the memory on the network card so wondering if HP have there own way of doing that on the printer you have that ?

 

That or use a PCL 5 driver from a similar machine

[contink]

These printers are a load of %^&$

 

In desperation I tried running the CD from a client computer - it could even find the printer

 

It couldn't even find the printer when I told it the IP address

Simon, in all seriousness... Do you want to box one of these printers up and courier it over to me and I'll do an empirical run through for you to see if I can figure out what's going on.

 

As much as anything else I'm completely fresh to the whole thing so I might have a bit more luck..

 

Just a thought that may help save your sanity, long term.

[SimpleSi]

@martin - thanks for offer - if I could do without one for a time - I would send one to you

 

I think I'll just have to stop spending time on trying to make them work via server and just go around all computers and set them to directly printer via IP local port and see if that stops my problems.

 

At the same time, I'm going to try drivers for other HP printers to see if I can win that way.

 

regards

Simon