HP 2600n/2605dn Printing Problems

[SimpleSi]

Coming to this late but try using CD that comes with the machine on an XP client with you logged on as admin (don't use any updated driver) zand with the printer set to an unused static ip.

 

If it doesn't print from that either your network is up the creek or the printer is.

 

If it doesn't work, try sticking XP machine on same switch as printer and see what happens.

 

You've got yourself a beauty with this one but since several went at same time then occams razor says its your network and not the printers.

 

(Unless of course the printers have been dying for 12 months and they only told you about them when the last one went!)

 

regards

 

Simon

[round2it]

we have some of 2600n and we had the same problems with them we use them as stand alone printers now.

 

i want to try a jet direct network box on these to see if it makes a difference.

[Chuckster]

The Power over Ethernet standard lets normal cat5 cable carry 5v, so power can obviously be transmitted over cat5, and of course through the mains supply to your printer. I've no idea how likely that is, though.

 

 

Well, you seem to have tried pretty much everything - and, if it's any help, several other people (myself, Witch, at least) seem to have had similar issues with these machines.

 

--

David Hicks

 

I thought PoE was only with wireless where you didn't want electrical wiring sitting besides your access point, that would be easy targets for kids to pull and robb off with.. I don't think with my problem that was the case(?)

 

 

Coming to this late but try using CD that comes with the machine on an XP client with you logged on as admin (don't use any updated driver) zand with the printer set to an unused static ip.

 

If it doesn't print from that either your network is up the creek or the printer is.

 

If it doesn't work, try sticking XP machine on same switch as printer and see what happens.

 

You've got yourself a beauty with this one but since several went at same time then occams razor says its your network and not the printers.

 

(Unless of course the printers have been dying for 12 months and they only told you about them when the last one went!)

 

regards

 

Simon

 

Another one I tried was using a 24-port switch. Hooked up a clean Win 2003 SP2 server (installed on a workstation), a XP workstation and one of the printers to the switch. This switch is brand new and has never before been used until today. Installed the drivers and the printer to the server, added the printer to the XP workstation and still the printer won't print! It can be pinged, it's web console can be launched but the damn thing just doesn't want to print.

 

My network, on the other hand, is fine 'cause other printers - Ricoh (3 x photocopiers), Dell and Brother - all print. In the library there is a 5-port desktop switch shared between the HP 2605dn, Brother HL-1870N and a Ricoh photocopier, and the latter two carried on working as they should. But that HP didn't want to work, as do the rest of them, and thus I eliminated the fact that there isn't anything wrong with that particular switch.

 

 

 

we have some of 2600n and we had the same problems with them we use them as stand alone printers now.

 

i want to try a jet direct network box on these to see if it makes a difference.

 

A jet direct NIC is pretty pricey and I don't really want to risk purchasing one only to find out it didn't make a whole world of difference.

[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

Edited June 24, 2010 by SimpleSi

[dhicks]

I thought PoE was only with wireless where you didn't want electrical wiring sitting besides your access point

 

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.

 

A jet direct NIC is pretty pricey

 

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.

 

--

David Hicks

[Chuckster]

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

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

--

David Hicks

 

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.

[SimpleSi]

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

[mac_shinobi]

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.

Edited June 25, 2010 by mac_shinobi

[Michael]

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.

[Chuckster]

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.

[dhicks]

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.

 

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.

 

--

David Hicks

[witch]

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

[Chuckster]

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.

[BrotherSidious]

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. Edited June 28, 2010 by BrotherSidious

[witch]

Mine lost its grip on reality this morning!!!!

IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT