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Printer Offline

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by jparade

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We have a W2K network. One of the secretaries logs on to the server, but frequently comes up where one of the networked printers in the printers folder are set to Use Printer Offline. Our printers are never shut off. The one that does this is a HP LaserJet 6L. It is parallel to another machine, and is printed to through the Microsoft Printer sharing protocol. She does log on to the server correctly, as she can see the network, and her mapped drives. She can also print to the other networked printers? Why? Thanks for any help. JAKE

6 replies

by jparade

I failed to mention that she is using a Pentium 3 700 mhz, 256 RAM, with W98se. Thanks!

by mjrebholz

I have seen this before, and I seem to recall that it is a "feature" of those printers.. Can you tell me if the other printers on the network are also 6L's?

I recall that the printer doesn't really have a power-button, and that it "goes to sleep"after a period of inactivity. Because it does this, it stops talking to the PC it is connected to, and looks as if it has dissapeared of the network. Your client's machine then marks the printer as "Offline" because it can no longer be seen. The only remedy for this is to force the printer not to "go to sleep" or make sure the PC it is connected is not turned off before the secretary's PC. BTW, also check that the printer-connected PC has ECP mode enabled in it's BIOS. HP also mentions that thestatus monitor and tool box apps do not work in a networked environment..

Regards

by jparade

There are other 6Ls attached to the network, but they do not show work offline when they go to "sleep". Any other suggestions? THanks anyway. JAKE

by paradox 42

we get this problem all the time. its when the wks the printer is attched to is off or if its locked-up. if you turn the wks back on(the one the printer is attched to) the other computers don't check to see this, and so they continue to sa the printer is offline. to fix 1). right click the printer queue and select the "use printer offline" option(to un-tick it) 2). restart the computer that is not seeing the printer. 3). make shore the computer attached to the printer never gose off or crashes 4). (my favorite) get a network print box and have the printer connect to the network directly.

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