Printer / scanner IP address problem

[robgraham]

I've done a one-for-one replacement of a HP printer scanner off Ebay (Photosmart 3210). It's a good buy and the machine works fine, with one But.

The scanner is not communicating. I had to reset the printer IP address in the router to **...1.72 from the previous **....1.68 to get printing for the family with the software loaded with the original machine. I found that HP do a scanner diagnostic utility - ahh thought I - but that sticks at the first screen because it says the scanner IP address is **...1.67, and I can find that IP address in the HP section of the registry.

Is it the case that where these printer / scanners are concerned that the printer and scanner have different IP addresses despite being in the same box? I could just change the registry entry, but am concerned that if I could screw things up if I put them both on the same address.

Any ideas please - thanks

Rob

[Ron Lowe]

I'd un-install all the HP software as a first step. This should clear out any history of previous devices.

Then you must assign the HP device a static IP address. Don't be so coy about the address! If you have a normal domestic broadband router, your internal LAN addresses will probably be 192.168.x.x.

Assignin it an address of 192.168.1.200 or whatever.

You say you made that assignmnet in your router. That is possible: it's called a DHCP reservation. It requires you to type in the devices MAC address, and it's a wee bit technical. But I'm doubtfull that's what you have done. Can you describe in *infinite* detail how you assigned the address on the router? Let's start with router model, the tabs you went to, and what you entered in them.

TBH, you may be better to set the IP on the device from it's own control panel. I don't know the device, but I'm sure it will be possible to set the IP/Mask/GW locally on the device.

Having set the device's IP address either by DHCP or manually, you then need to be sure the device has actually picked up this address, and is on the network.

Can you ping it?

Only once the device is on the network, and pinging, would I re-install the software.

[robgraham]

Hi Ron Many thanks for replying. I had hoped that I would get away without having to do the uninstall and reinstall as it was a one for one change of the same model of printer/scanner - that means hunting for the CD etc (!!), but I'm going to have to bite the bullet, blast it as the HP Photosmart is showing up under Scanners and Cameras in the Control Panel but doesn't have any Properties. As a printer it is AOK and functioning as it should. The ping to 192.168.1.72 works fine, and that's the number that comes up on the Technical Setup page on the printer screen.

I actually got the route for setting the IP address for the printer wrong - I did it through Printer properties. I was my hunting around in the BT HomeHub advanced area that I was seeing the IP addresses etc.

Thanks Rob

[Jeff Gaines]

Go and look on HP's website, they may well have updated drivers.

[Adrian]

"Jeff Gaines" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Quite. Even with a new device, I'll download the latest-version drivers rather than use the (possibly aged) CD.

[Ron Lowe]

I've probably posted this link before, but it probably applies to this thread:

[Huge]

Buy a Laserjet 5 off eBay for £25 for day to day black and white, send your photos to an on-line processing service (I use Photobox) and don't touch those combo things with a long shitty stick.

[Harry Bloomfield]

Huge presented the following explanation :

They are very complex and not so easy to get parts for these days - can I suggest the HP4000 is the better one to look for these days? Like the LJ5, a reliable workhorse, but superficially less complex, cheap to buy and parts still easily available.

[The Natural Philosopher]

I swear by the HP LJ 6MP here for boring cheap black-and-white.

[Huge]

Oh, OK. Good suggestion. My LJ5 is still bashing away, so I haven't looked into replacing it.

[Steve Firth]

The LJ 4MP+ that I bought in 1992 is still soldiering on. The only PITA is that it doesn't do duplex. I have a duplex unit but they are fragile, useless devices so I removed it. The other workhorse printer that does really well for me is the Xerox Phaser. Photographic quality colour on plain paper, duplex, built like a brick outhouse.

[Bob Eager]

Same here, with 2 * LJ4M+. But I have plenty of spares, and it isn't that complex.

[Tim..]

LJ 2300 is also recomended. I have 3 about the place, one with a duplex unit that just stopped working for some annoying reason, and they just keep going also.

When it dies, i'll just buy another!

Tim.

[Bob Eager]

I have 6 or 7 spare LJ4+ machines...! Plus boxes of spares...

(the last two cost me £7 the pair on eBay, plus a 20 minute journey up the road).

[Ron Lowe]

2* LJ4050N on the network here at Lowe Towers, both rescued from skip at work. Cheap kit of rollers, and new toner carts ( also from work, where they were now obsolete and destined for the bin ) and they are 100%.

Also 1* Dell 5100cn network colour laser with duplexer. Bit of a monster, TBH. Just put in a set of after-market toners. We'll see how that goes.

Brother bought some HP colour laser with duplexer recently, it was very reasonably priced. Did IPv6 also, so extra kudos.

None of these do photo quality like be old Epson, but I will never go back to inkjet. I'd rather out-source my photo prints.

[Huge]

I have a LJ4 also. Have to have a seperate printer because of the scabby VPN software I am obliged to use. Another damn good printer, though.

That's on the list, since you keep recommending them.