Photosmart C6180 on mac osx 5.5

[larryjay]

 I have had various problems with this all-in-one product and scanning.  These problems did not exist before my switch to the Mac. I believe it has to do with the version of software that is being used. The last update put out by Apple caused my scanner to be unrecognized. The the printer driver prior to that was a good one as it worked.

My question is, is there an area on this website where older versions of drivers are available? I have downloaded the latest version selected by the website for my printer and scanner problem is the major result. I am currently using software version 2.3.3. There must be one available that preceded it. Can anyone show me the way.

Thank you,

Larry Jay 

[LRM]

I am having problems scanning with my MacBook running 10.5.6 with an HP 6180. I called HP and they had me uninstall and reinstall the software b/c I got an error message saying that the scanner couldn't be initialized b/c of a communications error. After re-installing the software the scanning worked--for a while. Then I got the same error message and had to re-install the software all over again. I have three Macs, all running 10.5.6 on my network. Only the MacBook has this problem. I'm thinking something is corrupting the preferences for the scanning software, but I have no idea what. If I try simply to print, everything works fine.

 Help?

LRM 

[colorado10]

I have been having trouble with my HP Photosmart C6180 ever since I upgraded to OS10.5.6 on my Mac Book Pro. I would get error messages for the scanner, then printer and would have to reinstall every time I turned the computer off. Yesterday when I tried to reinstall from the link posted on the website as the update for OS 10.5 it would not let me complete the set up process. This was after uninstalling and reinstalling just the new software. At the very end of the set up assistant an error message comes up saying "if your device is not listed, it is not supported by this installer". I called HP and they told me that the C6180 does not work with 10.5.6.  Help?

[momosims]

i'm having the exact same problems. any solutions out there?

[rlaylin]

I am having the same Scanning problem with Mac OS 10.5.7. "failed to initialize scanner, problem communicating". I cannot get this to work either from the 6180 console or with the Mac OS desktop software.  This is super frustrating.  I see no responses anywhere and if you search the internet this is a wide problem. If anyone has solution pointers, I would really appreciate it.  Thanks, Robin

[jallanb]

This message might be helpful to folks having scanner problems.  I have a 6380 Photosmart and two networks in my home/office.

The 6380 is set up on one of my networks with a fixed IP address of 192.168.1.101 using ethernet (I'm not using wireless, but that should not matter).

Most of my computers are on my other network--192.168.2.x.  Computers on both networks could print with no problems, but computers

on my 192.168.2.x network could not communicate with the Scanner using the HPScanPro program.  The embeded web server worked fine for

scanning from both networks, but it has limite utility compared with HPScanPro.

A call to HP Mac support explained part of the problem:  Scanning requires 2-way communication with the 6380; printing does not.

The support person asked that if I solved my problem, would I please post it here.  So, to wit:

The problem was with my wireless/ethernet router--a LinkSys WRT54GS (v7).  The trick was to make sure the router was configured as

a Router (NOT a Gateway) and I enabled RIP protocol on both router interfaces.

The result of the above action was additional entries in the router tables (which included, for some strange reason, the route through my main router

to my external (ISP/internet) address.

So...if your scanner will work through the printer's embedded webserver, your next stop is your router (and possibly, the Mac software firewall).

Hope this is helpful to someone...

[larryjay]

Thank you for the latest reply. One of my problems, that I inadvertently discovered with my PhotoSmart C6180 was this: I noticed that there were times when options available and times when the same options were. I discovered the difference was how the USB was connected. I used the USB as it is connected with one printer that is within distance. It is plugged into a Belkin USB station. I simply now make certain that I use the same court.

One other issue that has developed since that discovery is that if the computer is restarted or if there is a momentary power glitch the printer will not connect. I thought this to be strange however, easily solvable. Slip the USB plug out wait 2 seconds and slipped it back in. Works every time.There are still other issues with the size of items scanned to Mac mail.

Hopefully, there is relief on the horizon. I have ordered HP's Photosmart Premium all-in-one machine. According to the reviews and comments on the Apple site it works well with networks set up through airport on the Mac. Plus it will print directly to CDs. That will come in handy. Hopefully, and my fingers are crossed, I won't need this forum in the future.

Larry Jay 

[chrisheuer]

on mac os 10.6.2 i am having trouble maintaining any wireless connection - i am using a time machine as a router and can not connect wirelessly with either my imac or macbookpro - can connect and print with the usb

the system is setup on the network properly and bonjour printer sharing is on

what else might prevent it from connecting wirelessly to the printer if they are on the same network?