HP Photosmart C4780 Frozen

[ericvdv]

I recently purchased a new IMac, running on 10.6.3, and with it came a free printer. After trying to instal this printer, something went wrong and it has now been frozen for the past three days. On the touch screen, it shows the hp logo with a moving blue horizontal bar at the bottom. But nothing happens. It is also impossible to shut off the printer with the power button, I have to disconnect the power manually. It is getting very frustrating. Any help will be greatly appreciated. The printer is the HP Photosmart C4780. I am able to run the printer test HP Utility so I know it works. Is there any way to reset the whole printer to its manufacturing state? Thank you in advance.

[PrintDoc]

Yeah, there is a firmware bug in some of these units.  You can try to exchange it for another one in hopes that it is somehow different, but....

Another thing that has worked for some people (but not all) is to change the length of your network name (SSID).  If it is now 6 characters (is it?) then choose one that is 10 or 12 characters.  Of course, all of the devices on your network will have to re-login because of this change.

[ericvdv]

Ok, how do I change the length of the newtwork name? and do you think it will help with the frozen printer?

[NeilNilav]

You have to go to the EWS ( Embeded Web Server ) page of the router and change it.

However you can also try to change the "encryption" key from WPA - TKIP to WPA- AES or WEP type encryption.

Would ask you to do so with the help of the router company that you are using if you are getting confused as it is very sensitive.

                           Say "Thanks" by clicking the Kudos Star in the post that helped you.

[PrintDoc]

Your router should have come with a CD.  Put the CD in your computer and follow the directions.  This tends to be the easiest way to do it and the way with least risk of messing up something.

[usafdrew]

The only thing that worked for me was to change my router SSID to 13 chars like the printer comes with default.  Anything less and it will lock up.

[trying_this_one]

This worked for me as well.  It would have been nice to know this prior to locking up the first two printers....

[Miles]

Hello everyone,

I'm happy to announce that a FW update has been delivered and is available for download on the Photosmart C4700 series SW & Driver download page! You can get there by following this link. (windows only at this time, Mac will follow shortly.)

I've installed the update on 2 different printers and I've been able to recover them both. I had to run the update a few times on the 2nd printer, but it eventually took. So, stick with it and let me know how it goes.

These instructions can also found on the SW & Driver download page...

Important: this solution only applies to units with Serial Number # CN018xxxxx or later.

Installation Instructions

Before downloading the Firmware update, please verify that you have a working software installation of the device.

Please Note: If your printer is installed using a wireless network and the printer is currently not responding with the HP Logo displayed on the front panel, please connect your printer to the computer using a USB cable before proceeding.

Installation steps
1. Download the firmware update to an appropriate location on your system.
2. Double click on the downloaded file to start the extraction and installation.
3. In Windows Vista or Windows 7, you will be prompted to enter Administrator credentials if your login privileges do not have administrator rights. If you are an administrator, you will be prompted for permission to continue with the installation. Please select to continue the installation.
4. Follow on-screen instructions to perform the installation. If you see the following screen at the end of the installation, your firmware update is complete. Press the "OK" button to finish the update.

Please Note: The update should take less than 5 minutes to complete. On rare occasions, this update process may freeze for long periods displaying the screen shown below.

If the update process appears to be frozen displaying the screen shown above for more than 5 minutes, proceed to step 6 shown below.

6. Turn off your printer by disconnecting the printer from the A/C power outlet.
7. Reconnect your printer back to the A/C power outlet.
8. Your printer will restart. After restart, the firmware update will be complete.

You may also see one of the following 3 screens during this update process on rare occasions. If you see any one of the screens below, please follow the additional steps shown at the e

9. When any screen showing a "Try Again" button is displayed, press the "Cancel" button on the screen, if this button is enabled. If the "Cancel" button is not enabled, proceed to step 10 below.
10. Turn off your printer by disconnecting the printer from the A/C power outlet.
11. Reconnect your printer back to the A/C power outlet.
12. Your printer will restart. After restart, the firmware update will be complete.

[m_k]

I followed these instructions and it solved the problem.  Very well documented solution.  HP avoided one "Printer Return"!

[KarenKernan]

What can I do? his solution only applies to units with Serial Number # CN018xxxxx or later? My printer is earlier...