C4780 Wireless Issues with Windows 7

[crazyyakoo]

Hello,

I've been having some problems keeping my HP C4780 connected to my HPDV8t laptop (running Windows 7).  I installed the printer correctly for wireless and currently have three computers wirelessly connected to it (my HP laptop, a Macbook Pro, and an iMac).  I've never had any issues printing wirelessly with wither of the Macs.

On the HP, I was printing fine for the first 3-4 days.  I see the printer available in all applications, however, it doesn't appear under the device manager (printer and faxes).  The only thing that appears is the "My PC" Icon, which prompts me to troubleshoot with the yellow exclamation mark.

When I troubleshoot, it tells me that it cannot find the driver to the printer, and goes into an endless troubleshooting loop trying to "fix" the printer (it won't find it even if I have the original HP installation CD in the drive).  When I press cancel, I can no longer print to the printer from any application.  I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling the software twice.  Each time, the printer works for a few days, then prompts troubleshooting and then loses the printer. (again, I know the printer is established on the network since the Macs can still find it)

Please advise.  Thanks much in advance.

[Wi-Fi-Guy]

My guess is that the printer is changing it's iP address and the SW on your computers are having a difficult time keeping track of the change.

It's not unusual (or wrong) for the printer to be given different IP addresses from your wireless-router.  Since the wireless-rotuer "leases" IP addresses to devices on the network, if the lease expires when the printer is off, the wireless-router may assign the printer's old IP address to another device.

For your issue, lets try to fix the IP address assigned to your printer.  There are two methods to try.  The first  print our the C4780 Network Configuration Page and note the printer's IP address.

1) If your wireless-router supports it, make a DHCP reservation for your printer.  Depending on your wireless-router (btw -- what kind do you have), this may be easy to do and is the recommended option here.

2) Alternatively, you can make the existing IP address assigned to your printer "static".  On the C4780, the easiest way to do this is to open the printer's internal web page by browsing to the C4780's IP address.  From the web page, select Networking then Wireless (802.11) then IPv4 Configuration.

Select Manual IP and enter the printer's current IP address in the field plus an offset of plus or minus 20.  For example, if the current printer IP address is 192.168.x.100 or lower, then use 192.168.x.120.  If the printer's IP address is 192.168.x.200 or higher, then use 192.168.x.180.

For the subnet mask, enter 255.255.255.0.  Leave the default gateway IP address empty.

Select Manual DNS Server and leave those entries empty as well.

Now reinstall the SW (hopefully for the last time).

[crazyyakoo]

Hey Jim - thanks so much for the quick response.

My router is a standard issue Verizon Fios router (Actiontec MI424-WR Rev.D)

let me know if I should proceed with step one or skip right to two.

If I make the IP address static, will I have to reinstall software on the Macs that are working as well?

Thanks again

[Wi-Fi-Guy]

I don't know your router that well.  At this site, I found several user manuals for the Fios Actiontec wireless-router.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find a revision D.

Lets do a modified step #2 to prevent having to reinstall the Mac SW:

2) Make the existing IP address assigned to your printer "static".  On the C4780, the easiest way to do this is to open the printer's internal web page by browsing to the C4780's IP address.  From the web page, select Networking then Wireless (802.11) then IPv4 Configuration.

• Select Manual IP and enter the printer's current IP address.
• For the subnet mask, enter 255.255.255.0.  Leave the default gateway IP address empty.
• Select Manual DNS Server and leave those entries empty as well.

Now reinstall the SW (hopefully for the last time).

[crazyyakoo]

Great!  That seems to be working fine.
I'll give it a few days to make sure the network doesn't lose it again, but hopefully we're in the clear.

Thanks again!