Officejet 7500A Wide Format printer connects intermittently to computer through wireless network

[JKon]

I have a recently purchased Officejet 7500A printer that I would like to use wirelessly.  I have an Apple wireless router and am running Windows 7 on my computer.  The printer and computers individually connect to the network and there are no issues with the router.  The issue is with the connection between the computer and printer.  I can print things from my computer by emailing the file to the printer, but only sometimes does it work through directly printing from the software.  I have tried to scan from my computer and from the printer, but get the same error message from both that there is no communication between the printer and computer.  I suspect it is a firewall issue, but am not sure how to modify the settings to allow this communication to occur.  I have the windows firewall and have Advanced System Protector software, but have disabled the windows shield in that software.  Help?

[PrintDoc · Accepted solution]

First, download and run this utility:http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?cc=us&lc=en&jumpid=ex_r4155/hho/ipg/ccdoc/p...

What does it say?

Just to be clear, the 7500A is connected to the Airport via wireless, correct (not USB)?

If so, let's set a static IP address and external DNS for the printer:

- Print a Network Config Page from the front of the printer. Note the printer's IP address.
- Type that IP address into a browser to reveal the printer's internal settings.
- Choose the Networking tab, then Wireless along the left side, then the IPv4 tab.
- On this screen you want to set a Manual IP. You need to set an IP address outside the range that the router automatically sets (called the DHCP range). Yours is 10.0.1.2 to .200.  Let's use 10.0.1.220 for your printer.
- Use 255.255.255.0 for the subnet (unless you know it is different, if so, use that)
- Enter your router's IP (on the Network Config Page) for the gateway.
- Enter 8.8.8.8 for the first DNS and 8.8.4.4 for the second DNS. This is Google DNS. You can choose another external DNS if you wish.
- Click 'Apply'.

Now, shut down the router and printer, start the router, wait, then start the printer.

[JKon]

I have tried running the Print and Scan Utility Doctor a few times.  Every time it recognizes the printer on the network, but says that I need to run the wireless setup procedure.  I then run the HP printer setup and software to setup the wireless, input the IP address that shows on the printer, and get the message that it is unable to find the printer.

I tried inputing the IP address into my browser as you suggested, but get this message:

Sorry. This IP address could not be resolved to its location. Please try another IP address.

[PrintDoc]

Try disabling your entire antivirus system as an experiment to nail down the cause, here.  I am most suspicious of it.

[JKon]

I uninstalled Advanced System.  The Trend MicroOffice Scan doesn't appears to only be a virus scan.  I have turned this off, but I'm not sure if this disables it.  I then tried inputting the IP address into my browser again and got the same message.

[PrintDoc]

So do you have multiple anti-virus systems installed on your PC (even if they are not all active)?  If so, this can certainly lead to bizarre behavior.

I would pick one system, uninstall others using their own unistallers (restarting the PC after every uninstall).

With the one you chose to have  on your system, make sure it is updated to the latest rev.

[JKon]

Okay, restarted my computer, and tried the manual IP setting as suggested in your original email.  That worked.  Thanks!

[JKon]

Correction, that did not work.  Apparently that was one of those odd times when I do get connectivity to the printer.  Since then, I have gotten the same "Cannot communicate with the printer" message.  Any other ideas?

[PrintDoc]

Run the Print and Scan Doctor utility again now that you have made some changes to your PC.  What does it say?

[JKon]

It "sees" my printer, but at the old IP address (10.0.1.5).  Then it says that I need to run wireless setup again.  I tried updating the IP address to the manual one (10.0.1.220), but I get an error saying it cannot detect the printer.