PhotoSmart D110a Wi-Fi no longer working after move

[kabes137]

I have a PhotoSmart D110a that I connect to via Wi-Fi (WPA security).  I've had the printer for several months. When I originally got it, it set up and it connected like a dream, and worked without a hitch since day 1.

This past weekend I moved into a new house, and once I had my network up and running again, the printer no longer works. I am using the same wireless router (Linksys E-series), with the same SSID and WPA password, and the same computers in the same configuration as previously worked in the old house. Needless to say, the computers can connect to the Internet through the wireless router just fine, and they are sitting right next to the printer (so there should be no signal strength issue).

What happens is this.  The printer claims that it is properly connected to my network, but neither computer on the network can find the printer. I have used the printer's wireless networking setup utility to re-join the network (it seems to find the correct network, no problem), and re-enter the password through the printer's keyboard utility, as well as using the WPS method (i.e. "pushing the buttons") to re-connect the printer to the network. Every time, the printer says that it has connected just fine, and is able to print out a network status page. The IP address listed is in the 194.168.x.x range.

But every time, neither my computer nor my wife's laptop (both 64-bit Windows 7 machines) can detect the printer on the network. I have tried adding a new printer via the native Windows program, as well as uninstalling and reinstalling HP's software, to no avail. I have also tried inputting the IP address the printer claims into the computers manually, but the computers still cannot find the printer.

I would be grateful for any and all assistance. It's quite frustrating - for all the printer's concerned, it's working just fine, but it's not, and literally nothing has changed except the physical location of the equipment (same ISP, same cable modem, same wireless router, same computers, same printer). Thanks in advance.

[PrintDoc]

It sounds like the printer is indeed connected to the router.  Test it by typing the printer IP address into the address bar of a web browser.  Can you see the printer settings?

Do you have a 3rd party firewall on the PCs?  Try disabling the firewall and try again.

If all that fails, delete all instances of the printer in Control Panel, then re-add in this manner;

1. Make sure the printer is turned on and connected to your network. Verify that you can access the printer's internal web page by browsing to its IP address before continuing. Get its IP from a Network Test printed from the front panel of the printer.
2. Click >> Start >> Control panel >> Devices & Printers.
3. Click the Add a printer
4. Select Local printer
5. Select Create a new port and select Standard TCP/IP Port and click Next button.
6. Under Device type, select TCP/IP Device. Under Hostname or IP address, enter the printer's IP address. Click Next.
7. Select Hewlett-Packard from the list of manufacturers and select and select your printer model. Click Next.
If your printer model was not listed, then select Have Disk, browse the HP CD that came with your printer and select the first file that starts with hp and ends with inf. Click Open then OK. Select your printer model. Click Next.
8. If you are asked, use the currently installed driver.
9. It will ask for the Printer name -- enter a new name or use the existing one. This will be the name of the printer that you select from other applications.
10. You may be asked to share the printer. Choose NO.
11. The Print Test Page box appears. Go ahead and print it.
12. Click Finish.

[kabes137]

Thanks for the quick response.

The only firewall software I'm running is Microsoft Security Essentials (which I was also running in the old house with no problem), but I'll turn it off and try the setup again. 

While I did try to enter the printer's claimed IP address into the printer setup dialog (for a networked printer, not a local printer/new port as you suggest), I did not try to simply type it into a web browser.

I will give your solution a shot when I get home tonight and report back. Thanks.

[kabes137]

Didn't work, I'm sorry to say.  Typing the printer's purported IP address into a browser doesn't bring up anything on either of my computers, and running through the steps you outline fails, because the computer can't contact the printer via the IP address.  The printer still claims to be properly connected to the network.  I am open to any other suggestions.

Thanks again.

[kabes137]

One more wrinkle.  I tried to send a print job to the printer via the HP ePrint functionality (i.e. the printer's email address) and it printed just fine.  So the printer is genuinely connected, it just won't talk to my computers.  I also tried deactivating my Windows Firewall, and the computer still can't find the printer.

Thanks.

[PrintDoc · Accepted solution]

OK, well, are you sure that the printer and the computers are on the same network?  Probably are, but stranger things have happened.

Have you restarted the router and verified that its firmware is updated?

[kabes137]

And the kewpie doll goes to:  restart the router! Wow, that should have been first on my list, but everything else regarding the router was working, so I just assumed...

All is well now.  Thanks very much.