Can I use my DSL modem/router to make my LaserJet 4 Plus a home network printer?

[Carandini]

My LaserJet 4 Plus has been connected to my old XP computer with a parallel port (?) cable.  Can I make this printer available to my Windows 7 and Windows 10 computers by using the ethernet cable port to connect it to my DSL modem/router?  I tried making the connection, but the other computers do not "see" it.  This printer had been used as a network printer in an office environment.  I see an IP address when I print a Self Test page, but I am unable to ping this address from my Windows 10 computer when I have the printer connected to my modem/router.  What else should I be doing to make this printer visible?  Is there a way to verify that the IP address on the Self Test page is still relevant to the printer?  Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

[sabretooth04]

If that printer was in a business I bet it has a static IP not close to what you need.  Somehow you need to reset the printer back to Network Defaults.     The printer should default to DHCP for now.

Now you should be able to connect it to your router.  Find the HP web page or it and download the User guide and read it to try to install it now.

[Carandini]

Thank you very much for your quick reply!  I tried several times to perform a "cold reset", but each time the Self Test page still shows the same IP address and subnet mask.  The service manual says that the cold reset does not take effect until the "00 Ready" message is displayed.  I see the sequence, "cold reset", "warming up", "cold reset" and "00 Offline" on the display when I perform a cold reset.  It doesn't actually go to "00 Ready" even when I wait for 5-10 minutes.  Does it sound like I am doing something wrong?

I have been able to locate a service manual, but so far no users manual.  The HP Support Center shows me white papers, but no manuals of any kind for this printer.

[sabretooth04]

I could only find the same manual.  Can you change the IP address in the display manually to something else and save it???

[Carandini]

I found a useful sounding network printing tutorial at printertechs.com.  It suggested using HP Install Network Printer Wizard to change the IP address, but it looks like that is also no longer available. Alternatively, it specifically instructs for LJ 4-Plus to press the menu button repeatedly until the MIO Menu appears in the display.  When I cycle through, I see Serial Menu, Parallel Menu, PCL Menu, Test Menu, MEM Config Menu, among others, but no MIO Menu.  It almost makes me think that the printer thinks it doesn't have a JetDirect Card.  However, the MIO information shows in the Self Test page.  For example: "Defaul Remote Printer Name: NJA03E787_1 Port 1  NJAOE737_2 Serial Port 2" (does this offer any useful hints?).  What could I be missing or doing wrong?  I'm especially puzzled why my attempts at doing a cold reset aren't having any effect.

[sabretooth04]

Sorry I don't have that printer.   Suggest you call HP directly.

[davidzuts]

What is the model number of the MIO card installed in the printer. Since the printer is very old they had both ethernet which you need or token ring MIO cards which will not work. Also I would remove the MIO card with the power off and turn on the printer and when it comes to ready, print the same information page and see if there is any difference it what you see.

[Carandini]

Thank you very much for considering my problem.

I took the NetJet card out and examined it carefully, but was not able to figure out the model number.  Where might I find it or what might it look like?  It says "Emulex" on the outside and on one of the chips, and has a copywrite date of 1994.

I printed the self test page without the card, and it looks identical, except that the big box with all the MIO statistics is missing.  The MIO box returned when I re-installed the card.

I guess I don't know what ethernet means.  I thought that, since the network cables that I use to connect to my modem/router fit into the "UTP" connection of the NetJet card, that they would be compatible.  I think that the last time the printer was connected to a network in an office environment was 2009.  The MIO information box gives an "Ether address".  Is that of any help?

Do you have any thoughts as to why no MIO menu is displayed when I cycle through the menu items?  Or why cold resets don't seem to be changing the IP address back to an HP default?

Thanks again for considering my post.

[davidzuts]

You network card was made by another company and came with software to set it up. From my research you will not get a MIO menu since that menu only appears when using a HP MIO network card. I suggest you look on ebay for an HP MIO network card like the J2552B or similar as they are very cheap and will work with your printer. See the links below:

http://www.fixyourownprinter.com/posts/33988

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p3984.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.XJ2552B.TRS0&_nkw=J255...

[Carandini · Accepted solution]

Thanks very much for clearing up the mystery as to why the cold reset wasn't changing the IP address and why I have not been able to see the MIO menu!  Thanks also for the suggestion to replace the card with an HP card from ebay.