HP Colour LaserJet Pro MFP 280nw suddenly stopped working as a printer

[KateK1]

I've had my printer for 6 months, and been using it perfectly over my wifi network. Last week, it suddenly stopped printing. The error message says that "the printer is not installed correctly" (I can get full details of the error message tomorrow if needs be).

I thought it was my laptop, so I tried installing the printer on a different laptop, also windows 10, but the printer is not visible as a wifi printer to install. I can find it via WiFi direct, and install it. I can even print a test page from the installed wifi direct printer on the laptop, but I still get the same error message when I try to print a PDF or other document to the WiFi direct version of the printer. The WiFi setup test page is all perfect, and no errors are shown. I re-joined the printer to the wireless network, re-entering the passcode for the WiFi etc, but still it is not working.

I also tried plugging in a USB printer cable, but still the printer is not visible on the laptop to install the driver. I did notice that when the USB cable is plugged in, my laptop sees the printer as a USB storage drive. Has something broken on the printer perhaps?

I can still photocopy, so it's not the toners or paper feed etc. 

Any ideas?

The printer hasn't moved, the wifi network hasn't changed, nothing has been changed at all - it just suddenly stopped working.

Thanks for looking!

Kate

[KateK1]

... 

[Raj1788 · Accepted solution]

@KateK1

Use HP Print and Scan Doctor to check connectivity

Download a special version of HP Print and Scan Doctor.

1. Download HP Print and Scan Doctor.

2. Run HPPSdr.exe from the download location on your computer.

3. Once HP Print and Scan Doctor opens, click Start, and then select your printer.

   • If your printer is not in the list, turn it off and on and then click Retry.

   • If there is a connection problem, follow the instructions in HP Print and Scan Doctor.

4. If a screen prompts you to turn on printer updates, click Yes.

5. If a screen prompts you to make your printer the default printer, click Yes.

If the issue persists, Delete the driver at the root level and Install the drivers, follow the steps below:

Remove the USB if connected

1.) In Windows, search for and open Programs and features 

2.) Select your HP Printer 

3.) Select Uninstall 

4.) In Windows, search for and open Devices and printers 

5.) In the Devices and Printers windows look for your HP printer. If you see it listed right-click on it and choose `Delete' or `Remove Device' 

6.) Open up the run command with the "Windows key + R" key combo. 

7.) Type printui.exe /s and click Ok. (Note: there is a space in between "printui.exe" and "/s") 

8.) Click on the "Drivers" tab 

9.) Look for HP Printer driver. If you see it Click on it and click Remove at the bottom 

10.) Select Ok

11.) Select Apply and Ok on the Print Server Properties windows

12.) Close Devices and Printers 

Then, Click on this link: https://support.hp.com/in-en/drivers/selfservice/swdetails/hp-color-laserjet-pro-m280-m281-multifunc... to download and install the Full Feature Software and Drivers.

Keep me posted, how it goes!

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Have a great day!

Cheers:)