LaserJet 5000 N Mac

[JohnFrostell]

This printer has has always been on my small office network, but suddenly, and with no apparent change to the set-up, is not printing. 

The following message is appearing after I send to print: 

The printer may not exist or is unavailable at this time 

I deleted the printer from the list in System Preferences, but it then was not available from the list of possibles to add back in. 

Any tips? 

Cheers 

[SHThompson]

If this is a network-attached printer the jetdirect card may have failed.

I would start by printing the configuration pages using your printer panel menus and see if you get two pages out.

Then I would look at the jet direct page and see what status it was showing for the network connection.

[JohnFrostell]

Thanks, SHT. 

I printed a page from the 'Configuration' menu – so that's all fine. 

Looked at the 'Jet DIrect' page and the top screen said: EIO 1.

Then when I clicked the Item buton the display read: CFG Network=No*. 

I suspect this is not right. Is there anything you can recommend? 

[SHThompson]

Configure Network No is where it usually is, you change it to yes if you need to set up the network configuration.

When you printed the configuration page you should have gotten a second page that was the jet direct page and I'm interested in what it says on that page.

If the jet direct is working then somewhere towards the upper left it should say IO Card ready.

[JohnFrostell]

Just printed that – and that line says: I/O CARD READY

EDIT: 

Guess I should point out – the printer is connected to my newtork via a router, and the port it uses is flashing orange. I have tried another cable – no difference. Maybe I should test bypass the router and connect direct to a hub to see if the issue is separate to the printer?

[SHThompson · Accepted solution]

Actually the next thing to do is look at the IP address assigned to the printer and see if it is a manual or DHCP address.

Then you want to look at the IP address of your PC and make sure that something hasn't happened to reset the jetdirect to where it has an incompatible IP address right now.

The first three numbers of the IP addresses for the PC in the printer should be the same, that is the numbers separated by dots

[JohnFrostell]

Thanks ... 

And searching for the printer via its IP address, as you suggested,  brought it back online and operational! 

There's life in the 17 year-old printer yet! 

[SHThompson]

Good job!

I've got two or three of that model in my basement along with a duplexer and some extra trays.