Printer stuck "initializing"

[Caveman3]

Recently, printer would freeze after a few hours in standby, and would only respond after a power off /on cycle.  Last week, the printer would reboot and initialize but the keys were inoperative and HP Smart indicated that the printer was offline.

Here is what I have tried.

• Multiple power off/ on cycles with mixed results.  Sometimes the printer would start and complete diagnostics, say it was ready, but was offline, and keys were unresponsive.  Sometimes it would start working.
• Unplugged and reinserted all five ribbon cables on the formatter per the Service manual. No change.
• Utilizing HP diagnostics and multiple restarts, got the printer to work and updated firmware, uninstalled printer software on computer and reinstalled via HP Smart.  Was able to get Config report confirming new firmware, and Network summary.

Printer worked fine for a couple of hours. Then it went back into a coma.

• This morning, printer display showed ready with no errors, but was offline.  Keys unresponsive.  Power off / on - system stuck in "initializing"
• Power off / on again - system stuck at 4 bars on display.

I am guessing that I have a bad PCboard.  Just don't know which one to replace.

HELP!!!!!!!

[jabzi]

Hello,

Kindly try the below steps..

1. Disconnect USB/Network/FAX and power on Standalone unit.

2. Try different power source.

3. Make sure the unit is directly connectedd to the wall outlet.

4.Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the product and check the for any physical damage. If the power cord is damaged, replace it

5. Make sure the product is not exposed to an electric or magnetic field.

6. Perform a NVRAM reset on the unit.

a. Turn the printer off

b. Press and hold down CANCEL             and  > (right arrow button)  at the same time while powering on printer.

c. Continue to hold down buttons until the control panel display reads PERMANENT STORAGE INIT.

d.Release the buttons.  Printer will return to Ready automatically.

for more info refer to the URL : 

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Inkjet-Printing/HP-LaserJet-1536dnf-frozen-on-start-all-lights-on-with...

[Caveman3]

Hello Jabzi

Thanks for the response.

I had already done everything you suggested with a few mods.

1. Before posting, I had done step 6 below twice and also upgraded the firmware to 20140630 (latest on HP site for this unit).  The unit temporarily started working after this step.
2. Since I was stuck at the initializing phase, I disconnected and moved the printer to another room and did not reconnect to the network.  Plugged into another outlet with a different cord, the unit only made it to 4 bars on startup.
3. I unplugged the unit and let it sit for about 30 minutes and plugged it back in.
4. On restart, everything started working and I reconnected to the network.  I printed several documents without problems.
5. I checked the unit 10 minutes later with HP Smart and it was still online.
6. I checked the unit 1 hour later and the unit was offline .  The unit display showed ready, but all keys were inoperative.

This is the condition that has persisted for the last week. Every time I try something new, it lasts for about an hour and then goes into a coma again.

Hope that helps point toward a particular hardware fault.

[jabzi]

Hello, 

Try the below steps. 

While the printer is on unplug the power cord from back of the printer.

Please download and run the HP Print and Scan Doctor from www.hp.com/go/tools

Now power on the printer.

Try printing . 

May I know the wireless router model#

[Caveman3]

I ran the HPPSdr.exe and under step 2 it checked out everything and said tha the recommmended updates were done and to do a test print.  Print failed, and when I checked the printer, the keys were inoperative.  I unplugged and reconnected the power, and the printer initialized and said it was ready, but the keys were still inoperable.  I did this two more times, always with the same result.  Third try with network disconnected yielded success.  Reconnecteed the network, and the spooled test prints came thru.  A few minutes later, the system went offline again.

The printer network connection is hard wired to the network.  The router is a NETGEAR WNDR4300.

One other note:  When restarting from a power disconnect, the keys don't work if the network is connected.  Network connection after initialization allows the printer to function for a few minutes before the system goes offline and the front panel keys stop responding.

Is there any way the network card can be causing the lockups?  The printer appears to be doing it's normal initialization and then locks up at a later date.  I will try leaving the network disconnected to see if it still goes offline after a few minutes.

[jabzi]

Hello,

Please click on the to access the steps that should resolve the issue

[Caveman3]

I don't understand your response.  
"Please click on the to access the steps that should resolve the issue"

[Caveman3]

Since the network connection is suspect, I tried restarting the printer with the network cable disconnected.  The printer started and the control panel keys were responsive for about an hour, but then stopped working.  Apparently, the network is not locking up the system.

[jabzi]

Please download and run the HP Print and Scan Doctor from www.hp.com/go/tools

You may also refer to the below URL.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04249080

[Caveman3]

Jabzi,

You have asked me to use the HP Print and Scan Doctor several times, and I have reported back that I used it and it did not help several times.  I feel like our communications are like the printers actions.

I will report this one more time in hopes that it elicits a different response:  I have run the HP Print and Scan Doctor on this printer and it finds nothing wrong.  Immediately after running it, the printer works fine, with or wihout network connection.  It always loses connectivity within an hour, at which time a power interruption is the only way to bring the printer back.  This sometimes takes 3 - 4 tries to bring the printer on line.  Usually, it goes thru initialization and shows "Ready" on the control panel, but the panel keys don't work.

Also, this unit does not have wireless capability, and the network is connected via a wired connection to the network.

Thank you for your assistance on this problem.  Since this printer has been functioning fine since 2011, and just recently has begun failing, I believe that there is a hardware problem.  Unfortunately, I don't have another machine to do swap outs, and all new PCAs would be more expensive than a new printer.