Our printer mysteriously stopped printing color. What can I look for? Already did online help.

[TJS15]

Our printer mysteriously stopped printing color. What can I look for? Already did online help.

[Dragon-Fur]

@TJS15 

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Welcome to the HP Community.

Reminder to those reading:

Do NOT respond to individuals who post phone numbers or email addresses.

These might be scammers trying to steal your information / money.

HP does not post phone numbers or email in Community messages.

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Dell Optiplex 908 is a Dell Desktop computer.

If the printer is an HP printer...

It is better to know the exact model name / product number of the printer.

Finding your Product Name, Product Number, or Serial Number

Reminder:  Never post the serial number or any private information in the Community – we are a public resource.

How is your mystery printer connected?

USB?  Ethernet?  Wireless?

"Online help" could be a number of things.

What have you already tried to fix the problem on your own?

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

The Community is a separate wing of the HP website - We are not a business group of HP..

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You.

Question Resolved / Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"

[TJS15]

Pirinter is a HP OfficeJet Pro 6960

It is connected to my wireless network

[Dragon-Fur]

@TJS15 

OK.

What have you already tried?

Else,

If you have not done so,

Try / Consider

Offline Doctor V5.0.7

  http://ftp.hp.com/pub/printers/hppsdr/patches/HPPSdr.exe

• Download and Save the doctor to your computer
• Open File Explorer > Navigate to the folder in which you saved the file (likely Downloads)
• Execute the doctor – Answer any prompts /  let the process complete
• Restart the computer, log in, and wait for the final steps in the Doctor to finish.
• Check for any difference.

Original Notes – Contributed by ShlomiL

Paraphrased

Connection Issues

• Print and Scan Doctor Version 5.0.7 creates a secondary queue for printing with TCP/IP port.

After the Offline Doctor completes…

Verify / Adjust the “Default” printing device (Default Printer)

Settings > Devices > Printers and scanners

UNCHECK (clear box) Let Windows manage my default printer

Select (Left-Click) your printer from the list of printers > Manage > Set as Default

OR

Open Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers > Right-Click on printer > Set printer as Default

NOTES – Selecting Default Printer 

1. Do not select the printer marked as “Scan Only / DO NOT DELETE”
2. Do not select the printer marked as “Fax”

Example Default Printer:  Set “Default” Printer = HP OfficeJet Pro 9020 series PCL-3 (Net)

Reference:  HP Printers - Printer is Offline (Windows) > Step 2: Manually set the default printer

and

Method - Create TCP IP port

Find printer's IP /  IPv4 address

Print a Configuration Page

OR

Tap on the wireless icon on Printer Control / Display Panel

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers

 Right-Click on the printer > Left-Click Printer Properties

 Select Tab Ports  > Add Port

 Select Standard TCP/IP Port > New Port and follow the wizard.
 Use / Enter IP address for the printer.

Example - How-to “Create TCP Port” Contributed by greenturtle

Video:  Create & Use TCP IP port
“Note that you can ALWAYS revert back to the original port that the HP software installed by selecting the HP port within the Ports tab (in Printer Properties)”

What else?

Consider - If you have not done so, Update the Firmware

December 2020 - Critical Update

HP Officejet 6950/6960/Pro 6960/Pro 6970 All-in-One Printer series Firmware Update 

Printer  Home Page - References and Resources – Learn about your Printer  - Solve Problems

 “Things that are your printer”

NOTE:  Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories:  Alerts, Access to the Print and Scan Doctor (Windows), Warranty Check, HP Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, Lots of How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, Manuals > User Guides, Product Information (Specifications), more

When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

HP OfficeJet Pro 6960 All-in-One Printer series 

Thank you for participating in the HP Community.

The Community is a separate wing of the HP website - We are not a business group of HP..

Our Community is comprised of volunteers - people who own and use HP devices.

Click Thumbs Up to say Thank You.

Question Resolved / Answered, Click "Accept as Solution"