Wi-Fi Direct Stopped Working

[IPreferBrother]

Greetings,

Recently I tried using my HP OfficeJet Pro 7740, which is something I seldom do. I tried connecting to it using Wi-Fi Direct (which is the only way I have EVER used the thing) and using the same/only computer I have EVER use with it (Win7 x64 Pro). (The computer is used for little else.) No joy was had; I was unable to connect my computer to the all-in-one via Wi-Fi Direct. Perhaps someone can suggest something?

More details:

Per the LCD display on the printer, my computer was unable to connect to it at all: the display on the printer continuously reported zero (0) Wi-Fi Direct connections. This was confirmed by a message that appeared on my computer, which was as follows:

“"Windows was unable to connect to DIRECT-42-HP OfficeJet Pro 7740”

Time passes ...

There seemed to have been a problem with my computer’s “Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface” driver. What could have happened to it, or why it did, I know not. It was reporting an error code of ten (10) in “Device Manager.” After following (some of) the advice at WinTips (see “Teredo Tunneling device cannot start – Code 10”), I set the Registry key “DisabledComponents” at
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\TCPIP6\Parameters
to zero (0) and restarted my computer. All seemed peachy-keen with the Teredo driver. Regrettably, however, my computer was still not able to communicate with the all-in-one successfully.

Whereas the printer would previously report no Wi-Fi Direct connections to it at all, an attempt to connect to it with the computer now causes the printer to report one Wi-Fi Direct connection (my computer) for a short while before it goes back to reporting zero connections again. Similarly, my computer reports a network connection failure again.

Additional Info:

When I installed the printer driver ever so long ago, I installed a special version I think was intended for corporate use. I also have never updated the driver nor have I ever installed any other HP “Apps” anywhere, nor have I ever let the printer surf the Internet. I have no trust at all in the entity that now bears the names of the long dead Misters Hewlett and Packard, and I would like to minimize the amount of HP software I install.

If you have made it this far, I admire your determination! Thanks!

[haythamkha]

Hi,

Since the printer briefly shows one Wi-Fi Direct connection and then disconnects, I would first check whether the Wi-Fi Direct link itself is stable before focusing on the printer driver.

Please try these steps:

1. On the printer screen, make sure Wi-Fi Direct is turned ON and check the Wi-Fi Direct name/password.
2. Print the Network Configuration Page / Wireless Test Report to confirm the correct Wi-Fi Direct details.
3. On the Windows 7 PC, forget/remove the old DIRECT-xx-HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 connection, restart the PC, then connect again using the password shown by the printer.
4. After connecting, open this address in a browser:
   http://10.10.4.120

If the page opens, the Wi-Fi Direct connection is working and the issue is likely with the old printer driver/queue. In that case, remove the old printer from Devices and Printers and reinstall the basic HP driver only.

HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 drivers:
https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-officejet-pro-7740-wide-format-all-in-one-printe...

HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 User Guide:
https://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c05216524.pdf

Also, temporarily disable any third-party firewall/security software just for testing, as it may block the Wi-Fi Direct connection.

If it still drops, reset the printer network settings and set up Wi-Fi Direct again from scratch.