my printer says it's not connected but it is

[maodebo]

Recently my printer no longer print documents from my PC (portable and not). I've tried on every computer I own but nithing. I've tried installing again the printer. The printer also it's offline but this problem seems to be resolvable thanks to the option on the "see job in queue" window menù. Talking about job in queue my printer leaves them in a limbo state and it can't even remove them from the queue. If somehow I manage to remove them the printer icon lasts on the bottom left of my screen saying "1 document is in queue" and if I check the queue is empty. Disconnecting my computer profile or restarting seem to be the only ways to remove these ghost jobs. The printers works just fine if I put physical, paper-made documents in the scanner. Like I click the buttons on the printer and it prints the paper. But if I try to print files from PC the programs etc do the loading for the print (Like they say they're converting the document or preparing it for printing) but the printer rests silent. I've tried to use the tool on this site to reveal problems on the printer. But even though it revealed the printer (connected via USB) after it just said that it wasn't connected. I've already tried having or not other devices connected via USB but the results are the same. Before my printer used to print in any of my computers just fine with our without other devices connected on the computers. I've also tested if the problem is linked the the kind of file I was trying to print. No results there neither.

[MKazi]

@maodebo

Thanks for reaching out to us on HP Support Forums. 🙂 I came across your post and would like to assist.

I understand that you have an HP PSC 1200 series printer. I read that the printer appears to be offline.  The printer is connected via USB and the issue persists on various computers.

The evidence points towards a driver issue. 

I suggest you to try installing the inbuilt printer drivers from the Microsoft operating system. The steps mentioned under "Step 3: Install the print driver with the Add a Printer wizard" from this HP document will help. 

When you select the drivers for your HP PSC 1200 series printer and if the issue persists then re-try the steps and this time choose and install the drivers for HP Deskjet 990c and install them. The drivers for HP Deskjet 990c will help.

I hope this helps. Keep me posted. Take care! 🙂

[maodebo]

I've tried the two ways you told me but both didn't work. The jobs keep staying in limbo and never get printed. But at least now if I ask the printer to remove jobs it actually removes them.

[MKazi]

@maodebo

Thank you for replying. 

You've been fabulous to work with considering your superb technical skills, remarkable patience and great attitude. Kudos to you for that.

I suggest you to try fixing the print spooler in Windows. 

1. Turn off the printer using the power button and then unplug the printer power cord from the power outlet.

2. Save your work. After using these steps, your current print jobs are lost and will need to be printed again.

3. Open Windows Services using one of the following methods:

   • Search Windows for services, and click Services in the list of results.

   • On your keyboard, press Windows key ( ) + R, type services.msc in the window that opens, and then click OK.

4. Scroll through the list of services and find the name Print Spooler.

5. Right-click Print Spooler and select Stop.
   
    

   Figure : Stop selection for Print Spooler Service

   
   
    

6. After the service has been stopped, close the service window and use Windows Explorer to browse to C:\Windows\System32\Spool\PRINTERS.

7. Delete all files inside the PRINTERS folder.

8. Shut down your computer from Windows.

9. Make sure you printer has been unplugged for at least 60 seconds, and then plug the power cord into a power outlet.

10. Turn on the printer using the power button on the printer.

11. Turn on the computer and wait for Windows to open.

12. Try printing again and note what happens.

    • If the printer prints, you are done.

Please download and run the HP Print and Scan Doctor software. This is a free tool for Windows to help resolve issues with the printer drivers. 

Hope this helps. Good luck! 🙂

[maodebo]

Ok I tried all the steps but then when I had to print the document (which is a pdf) the program said that I needed a printer installed to print a document. Retried but nothing. To make it work again I had to make the spool serivice option (that you made me stop in one of the steps) run again. The program allowed me to print again. Clicked my printer but nothing happened. Not even the loading bar to convert the file in preparation for printing. The printer icon didn't even show up on the bottom right. I thought that it was just a visual glitch like the printer was actually trying but the computer didn't managed to show me with the icon. But no. I've reached in the job queues and they were empty, Also side question which "printer" should I use now? Because with the previous reply you made me try to reinstall the printer driver. This lead to the creation of those additional "printer option" when searching for installed printers on my computer. To make myself more clear, if I try to print something and the program gives me the option to choose the printer I can see the old one "Hp psc 1200", another one "hp psc 1200 (1)" (which was the result of trying to reinstal the driver of hp psc 1200 and since there was already one it was named with "(1)" at the end) and "hp deskjet 990c". Should I remove them, should I keep them and when printing should I use one in particular? Also when I search for the printers installed all these three printers happear offline.

[MKazi]

@maodebo

Thanks for your reply.

You may remove the HP PSC 1200 and keep the HP PSC 1200 (1). Also, keep the Deskjet 990c drivers. 

Next thing I request you to do is the Windows updates. Please perform the Windows updates and then try to print.

Hope this works out. Thanks! 

[maodebo]

Tried but nothing. My printer is still giving me the silent treatment

[MKazi]

@maodebo

I suggest you to contact our HP phone support as the phone support team has an option to take remote access of your computer and try fixing it. 

All the best! 🙂