Having trouble with an HP7740 printer, intermittent connection with Dell laptop

[Dan64327]

I have an HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 that randomly goes offline from my Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Laptop.  I can test print from it, but then when I try to print anything else it gives me a Print Failure error.  Any thoughts?   

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @Dan64327,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand the issue you're experiencing with your HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 printer randomly going offline from your Dell Inspiron 15 7000 laptop could be caused by a variety of factors, including network issues, printer settings, or driver problems. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve this problem:

1. Check Printer Connection

Ensure the printer is properly connected to your network. If you're using Wi-Fi, try the following:

• Move the printer closer to the router: This can help improve the signal strength.
• Restart your router: Power cycle your router to refresh the connection.
• Check Wi-Fi settings on the printer: Make sure the printer is connected to the correct Wi-Fi network.

2. Update Printer Firmware Update the firmware on an HP printer

Ensure your printer's firmware is up to date. You can check for firmware updates via the printer's control panel or the HP Support website.

3. Update Printer Drivers

Make sure you have the latest drivers installed on your laptop. You can download the latest drivers from the HP Support website.

4. Set a Static IP Address for the Printer

Assigning a static IP address to your printer can help maintain a stable connection:

1. Access your router settings and find the option to assign a static IP address.
2. Assign an IP address within the range of your network (usually something like 192.168.1.x).
3. Set the static IP on your printer by navigating to the Network Settings menu on the printer's control panel.

5. Disable SNMP Status on Printer Port

Sometimes the SNMP status can cause printers to show as offline. You can disable SNMP by doing the following:

1. Open the Devices and Printers window on your laptop.
2. Right-click on your HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 and select Printer properties.
3. Go to the Ports tab and click on Configure Port.
4. Uncheck the SNMP Status Enabled box and click OK.

6. Check Power Management Settings

Ensure your laptop's power management settings aren't turning off the Wi-Fi adapter to save power:

1. Open Device Manager on your laptop.
2. Expand the Network adapters section and right-click on your Wi-Fi adapter.
3. Select Properties, go to the Power Management tab, and uncheck Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.

7. Use HP Print and Scan Doctor HP Print and Scan Doctor

Download and run the HP Print and Scan Doctor utility from the HP Support website to diagnose and fix common printing and scanning problems.

8. Check for Interference

Ensure there are no devices near your printer or router that could cause interference, such as microwaves or cordless phones.

9. Reinstall the Printer

1. Remove the printer from your laptop by going to Devices and Printers, right-clicking on the printer, and selecting Remove device.
2. Restart your laptop.
3. Reinstall the printer by adding it back through Devices and Printers.

Additional Steps

If the issue persists, consider the following:

• Try a wired connection: Connect the printer to your laptop using a USB cable to see if the issue persists.

Refer to this document: HP OfficeJet Printers - 'Printer Failure' Error 

HP OfficeJet Pro 7740 Wide Format All-in-One Printer series 

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

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