LaserJet Pro MFP M477 not printing via network but works via USB

[Benad]

Help! My printer won't print via the network (ethernet).

My system details:

Printer: HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477.

Operating system: Windows 10 64bit

Connection: Ethernet network.

The symptoms are erratic but basically it just doesn’t want to print. Here are the symptoms and what I’ve tried to fix the problem:

1. I’ve been using the printer for a couple of years without any issues.
2. The first sign of a problem was that another computer on the network wasn’t able to print. As far as I know, no changes had been made to the system prior to the problem starting.
3. Uninstalling then reinstalling the printer drivers and software made the problem worse! Now I’m unable to print from any computer on the network.
4. A test page does (usually) print okay.
5. When I send a document to print the touch screen control panel on the printer shows “Printing Document.” The Windows printer queue then spits back a printing error.
6. Sometimes if I leave the printer long enough the document does print but more usually the “Printing Document” message on the printer just disappears and nothing is printed.
7. The printer acts as though it’s going to start printing when the touch screen message appears. It starts running but the mechanism doesn’t get as far as to pick up the paper.
8. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled the software and drivers multiple times (latest updates from the HP website, including updating the firmware). Sometimes after re-installation the first document prints but subsequent documents then just give me a printer queue error.
9. I’ve tried the Windows trouble-shooter and HP Print and Scan Doctor. They don’t find a problem.
10. I’m able to access the embedded web server without a problem. The printer there and via Windows 10 shows as ready and online.
11. I’m able to ping the printer’s IP address without any problems, though I sometimes do get occasional “Request timed out” messages.
12. The printer DOES print when plugged into USB port (the USB connected printer shows up separately on the Devices and Printers list).

The fact that the printer works fine via a USB port suggests that the printer is okay and that the problem is network related. But what doesn’t make sense is that I can get a page to print and two minutes later it’s not printing again. I see no reason why the network would change between two print requests.

Any ideas how I can resolve this frustrating problem?

[Benad]

I'm surprised nobody has been able to give a suggestion pointing me in the direction of what could be going on.

I know it's a network issue. But don't know how to fix it. Would love some suggestions, web page links, or whatever which could help me find a solution to the printer's erratic behaviour.