Router and Printer Don't Agree

[TreeSearcher]

Multiple problems. I have an HP Officejet Pro 8600 printer that started acting up recently. It drops the wireless connection, I go through the usual troubleshooting, unplugging power to both, waiting, replugging, rebooting everything, checking the router settings, keying in the IP address for the printer, the router name and password, reinstalling the drivers, etc. I usually get it working for a short time, but the printing is erratic--prints one page, then half a page, then no page, then a page, . . .I've discovered some things in the process that puzzle me and may offer clues to a solution.

First, I have an Arris router, and everything else that connects via Wi-Fi works fine.

HP Print and Scan Doctor tells me to reinstall the drivers. When I go to the HP website, I see "Critical: HP Officejet Pro 8600 . . . Full Feature Software and Driver." I download and install it. When I go to Apps in Control Panel, it says, "Basic Drivers," not "Full Feature." I try the same thing a few times: same result. And then, sometimes I check the installed apps, and the printer drivers have disappeared.

If my computer and printer say that the printer is offline and I log into my gateway, the printer is usually listed as a connected device when it isn't.

If the printer tells me to enter the router's passphrase and I enter it correctly, it tells me the passphrase is invalid.

Occasionally, the printer does connect, but it doesn't stay connected even through one print job.

I used to love this multifunction machine, but now I'm spending way too much time trying to fix it. It seems to be possessed. Is it too messed up to cure?