How do I enable keep-alive on HP Officejet Pro 8600?

[rekrapg]

shirlzz1,

this has been tried and tested and does not work. it holds its connection a little longer, but it still drops off the network. see my previous post - this is a printer issue, not local hardware as in pc and router.

[unixisgod]

shirlzz1:

I have to agree with rekrapg.  This is totally a printer issue.  HP needs to step up to the plate and provide a solution for this issue.  There are many users that are posting the same problem with HP's Officejet Pro 8600 model N911a.  I have spent many hours researching all of the solutions/work arounds provide and yes none of them work for me.  Problem is still the printer goes offline.

It goes into sleep mode and then goes offline never to return unless you reboot/logoff your computer to wake it up.  What a pain in the A__!!!!  Hp needs to supply a new driver or firmware that resolve this problem.  Either by allowing the end user to disable sleep mode or by a utility to bring the printer online once it decides to go offline.

If there is no solution provide soon for this problem I will be returning this printer and let anyone who asks my opinion NOT to purchase an HP product because their software developers cannot fix a simple problem.

unixisgod

[Dusty96]

Nothing has resolved my problem and I am tired of dealing with this.  Too much trouble to bother with.   I took my printer back and got another brand.  Im done with HP !

[SkilTech]

I've had mine for almost a year, so it's too late to take it back. I would if I could.

[rekrapg]

same issue here, can't take back for replacement. I just deal with it now, but will steer clear of hp next time round. such a pity they can't/won't fix this, as all the rest of the features are good and helpful. failure of a network printer to stay on the network though = fall.

[ecgberht]

I have the same problem and it is too late for me to return my printer either.  What is a shame is that both my wife and I have owned HP Printers forever that were great.  We are definitely soured on HP.  She's so PO'd at me about this thing right now, I am really in the dog house.

HP needs to fix the problem and the fix is simple.  Provide a printer software update that will let you DEFEAT sleep mode - keep your printer awake all the time.  That is what I would do.  The sleep is a pain.

[gotanyhootch]

I found a solution that works for me at least for now. I disconnected the printer from its power source, i.e., I pulled the power cord off the back of the printer, then I pulled the power cord off my wireless modem, Then rebooted the computer, plug the modem back in and then the printer. It seems to be working for now. HP told me that sometimes if the power cord is attached to a power strip as mine is, it can be a problem. One thing happened That I thought about just now, we had a power loss in the house and all the computers were shut off and restarted once the power came back on. That may have had something to do with it, But I don't know.

[jellers]

My printer has never worked with a wired connection.  I bought this model specifically because I wanted a wired connection and I thought it was a high end home all in one.  It's configured with a staticly assigned DHCP address.  When I print I have to reboot the printer to get it working.  This is true from Win7 and Vista systems or using the email based web printing.  Doesn't work.

I agree with the majority of the posters here.  I see this issue all over the web.  I will never buy another HP printer.

[Letsduet]

It's March 5, 2013 and I just spent 15+ minutes with a HP service rep. on the phone.

HP still doesn't have this issue resolved.  I too told the service rep. that I will no longer be

purchasing another HP printer in the future.  I've purchased 3-4 different HP printers over the years.

I guess the only choice I have is to increase the sleep mode to max (15min). 

Is there a way to cancel sleep mode all together?

FYI - I'm running XP and my wife is Win 8.  I will always have an issue after it goes into sleep mode.

My wife's laptop on the otherhand, will show a printer error messege (printer not found or off-line I think)

when she goes to print.  But after the printer wakes up, she'll attempt to print again and it will print the docs. 

Go figure.

HP, what was the purpose of having a sleep mode feature again if you can't use it?

[kurkr]

My 8600 is wired to my router. I am running Windows 7. The following worked for me:

Prior to connecting the printer to the router, setup the router to assign a Static IP address to the printer.

Connect the printer to the router. Power up the printer.

Run the printer installation software. It should find the printer on the network with the Static IP address.

Make sure any updates are done.

After the software installation is complete, navigate to your Printer Properties.

Click on the PORTS tab.

Look for any ports with a "HP Network Re-Discovery Port Status Monitor" description.

UNCHECK them.

Look for a "Standard TCP/IP" port with the static IP address port of your printer. Might have printer name.

Check that port.

Click APPLY, the OK.

Send a test page to the printer. If that works the wait for the 8600 to go to sleep.

After the printer is snoozing, send a document to it and see if it wakes up and prints.

This setup worked on my laptop. If my son ever gets off my desktop I will try it on that also.

Good Luck!