Printer prints intermittently.

[plsprntnow]

I feel my printer has a mind of its own. It responds to printing commands inconsistently

a) When I send a document to the printer it will print. And I send another document within a few minutes it will do nothing. 

Sometimes the queue will show the first document listed with Status as 'Printing'. Under the 'Size' will be just a bit lesser than the total size. However the document is already printed and in my hand. The 2nd document is still in the queue. I have waited for hours for the status of the 1st document to change. Sometimes I have cancelled the print job which takes amazingly long time for it to actually get cancelled. After cancellation the 2nd document will not start automatically. Using Resume etc will not do anything. After some 15-20 mins my laptop will show an error message: "Error printing ...". And promptly the document will start printing. 

b) When I send a document to the printer for the first time it will not print at all. I will check the queue and it will display as Printing, but the printer is doing nothing. No change for 15-20 mins. I will restart the printer. Then it will start printing. 

c) I have sent a document for printing for the first time. No printing for quite a while. I have given up and forgotten about the printing. A few hours later it will suddenly start on its own and print that document (I have an Alexa that behaves similarly sometimes when it will glow blue and say it cannot find what I am looking, despite the whole house being quiet). 

d) I downloaded the HP Print & Scan Doctor and troubleshot. It says everything is fine and prints test page. I send a document for printing immediately and sometimes it prints and sometimes it does not. 

I am not sure I should re-install the drivers etc. On the Devices and Printers in Windows I have deleted and found the printer multiple times. 

I have a Windows 10 connected wirelessly through which I manage the printer. The printer is connected wirelessly to the same network. Though note that the printer is connected to the regular network while all the other devices in the house are connected to the 5G network.

Any suggestions will help. 

[Dvortex]

Hello, @plsprntnow – Hope you are well 🙂

Thanks for engaging in the HP Forums! I see by your post that you are experiencing printer related issues. I will certainly do my best to help you!

Going through your post, it looks like an issue with the print spooler. Follow the steps below to clear the print spooler:

• Press “Windows key” + “r” to get the “Run” window.
• Type "services.msc" to get Services – Go to “Print spooler” – Right-click and “Stop” the service.
• Now again open "Run" - Type “spool” and ok - Go to PRINTERS folder - delete everything in that folder.
• Go to services again - Start the print spooler.
• Now check for issue resolution.

If the issue persists, also try clean installing the printer drivers. Here are the steps:

• First, unplug the USB cable from the printer if present.
• Go to Control panel – Programs and feature – Select all the HP Photosmart printer entries and uninstall them.
• Now go to Control panel – Devices and printer – Select all the printer entries and remove the device.
• Press the "windows key" + "r" to get the "Run" window open - Type "printui.exe /s" (There is a space between .exe & /) and press enter.
• Under print server properties, go to drivers - remove any entry there as well.
• Again, go to the Run window, type – “c:/programdata” – Go to Hewlett Packard folder, remove any printer related folders & files.
• Restart your computer.
• Now click http://hp.care/2pSNtUU to download and install the software.
• Connect the USB cable if prompted and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Please let me know if this resolves the issue, or if you require further assistance.

Good luck 🙂

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