Solved: Re: Trying to connect old Laserjet 4050TN via Ethernet Cable - HP Support Community

IvorTollah · ‎03-09-2016

Hi, just inherited an old 4050 TN printer which I have connected directly to my router via an RJ45 ethernet cable.

My PC is connected via ethernet cable also to my router. I can't get my PC or my network to recognise the printer.

I have tried downloading the HP Universal printer software from HP.com and what I hope are the correct drivers but so far nothing I do enables me to connect the printer.

I have tried adding the printer to my homegroup, but Windows 10 keeps telling me I can't create a homegroup on my PC, I don't know why this failed but I have had to recently re-install windows 10 and my workgroup worked fine before that.

If anyone can point me in the direction of the correct drivers and installation software (haven't got the original disk I'm afraid), that would be fantastic.

Thanks

SHThompson · ‎03-13-2016

My usual procedure would be to go through the printer menus and set the IP configuration method to DHCP.

Then I would power cycle the printer with it plugged into the router and give it about 2 minutes after it got to a ready state and print the configuration pages.

On the configuration pages you will find the IP address that the router has given the printer, put that IP address into the URL bar of a browser.

Now you will be looking at the embedded web server of the jetdirect card and you can change it to a manual IP address so it will be the same after every Power Cycle.

I usually take the IP address assigned by the router and add about 22 it, in other words if it gets your printer an address that ends in .4 change it to .24.

You add the printer through the devices and printers window.

Now you can setup your device and as you are adding it to your PC select add local device and then you want to create a new TCP IP port.

When you create the new port you use the IP address you have given your printer.

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scouterman · ‎03-10-2016

Hello,

See if this link works to the User Guide for your printer: http://h20565.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-bpl06919

You may need to locate JetAdmin software to support the JetDirect card installed in your printer. Sorry I can't be of more help.

I work on behalf of HP.

SHThompson · ‎03-12-2016

Have you set the IP adress, etc. to be compatible with the range your router uses?

If my post resolves your issue please click the accepted as solution button under it.

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IvorTollah · ‎03-13-2016

Thanks, I will look into this option further from the user guide.

In the meantime I have ordered a usb-paralell cable so hopefully this will solve all my problems.

Thanks again.

SHThompson · ‎03-13-2016

My usual procedure would be to go through the printer menus and set the IP configuration method to DHCP.

Then I would power cycle the printer with it plugged into the router and give it about 2 minutes after it got to a ready state and print the configuration pages.

On the configuration pages you will find the IP address that the router has given the printer, put that IP address into the URL bar of a browser.

Now you will be looking at the embedded web server of the jetdirect card and you can change it to a manual IP address so it will be the same after every Power Cycle.

I usually take the IP address assigned by the router and add about 22 it, in other words if it gets your printer an address that ends in .4 change it to .24.

You add the printer through the devices and printers window.

Now you can setup your device and as you are adding it to your PC select add local device and then you want to create a new TCP IP port.

When you create the new port you use the IP address you have given your printer.

If my post resolves your issue please click the accepted as solution button under it.

To thank a Tech for a post click the thumbs up button under the post.

You can even click both buttons. . .

IvorTollah · ‎03-30-2016

Thanks again for your help. As I mentioned I ordered a parallel to USB cable and it worked like a dream once I plugged it in to my pc.

SHThompson · ‎03-31-2016

Please post the brand and part number of your cable so other people with a similar issue will know what has worked for you.

If my post resolves your issue please click the accepted as solution button under it.

To thank a Tech for a post click the thumbs up button under the post.

You can even click both buttons. . .

IvorTollah · ‎03-31-2016

Not sure of the brand, I got it from the "Geek" shopping website on the following link:

New USB to 36 Pin Female Parallel IEEE 1284 Printer Adapter Cable Cord PC
https://www.wish.com/geek/m/c/543740e6f420dd0cb85dc796

Thanks again.

Trying to connect old Laserjet 4050TN via Ethernet Cable

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