OfficeJet Pro 8740 waits indefinitely on copy or print

[clocktower1]

My printer isn't printing, and the specific symptoms are strange enough that I haven't found anything relevant while googling. It'll hang indefinitely when I send a print job or when I try to copy, but the printer's own test pages get printed just fine.

Things I can do:

• Print any test page that originates from the printer — for example, the results of calibrations. These will all print a single page with no obvious problems.
• Scan to USB. (I don't ever scan to network targets, so I haven't tested that.)

Things I can't do:

• Print anything across the network, including test pages originating from a computer — for example, the ones from printer settings panels on Windows and Mac. This has been tested on both Windows and Mac from several different machines. The print job shows up on the printer and shows as in progress, but nothing else happens — no machinery moves at all. The job will stay in progress until I cancel it, even if I leave it for hours.
• Print anything when hooking up my Mac laptop directly to the printer via USB. The symptoms are the same as above.
• Copy anything from the machine itself, whether color or black-and-white. I can generate a preview, but when I hit “Copy Black” or “Copy Color,” I hear a very brief noise from inside the printer, but then nothing else. The screen says “Copying…” and will stay that way indefinitely, even if I leave it for hours.

Things I've tried:

• Checked the entire printer for paper jams, even though it doesn't report any, and even though it can feed paper through just fine when it prints its own test pages. Nothing found.
• Unplugged the printer for at least 60 seconds before plugging it back in. Power-cycling the printer didn't change anything.
• Swapped paper into the second tray. No difference.
• Printed in black and white instead of color. No difference.
• Used the diagnostic software on Windows to troubleshoot. It didn't find anything it could help with.

This printer was working as recently as a week ago, but started showing these symptoms one morning out of nowhere.

What could this be? What should I try next?

[Jay_G24]

Hi @clocktower1,

I'd like to help!

I understand you are unable to print or copy.

To assist better -

1.  I would like to know, is your router set to work on 2.4 GHz network or 5 GHz network band?
2.  Are you trying to connect your printer to your home network or public network?
3. What is the status of the wireless light on the printer, steady or blinking?
4. Do you have security software on your computer?

Meanwhile,Try the below suggestions.

Reset the product

With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.

Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.

Wait at least 60 seconds.

Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet.

Reconnect the power cord to the printer.

Turn the printer on. HP recommends plugging the printer directly into a wall outlet.

 Also, try updating the printer's firmware -HP Printers - Updating or Upgrading Printer Firmware  

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

And, Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.

Click the “Yes" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping