Printer display shows "Printing" but never prints

[bgsmith]

My printer is out of warranty but has been printing flawlessly for years. Today, while printing some PDF files it stopped printing. After sending it a print job the printer display shows "Printing" but nothing prints. It will stay on the "Printing" screen until I manually cancel it on the printer display panel. Ran the HP Print and Scan Doctor but when I try to print a test page the same thing happens.  Running HP Smart I can get it to print a Printer Status Report but all the other reports (Demo Page, Print Diagnostic Information, Network Configuration Report, etc.) cause the infinite "Printing" display. Can also print a Printer Status report from the printer display panel but all other reports cause the same infinite "Printing" display.  Tried sending print jobs from multiple computers all with the same results. Firmware version is EDWINXPP1N002.2151A.00. Any help would be appreciated!!

[Jay_G24]

Hi @bgsmith,

Welcome to the HP Support Community

I'd like to help!

I understand you are unable to print from a computer.

Try the below suggestions-

To prepare your printer for a wireless connection, restart the printer, computer, and router.

1. Turn the printer off, and then wait 10 seconds.
2. Disconnect the printer power cord from the printer.
3. Turn off the computer or the device you are trying to print from.
4. Connect the printer power cord to the printer, and then turn on the printer.
5. Disconnect the power cord from your wireless router, and then wait 10 seconds.
6. Reconnect the power cord to the router. Wait until Internet service is restored. Internet service is interrupted while the router is off.
7. Turn on the computer.

Try printing.

If the issue persists, 

1)Uninstall HP Smart 

2)Install all the available Windows updates

If it is been a while since you updated your Windows, that is the main reason why Windows says your HP printer driver is unavailable. Here are the steps how to do a Windows Update to install all accessible operating system update.

If you are accessing Windows 10, then these steps are for you.

1. Hit the Start menu and write an update. After that, click on the “Check for updates” option.
2. Tap on the “Check for updates” option.
3. After clicking on that option, Windows will install the updates automatically.
4. When Windows completes all its updates, start your computer again and attempt to print a file to check if your printer works.

3) try updating the printer's firmware - HP Printers - Updating or Upgrading Printer Firmware 

4)Reinstall HP Smart from windows store.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

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

[bgsmith]

No luck. Followed the power cycle instructions with no change. Checked firmware which was up-to-date. Uninstalled HP Smart, updated Windows and reinstalled HP Smart. When reinstalling HP Smart the printer would not print the registration page but did show the hpeprint email address so I was able to add the printer. Still have the same problem. Unit will print a Printer Status Report from the local LCD panel and from HP Smart. Any other attempts to print reports from the local LCD panel or HP Smart, or documents sent from any computer end up getting a perpetual "printing" screen on the local LCD but no print. 

[Jay_G24]

I understand you are unable to print using HP Smart, let's try printing using HP Full-featured drivers.

Let's try and uninstall the printer software from the root level on your PC and install the full feature printer software.

First, unplug the USB cable from the printer if present.

• Go to Control panel – Programs and feature – Select all the HP printer entries and uninstall them.
  • Now go to Control panel – Devices and printer – Select all the printer entries and remove the device.
  • Restart your computer.
  • Click the bottom-left Start button on desktop, type device manager in the search box and tap Device Manager on the menu.
  • Once in device manager, click on the view tab in the top & choose “Show hidden devices”.
  • Then from the device manager list, check the entries under “Printer” – If there are any entries, please right click and choose “uninstall” – In the confirm device un-install pop-up, make sure you select the box which says “Delete the driver software for this device". 
  • Also, check the entries under "printer queue" and "imaging devices" and repeat the same exercise. Delete any printer entry or any entry which says “Unknown device”.
  • Once done, close device-manger. Then press the "windows key" + "r" to get the "Run" window open - Type "printui.exe /s" and press enter.
  • Under print server properties, go to drivers - remove any entry there as well.
  • Again, go running window, type – “c:/programdata” – Go to Hewlett Packard folder, remove any printer related folders & files.
  • Once done you can try cleaning out your temporary files and cached files. You can try using automated applications like some cleaner software's that you can download from the internet.
  • Now restart your computer again.
  • Open the Run window again, type “services.msc” and press ok to get services window.
  • Scroll down to “Remote Procedure Call (RPC)” – right-click and go to properties. Make sure the service is started and startup type is “Automatic”.
  • Now scroll up and go to “Function Discovery Provider Host” – right-click and select properties – Change the startup type to “manual” and start the service.
  • Repeat the same exercise on “Function Discovery Resource Publication” as well
  • Windows image acquisition stop and restart the service 

Install all the available Windows updates

If it is been a while since you updated your Windows, that is the main reason why Windows says your HP printer driver is unavailable. Here are the steps how to do a Windows Update to install all accessible operating system update.

If you are accessing Windows 10, then these steps are for you.

1. Hit the Start menu and write an update. After that, click on the “Check for updates” option.
2. Tap on the “Check for updates” option.
3. After clicking on that option, Windows will install the updates automatically.
4. When Windows completes all its updates, start your computer again and attempt to print a file to check if your printer works.

Reinstall the drivers from the Software and drivers page

If the error persists, Try installing the printer with a windows built-in driver

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

[bgsmith]

This appears to have been a problem associated with an automatic firmware update and using third party ink.  I was able to get the unit to print again by rolling back the firmware to an earlier version that I found on the internet. At that point I was able to see that my yellow ink was empty and the printer would only print with black. I replaced all three color ink cartridges with HP (black was already HP) and everything worked fine. I then updated the firmware to the newest and verified full functionality. Lesson learned, don't allow firmware updates if you want to use third party ink.

[Jay_G24]

Thank you for sharing your solution.

I am glad you were able to figure this out.

Are you able to print from your computer now?  

Let me know!

[bgsmith]

Looks like all is good. Able to print from multiple devices without problems. Thanks.

[Jay_G24]

That's great! Happy to hear that.

 If you need further assistance feel free to reach out to us. 

Have a great day ahead!

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!