Scanner Communication Cannot Be Established

[jawjahgal]

I started trying to scan a document using HP Smart.  In the middle of the first page it hung up on scanning and never finished.  I installed the Full Driver / Full Feature Software and tried again.  It scanned 3 pages, then started giving me the dreaded scanner unreachable message.  I've uninstalled and reinstalled the Full Driver / Full Feature Software.  I've downloaded the Print and Scan Doctor.  It shows communicating with the device.  The progress bar goes to about 99% then stalls and stays there for as long as I'll let it.  I've uninstalled and reinstalled the Print and Scan Doctor with the same results.  I've used HP as recently as a couple of days ago.  It's always a crapshoot and has never known my printer status.  This is a new laptop.  HP Smart automatically installed when I set up my printer.  I had not yet installed the Full Driver / Full Feature Software, but have almost always exclusively used that path with no problems.  I have connected the printer to both the docking station and directly to the laptop.  I've power cycled my modem and router.  I also can't find specs for a replacement USB printer cable.

Update:  After wasting over 4 hours with all of the above, I found a troubleshooter.  It said my printer was marked as default printer.  It made it default printer and I was able to print.  I also tried HP Smart again and it worked.  I had previously set the printer as default and have been scanning with it for 4 months.  It would have been nice if somewhere during all this there had been a message telling me what was wrong, especially since it was something so simple.  Less of an HP fan with every day that passes.