"Printer status unknown" when tryiing to scan

[Mickey2Shoes]

I have a 4780 Photosmart printer set up on a wireless network. I can printer from multiple devices, When I try to scan documents I get "Printer status unknown". I have removed and reinstalled all drivers and software and reinstalled. I can print but still get the same result.

[Dragon-Fur]

@Mickey2Shoes 

The proposed solutions in this message carry some amount of "might" and "what if" ...

Printer Specifications for the HP Photosmart C4600 and C4700 All-in-One Printer Series

Connectivity

HP Photosmart C4600 All-In-One Printer: USB 2.0 High Speed cable HP Photosmart C4700 All-In-One Printer: USB 2.0 High Speed cable or built-in WiFi 802.11b/g

The Wireless radio on this printer is older (as is the rest of the printer hardware).

The printer software (last release) was in 2015 and might be compatible with the latest versions of Windows 10.

That said, it might be able to be fixed.

The following version of the Doctor might work:

Offline Doctor V5.0.7

  http://ftp.hp.com/pub/printers/hppsdr/patches/HPPSdr.exe

• Download and Save the doctor to your computer
• Open File Explorer > Navigate to the folder in which you saved the file (likely Downloads)
• Execute the doctor – Answer any prompts /  let the process complete
• Restart the computer, log in, and wait for the final steps in the Doctor to finish.
• Check for any difference.

Original Notes – Contributed by ShlomiL

Paraphrased

Connection Issues

• Print and Scan Doctor Version 5.0.7 creates a secondary queue for printing with TCP/IP port.

After the Offline Doctor completes…

Verify / Adjust the “Default” printing device (Default Printer)

Settings > Devices > Printers and scanners

UNCHECK (clear box) Let Windows manage my default printer

Select (Left-Click) your printer from the list of printers > Manage > Set as Default

OR

Open Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers > Right-Click on printer > Set printer as Default

NOTES – Selecting Default Printer 

1. Do not select the printer marked as “Scan Only / DO NOT DELETE”
2. Do not select the printer marked as “Fax”

Example Default Printer:  Set “Default” Printer = HP OfficeJet Pro 9020 series PCL-3 (Net)

Reference:  HP Printers - Printer is Offline (Windows) > Step 2: Manually set the default printer

==============================================================================

What else?

If it's supported, that is, if the option is available,

You could try changing the connection type to TPC/IP

Method - Create TCP IP port

Find printer's IP /  IPv4 address

Print a Configuration Page

OR

Tap on the wireless icon on Printer Control / Display Panel

Control Panel > icon view > Devices and Printers

 Right-Click on the printer > Left-Click Printer Properties

 Select Tab Ports  > Add Port

 Select Standard TCP/IP Port > New Port and follow the wizard.
 Use / Enter IP address for the printer.

Example - How-to “Create TCP Port” Contributed by greenturtle

Video:  Create & Use TCP IP port
“Note that you can ALWAYS revert back to the original port that the HP software installed by selecting the HP port within the Ports tab (in Printer Properties)”

===================================================================

What else?

Adding this "HP Scan Extended" version to the already installed printer software might help...

HP Scan Extended

• Download-Save-Install >  HP Scan Extended 
• HPSE is a subset an older Full Feature Software suite. 
• HPSE features are very similar to the HP Scan Software released after 2015.
• Although HPSE appears to be a separate software, HPSE is dependent on the infrastructure provided by the Full Feature Software.  The Full Feature Software for your printer should be installed before installing and using HPSE.
• OPTIONAL:  Add HP Scan Extended shortcut to Taskbar / Send to Desktop / Pin to Start
  • Open File Explorer > Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\HP Scan Extended\bin
  • Right-Click HPScan.exe > Select Pin to Taskbar
  • Right-Click HPScan.exe > Select Send to Desktop (Create a Shortcut)
  • Right-Click HPScan.exe > Select Pin to Start

• HP Scan Extended features include (and are not limited to): Single, Multiple scans, Image and PDF scans, Email as PDF / JPEG, Source selection, Page Size choices include Auto-Detect (extracts image / document boundary).  Might include OCR (Save as Editable Text).

References / Resources

User Guide

Printer  Home Page - References and Resources – Learn about your Printer  - Solve Problems

 “Things that are your printer”

NOTE:  Content depends on device type and Operating System

Categories:  Alerts, Access to the Print and Scan Doctor (Windows), Warranty Check, HP Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, How-to Videos, Bulletins/Notices, Lots of How-to Documents, Troubleshooting, User Guides / Manuals, Product Information (Specifications), more

When the website support page opens, Select (as available) a Category > Topic > Subtopic

HP Photosmart C4780 All-in-One Printer 

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