HP wants me to restore my computer, to set up a printer!

Shootist said:

tomween1 said:

wilywombat said:

While you are waiting why not try Shootisit's reply? If you are using DHCP and switch off the printer and back on again it will get a new address and the other computers will not "know" about it until they scan the network. To avoid a load of grief I would try the advice given.

It sounds great but I'm not so sure I know how to reconfigure my router (as stated). I'm also not quite sure I want to try, due to the routers temperament.

It is NOT the router you have to reconfigure.

Have you read any of my other posts?

It is the Printer you need to set a STATIC IP on.
Once you do that everything will go SMOOTH and stay smooth for the life of the printer and PCs.

No argument here, pardon me for my ignorance. What I think you're asking of me, is to change the IP (static) from the printer. I only no 2 ways this could be accomplished.
1 through the wireless connection to the printer.
2 entering the network IP address in your computer and change the IP address that shows up in the router (for the printer) to static.

I assume there may be a third and that would involve connecting the computer directly to the printer, while the computer is also connected directly to the network hub.

Am I making this to difficult, or am I correct.

tomween1 said:

No argument here, pardon me for my ignorance. What I think you're asking of me, is to change the IP (static) from the printer. I only no 2 ways this could be accomplished.
1 through the wireless connection to the printer.
2 entering the network IP address in your computer and change the IP address that shows up in the router (for the printer) to static.

I assume there may be a third and that would involve connecting the computer directly to the printer, while the computer is also connected directly to the network hub.

Am I making this to difficult, or am I correct.

Yes you are making it much more difficult then it is.

On the "PRINTER" there is a screen. There are also button like one the says "Menu", actually it look like a wrench) when you hit that button it bring up a menu on the screen for settings that allows you to setup the wired or wireless connection. In that series of menus there is a place to ASSIGN a IP address. The option are something like IP Auto or Staitc or something like that.
In all of that there is a place to set a STATIC IP ON the PRINTER. That is what you need to do.
You do not have to do anything with the router except to check what range of IP addresses the router is using for the DHCP server (that is the opart of the rotuer that hands out IP addresses to the equipment connecting to it.

Shootist said:

tomween1 said:

No argument here, pardon me for my ignorance. What I think you're asking of me, is to change the IP (static) from the printer. I only no 2 ways this could be accomplished.
1 through the wireless connection to the printer.
2 entering the network IP address in your computer and change the IP address that shows up in the router (for the printer) to static.

I assume there may be a third and that would involve connecting the computer directly to the printer, while the computer is also connected directly to the network hub.

Am I making this to difficult, or am I correct.

Yes you are making it much more difficult then it is.

On the "PRINTER" there is a screen. There are also button like one the says "Menu", actually it look like a wrench) when you hit that button it bring up a menu on the screen for settings that allows you to setup the wired or wireless connection. In that series of menus there is a place to ASSIGN a IP address. The option are something like IP Auto or Staitc or something like that.
In all of that there is a place to set a STATIC IP ON the PRINTER. That is what you need to do.
You do not have to do anything with the router except to check what range of IP addresses the router is using for the DHCP server (that is the opart of the rotuer that hands out IP addresses to the equipment connecting to it.

Well I thank you! I did in fact do as suggested above. I actually did this yesterday and it worked well. I also realize I need to do this with each computer on the network.

The biggest factor's that helped, which are never mentioned by HP, The software need be installed on the computer with the printer turned off and the firewall off. I then turned on the printer and had the software identify the printer. The rest is history, all aspects worked.

I have tried this on one of the other computers (a laptop), following the same steps, it too is working fine.

I am at a loss as to why the printer & firewall need to be turned off for each installation on each computer.

tomween1 said:

Well I thank you! I did in fact do as suggested above. I actually did this yesterday and it worked well. I also realize I need to do this with each computer on the network.

The biggest factor's that helped, which are never mentioned by HP, The software need be installed on the computer with the printer turned off and the firewall off. I then turned on the printer and had the software identify the printer. The rest is history, all aspects worked.

I have tried this on one of the other computers (a laptop), following the same steps, it too is working fine.

I am at a loss as to why the printer & firewall need to be turned off for each installation on each computer.

Excuse me but I thought you were setting this printer up on the network. Specifically as a wireless printer? Yes or No?
Although I haven't done this with Win 7 I have done this may times with XP and once the printer is connected to the network, whether getting a IP automatically from the router or setting a static IP manually, there was no need to connect the printer to each PC to install the software. If fact doing that would precluded setting it up as a networked printer. Each PC would think the printer is attached to each PC.
Now maybe Win 7 is different then every other OS I have ever used (I've only been running Win 7 for about 4 months and at this time do not have a networked printer).

Sorry if I gave you the wrong info. But if the printer is really on the network when installing the software for it it gives you the option to select whether the printer is attached to the PC or if it is on a network. At least that is how it has been for all printers in my office, many different makes and models of the same brand.
Having to connect the printer to each PC would be impossible in my office as there are 2 large format printer in a completely different part of the office and moving that to the PCs or the PC to the printer would be totally impractical. It is also that way for every other networked printer I have ever setup.

Shootist said:

Excuse me but I thought you were setting this printer up on the network. Specifically as a wireless printer? Yes or No?
Although I haven't done this with Win 7 I have done this may times with XP and once the printer is connected to the network, whether getting a IP automatically from the router or setting a static IP manually, there was no need to connect the printer to each PC to install the software. If fact doing that would precluded setting it up as a networked printer. Each PC would think the printer is attached to each PC.
Now maybe Win 7 is different then every other OS I have ever used (I've only been running Win 7 for about 4 months and at this time do not have a networked printer).

Sorry if I gave you the wrong info. But if the printer is really on the network when installing the software for it it gives you the option to select whether the printer is attached to the PC or if it is on a network. At least that is how it has been for all printers in my office, many different makes and models of the same brand.
Having to connect the printer to each PC would be impossible in my office as there are 2 large format printer in a completely different part of the office and moving that to the PCs or the PC to the printer would be totally impractical. It is also that way for every other networked printer I have ever setup.

OK let me lay it all out.

The printer is connected to my wireless network, wirelessly. There are no computers nor laptops connected directly to either the wireless hub or printer.

In order to have the comp/laptop work w/ the printer I have manually created a static IP for the printer (as you suggested). I then (for each comp/laptop) shut down the printer, turn off the firewall of the comp/laptop and installed the software. During install I elected not to locate a printer. Once the software is completely installed, it is ready to search for a printer. I now turn on the printer (fully on) and choose to search for a connected printer using the HP software. This way the printer is seen from each location. I then turn the firewall back on

So yes it's still networked but through the router not the printer.