Connect printer via crossover cable

speedlever · 09 Feb 2013

I need to connect a printer via crossover cable to a Win7/64 laptop. The printer has a USB port, but it is defective. I created a xover cable (and tested it so I know it's good). How do I set up this printer (HP Deskjet 6940) using the xover cable connected to the ethernet port on the laptop?

I found this thread, but as the last post indicates, it lacks the details needed to do the job.
Installing printer via Ethernet Cable

I connected the printer to the laptop with the xover cable, ran through the printer wizard to install the HP6940 drivers as per the Win7 printer installation routine, but nothing will print. I tried the MS FixIt routine and still no printing.

Any suggestions how to fix this? All I see is an error - printing for this printer when I open up active printers.

Thanks!

richnrockville · 09 Feb 2013

Speedlever, the crossover cable is designed for when you are assigning IP's directly on the two machines.
setting the IP for the printer has to be accomplised at the panel on the printer. Same on the PC.

Suggest that you just get a ethernet switch and connect your pc and the printer to it and then to your router
so that your pc and the printer will receive an IP. The printer cdrom will find it if the printers ethernet port
is ok and it has picked up an IP from your router via the switch.
Unless your router has a spare ethernet port and then all you have to do is connect it to your printer.

Although, if your USB port on the printer is defective, there is a possibility that the electronics has problems and the IP port might not work either.

Time for a new printer

Rich

speedlever · 09 Feb 2013

Thanks for the info Rich. The router is in another room. The USB port on the printer somehow has been damaged physically... there are 4 metal prongs showing and no center plug. I have no idea what happened to damage it. There is no panel on this printer, so I have no idea how to set the IP from the printer.
HP Deskjet 6940 Printer series*-* Download drivers and software - specify product name - HP Business Support Center

There's no center plug like this one has:

I was trying to do this for a friend on the cheap.

I Googled connecting printers with crossover cables and saw examples of how to do it, but nothing I've found will make it work as the examples appear to indicate.

richnrockville · 09 Feb 2013

Without being able to get to the control panel for the printer, you can't set the ip for a crossover cable.
take the printer into the other room. connect it to the router and then install the software to be able to set
the ip if that is what you want.

Otherwise, you might be out of luck.

Rich

speedlever · 09 Feb 2013

OK. Umm, install what software so I can set the IP? There may be something obvious that I'm missing here.

richnrockville · 10 Feb 2013

Speedlever, most printer software installs will allow you to open the control panel for the printer. Either via a web browser for the default IP for the printer or directly to the printer via it's printer Mac address.

Also, most printers have a configuration print out which is normally gotten thru a power on sequence where you have to push a button at the same time you plug it in so that you can see how it is connected.

When you install the printer software it will search the network if you tell it that the printer is conneced via network connection. The sofware normally finds the printer directly and then will allow you to set options in its control panel.

Rich

speedlever · 10 Feb 2013

Yeah, I discovered the configuration print out button combo last night. Will have to visit the site today and see what I get.

The auto printer software install seems to rely on a USB connection. When I visited the HP site to check for printer drivers, it tells me to use the Win7 built-in drivers. Go figure.

IAC, I ran through the printer install function, chose the correct HP printer model.. and nothing. Maybe I can finagle it with the info on the print info page.. and connect it to the router temporarily to make/change settings, if I can figure that out.

Thanks for the help.

speedlever · 10 Feb 2013

OK. I printed out the config page: as expected (not connected to the computer) it shows an ip/subnet/default gateway of 0.0.0.0. So I connected it to the wifi router in a spare LAN port. It gets assigned an ip of 192.168.1.106 (within the defined DCHP range I allow). Subnet mask and default gateway look good. But still no printing.

I don't know how to access the printer control panel to set a static IP or make any changes.

Any suggestions at this point?

speedlever · 10 Feb 2013

BTW, here's a pic of the USB port on the printer. I have no idea what happened to it.

richnrockville · 11 Feb 2013

Go to the printer install page, add the printer if it is not already there. select add port by IP. then put the IP into the standard IP port address. then it should be fine.

Sometimes the install software for the printer will search for the printers IP if you tell the install that it is connected via the network port. put in 192.168.1.106 and it should work.

it would then configure it all for you, print a test page and you should be fine.

Rich