Windows 7: Computer isnt seeing wireless printer when trying to add "New Printer"

I've had the worst luck with this HP Officejet 6500.

For some reason my computer always sees it as "offline"

Well the only way to get it back online is to delete the old printer & add a "New Printer" via Devices & Printers

Usually that works even though it's severely a pain in the a**!

But now my computer isnt even seeing the printer at all any more to add?

I've restarted my computer twice, turned on/off the printer a few times, re-synced the printer within the wireless router successfully & it still isnt showing up.

Any ideas?

I really need this up & running asap to finish my work, but I also need to get to the bottom of the problem of this stupid thing going "offline" and making me re-add a new printer.

It makes using the computer so frustrating. It happens a couple of time a week maybe.

It should be there ready to print any time I need it once I sync it up properly.

Thanks.

Anyone have any ideas?

I'm totally stuck & need to print important work up.

Thanks.

At the time the printer shows as offline, can you access it via its ip address? Also, check if the printer has a "work offline" setting somewhere and uncheck it.

I've already removed the printer from the devices, so it's kind of hard to answer that.

Is there any other way I can force my computer to see the wireless printer if the regular search function of adding a wireless printer isnt working?

I just dont understand why it isnt discovering the printer like it usually does. I've tried again 6 or 7 times already. no dice.

Getting SO frustrating.

I hate computers & technology. It never works the way it's supposed to.

I'd try giving the printer a static ip, in case the dhcp isnt working. For that, one would need to hook up the printer to a PC with a cat5 cable, type in the default ip address of the printer (unless that has been changed) into the browser's url bar, then in the config page of the printer change the ip address to a static one thats in the valid range of the router. Here are some instructions.

how to change printer's Gateway IP address - HP Support Forum

Ok I will try to do that walk through here shortly. I've never attempted anything that this walkthrough mentions, so hopefully it goes smoothly for me.

I just unistalled & reinstalled the entire software & even during the HP software walk through it still will NOT see the printer.

And I just successfully connected to the router's wireless network again, so I know the printer is on it, I just dont understand why the computer isnt seeing it.

This should be the most simple thing, yet seems to be one of the most time consuming, frustrating things I have to do all the time. I'm getting so sick of this HP printer.

Damn it, now I cant remember my Netgear server password & username.

I'm ready to throw everything out the window. All I want to do is print a frickin page. It's 2011, why is it so difficult.