HomeGroup HP Network Printer Question

[MoInSTL]

I have a wired desktop and a wireless netbook. Both have 7 Ultimate. I set up HomeGroup on my desktop and my netbook can see & access my shared folders.

I also have a couple of printers. The one I want to be able to access is a wired HP Laserjet 4000. It's old, but built like a tank and has 64MB of RAM and a Jet Direct card. I have it plugged into a Cisco router. When I added the printer I chose "Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer". It locates the printer and assigns an IP address. As long as my desktop is on I can print to it from my netbook.

The problem is that I want to be able to print to the printer without having my desktop on like any small network. I should be able to since it has it's own IP address. It is on the correct port and everything in HomeGroup is working except printing while the desktop is off. I hesitate to install the massive Jet Direct software but I will if this will solve the problem.

I am very tired after staying up way too late doing a clean install of Ultimate on my desktop and reinstalling apps & arranging everything. I am thinking it has to be something simple I am overlooking ATM as I am not clear headed on 3 hours of sleep.

Thanks in advance.

 

[patwhatsthat]

Try adding a local printer...create a new port....drop down and select standard TCP/IP Port...add IP address of printer...leave generic card....select hp on left and scroll to HP LaserJet 4000 Series PCL6. Don't print test page...after printer is installed, right click choose printer properties...ports tab..configure port button...change from raw to LPR and enter PORT1 for Queue Name.
Let me know if this works

 

[MoInSTL]

Thanks for the reply. I followed all of the steps except one. The IP address was already there, so I chose it. Tried it and it shows it is unavailable even with desktop on. I am able to ping it so it's out there.

 

[patwhatsthat]

Do me a favor, this is just something that worked once before with an HP LaserJet printer. Try to disable bi-directional support and see if that makes any difference whatsoever.

 

[MoInSTL]

Disabled bi-directional and still shows "unavailable".

 

[MoInSTL]

Okay, I have it working! Not sure what worked but I removed printer from desktop and netbook. Reinstalled printer on desktop and installed it on the netbook.