HP Printer Changes Ports Randomly

[Foodkop]

I have 3 computers - 1 desktop, 2 laptop. Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit is on the desktop & one laptop. The other laptop is running XP.

I have 2 printers HP Photosmart 3300 wireless and C5180C wired.

From time-to-time, no rhyme or reason, the printer ports for either and/or both printers changes.

Anyone have any ideas WHY? I know how to change the ports so I can print, but it's a real pain in the neck to have to do this all the time. This happens frequently (2-4 times a month). :mad2:

HELP! Thanks.

 

[UKMedia]

Hi

Have you fixed the IP address for the wireles printer in your router setup? Not sure why or how the wired printer would change.

Regards
UKMedia

 

[TVeblen]

Some more information would be helpful.

How are the printers connected? Give us the map, like below:

• The C5180C is wired to the Desktop and sharing is enabled?
• The 3300 is wired to the Desktop and not shared?
• Laptop #1 accesses the C5180C through the desktop share?
• Laptop #1 accesses the 3300 wirelessly?
• Laptop #2 accesses the C5180C through the desktop share?
• Laptop #2 accesses the 3300 wirelessly?

Which computer loses the port ID?

• Does this happen while using the desktop?
• Does this happen while using one or both of the laptops?

It's hard to solve the puzzle when we don't have all the pieces .

 

[Foodkop]

I haven't really tried anything until now to fix the problem. The map is as follows:

The 5180C HP printer is wired into the Lynksys Router.
The desktop HP (Windows 7) is wired into the Lynksys Router.
The 3100 HP printer is wireless.
Two laptops (one using XP, one using Windows 7) are both wireless.

We have these computers and printers networked on a secure system. However, we have another problem in accessing files from one computer/laptop to another. We used to be able to do this easily, but all of a sudden, it's not working. We've decided to solve one problem at a time though.

All computers, both laptops and desktop, lose the IP address to both printers. There is no warning when this happens. It doesn't always happen at the same time for all the computers or printers. We find the IP address has changed when we go to print and nothing happens. We know how to change the ports, but it'd be nice not to have to.

Today I did the following per suggestion at answers.yahoo.com:

Went to Network Connections
Wireless Connectin Status
Details
Copied info regarding current IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway, and DNS Addresses.
Wireless Connection
Properties
Set Fixed IP Address using copied info.

Do I need to do something with the port info on the printers now, or is it fixed? I don't want to do this on all three computers until I know it was the right thing to do.

Any and all feedback is much appreciated.

 

[TVeblen]

Yes, in some cases, setting a fixed address for each printer in the router's settings and again in each of the printer's settings will do the trick.

But I must warn you: I have an fairly new Epson printer here that will just not play nice wirelessly. Despite all attempts to get this thing to work (going far beyond just setting fixed IPs) it continues to drop off the network after sitting idle for about 20 minutes or so.

The workaround has been to turn the printer off and then back on. This gets it to be recognized on the network and everyone can print to it wirelessly. Until it drops off again in 20 minutes.

I hope setting the fixed address works for you. It does for many people.

 

[Foodkop]

How do I change the address in the printer's settings? I changed it in the router's settings using the instructions I stated earlier. Did this also change the printer settings or do I need to do something else? Thanks.

 

[TVeblen]

It is not necessary to do both. Giving the printer a fixed IP on the router should be good enough.

I went the extra step since it did not work for me. But it made no difference anyway.

To answer your question, if there is not an option to do so in your printer's keypad settings, then you may need an add on configuration program to do so. For my Epson printer I had to install "EpsonNet Config V3", downloadable from my printers webpage at Epson, that allowed me to make network configuration changes.

I don't know if HP has anything like it. But as I said, it should not be necessary since you can assign a fixed IP to your printers MAC address via the router in a simple home network.

 

[Foodkop]

Thanks for your help. Hopefully this has fixed my "little problem".

 

[TVeblen]

Post back either way!
Good luck.

 

[Foodkop]

Well, it seems my "fix" isn't fixed. For some reason our router went off-line (again) and the ports for both printers were changed. At this point, I'm thinking maybe the problem is with the router not the printer ports. We have had to reset the router (unplug) many times. Any opinions on this theory?

 

[Anak]

If this is a printer is on a TCP/IP port, turn off SNMP.

Start > Printers and Faxes > right click on your printer > Properties > Ports tab > highlight what port it's using > Select the Configure Port > Uncheck SNMP.

This may work for both Foodkop, and TVeblen

 

[TVeblen]

Well, it seems my "fix" isn't fixed. For some reason our router went off-line (again) and the ports for both printers were changed. At this point, I'm thinking maybe the problem is with the router not the printer ports. We have had to reset the router (unplug) many times. Any opinions on this theory?

I became convinced it was the router. And believe me, I played with every setting on that thing!

If this is a printer is on a TCP/IP port, turn off SNMP.

Start > Printers and Faxes > right click on your printer > Properties > Ports tab > highlight what port it's using > Select the Configure Port > Uncheck SNMP.

This may work for both Foodkop, and TVeblen

Hey thanks Anak. I will test that out at the next opportunity (the issue affects other peoples laptops, not my desktop).
I'll post back what I find.

 

[Anak]

Your welcome! If it has a SNMP v1/v2 option in the Networking tab disable them also.

 

[TVeblen]

Hey Anak

No joy. There is no setting available. It was worth a try! Maybe that is available on a wired network?

But wireless you get the EpsonNet configuration:

 

[Anak]

Our printer is presently hard wired directly to the PC. When I went to check the setting an error showed that, that configuration was not supported. Presumably because it was a direct connection, and not on a network or the printer firmware does not support it.

Some other thoughts:

1. When you right click on the printer name and if it has an offline status listing, uncheck it.
2. Also check to assure the relationship between the printer, and the PC has not been set to 'sleep' or 'power save' mode or 'Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power'. If the printer “sleeps” it could appear “offline”.
3. Different printers have different ways to reset to their default values. Have you tried resetting the printers to their 'defaults'?
4. Have you made sure the printers you work on have up to date firmware / software? Tried re-installing the drivers?
5. Try stopping the Print Spooler service, reboot, then restarting the service, reboot, any improvement?
6. Checked to make sure the printer(s) are not on some type of automatic (timed) schedule? If so, change to 'always available'.
7. Try configuring the LPR community name on the printer itself, and then do the same within the print queue setting. This link may offer assistance: Overview of Print Management
8. Usually a network printer can be set to get its IP address from a DHCP server. But have you tried to TELNET into the ip address to set it? puTTy is a helpful tool.

 

[TVeblen]

Oh noooooooo. I wasted half my life (slight exaggeration) working on that stupid printer. After years of therapy I was finally able to let it go. And now your're trying to suck me back in!:sarc:

With the exception of the TELNET fix I have tried many, many things, up to and including tying little pink ribbon bows on all the router's antennae just to get it to like me.

I have become convinced that my issue has something to do with the Beacon process. The router sends out a periodic beacon signal to discover which devices are still connected to the network so it can hold the address in the table. If the device does not respond within the proper protocol then the router frees up that address and "drops" the device. Either the router or the printer will not play nice with each other. (Note: this is my opinion, not an informed diagnosis). And yes, I have tried every beacon interval, even ridiculously long and short ones.

But let's wait and see what this will do for the OP. Your suggestions are all things he should try, and we haven't heard back from him/her yet. I'd hate to hijack the thread with my issues!

 

[Anak]

Oh noooooooo. I wasted half my life (slight exaggeration) working on that stupid printer. After years of therapy I was finally able to let it go. And now your're trying to suck me back in!:sarc:

With the exception of the TELNET fix I have tried many, many things, up to and including tying little pink ribbon bows on all the router's antennae just to get it to like me.

I have become convinced that my issue has something to do with the Beacon process. The router sends out a periodic beacon signal to discover which devices are still connected to the network so it can hold the address in the table. If the device does not respond within the proper protocol then the router frees up that address and "drops" the device. Either the router or the printer will not play nice with each other. (Note: this is my opinion, not an informed diagnosis). And yes, I have tried every beacon interval, even ridiculously long and short ones.

Thank you for my 'chuckle of the day', especially those first two paragraphs.

But let's wait and see what this will do for the OP. Your suggestions are all things he should try, and we haven't heard back from him/her yet. I'd hate to hijack the thread with my issues!

I understand, and agree.

 

[Foodkop]

Well, I finally gave up and purchased a new router. The straw that broke the camel's back was when it changed the IP Addresses of both laptops to the same thing. Only one lap top was able to connect to the Internet; the other one had to be reset by unplugging the router (severall tmes!) and waiting. Ugh! Enough is enough!

I was told that a router usually is good for about 2-3 years and when the IP Addresses start getting changed, it's a "sign". So, I guess my IP Address has been solved .... Thanks for all of your help!

 

[TVeblen]

Please let us (me) know if a new router solves it.

My router TrendNet TEW-691GR. I have not been motivated to try another because the router and printer are both new. The thing that complicates my installation is that I bought and installed the router and started using the wireless printer with the laptops right about the same time. So I can't determine whether it is the router or printer decisively.

 

[Anak]

Your welcome!
Yes, give it a few days, a week, and let us know.