calling on the LJ brain

[luciab]

This is a question about computer networking, I think. I decided to hook up the new printer to the network instead of directly to the Mac. I put the drivers for the printer on the Mac. (Haven't messed with the Dell yet. Should I confuse myself further at this point? Or does it make a difference? Not sure how this works. If it's on the Mac, and the Mac is on the network, do I need to put the driver on the Dell? And is the farmer on the Dell? Ooops. Sorry.)

Anyway. The Mac is on the network. The printer is on the network, as far as I can tell. The installation seemed to go smoothly.

When I try to print anything from the computer, however, nothing happens. No error messages, but no output, either. It just never shows up in the print queue.

Is this a network problem? An issue with the printer?

The printer was clear that I should only set up the printer for either the network or USB, so now that I've installed it on the network I can't just plug in the USB, apparently.

Ideas? Help? If you guys don't know what to do, who SHOULD I call? Because I realized last night that I have a shiny new toy but at this point I'm further behind than I was before I bought it-- then I could at least print stuff that was already on the computer, even if I couldn't scan to it. Sigh.

And on a slightly more amused note, I have decided that my callig ink must have fish oil in it or something, because nothing brings Miranda to my lap faster than opening that bottle. It's absolutely amazing.

Comments

[redsquirrel.livejournal.com]

What model printer do you have? Is it a network-ready model? If it's not, you need an (additional) external print server widget to run it as a network printer. People do use these, which is why the drivers are included even if it's not a network-ready computer. External print servers run about $30-$90, depending on functionality.

[luciab.livejournal.com]

Yeah, all the instructions talk about how to do the network installation. It's an HP C7280 Al-in-One. Maybe I'm using the wrong terminology, but the printer and the WiFi router recognized each other so I figured that was hunky dory. Did I miss something?

[redsquirrel.livejournal.com]

Yup, that's a network-ready model alright, the networking functionality's built into it.

If it were a PC I'd check to see if the printer showed up in the Device Manager as installed but unfortunately you're a Mac girl and I know squat about Macs. Hmmm...my friend gilmoure is a Mac tech. Lemme see if I can point him your way. (Depends on how bored he is at work right now.)

[luciab.livejournal.com]

Well, it shows up under "Applications" as HP and then Device Utilities but it's not under the Applications subheading "Utilities". However, it IS printer that shows up as the default when I go to "System Preferences" and click "Print & Fax."

[gilmoure.livejournal.com]

Hi!

First, what do all the computers plug in to, for networking? Do you have a router with several ethernet ports, that shares out a high speed internet connection (cable or dsl)? If so, what's the brand of the router?

On the Mac, if you go to Apple Menu/System Prefs/Printers and Faxes, you should see it listed there. High light it and then hit Open Print Queue. If it comes up, make sure that the print queue isn't stopped.

I can't check LJ during the day so if you want to email me: gilmoure at gmail dot org.