Network printing on the HP Officejet 5610
We have an HP Officejet 5610 which prints ok when connected directly to a PC using the USB connection. However, we need to print to this printer over the network as a backup printer.
Tried 2 different small handheld "print servers" but, couldn't print to the printer because the client computers couldn't find it. After trying that, I connected the printer to a Linux desktop and shared it out.
I was able to find it from a Windows 7 client computer and print to it also. I had to do the Windows update method to load the print drivers rather than load the HP driver package because the HP driver package didn't work.
Tried the same procedure on Windows XP client computers, but, neither the Windows driver update method, nor loading the HP driver package worked. The HP driver package loads and you can select to load the drivers without the printer being connected to the USB port, but, after you do that, the drivers don't show up in the XP HP printer driver list.
Because printing from the Windows 7 desktop works, there's got to be a way to make it work for Windows XP.
I'm thinking that if there was a way to just load the XP driver files we need to print rather that the whole driver package maybe this will solve the problem.
Tried 2 different small handheld "print servers" but, couldn't print to the printer because the client computers couldn't find it. After trying that, I connected the printer to a Linux desktop and shared it out.
I was able to find it from a Windows 7 client computer and print to it also. I had to do the Windows update method to load the print drivers rather than load the HP driver package because the HP driver package didn't work.
Tried the same procedure on Windows XP client computers, but, neither the Windows driver update method, nor loading the HP driver package worked. The HP driver package loads and you can select to load the drivers without the printer being connected to the USB port, but, after you do that, the drivers don't show up in the XP HP printer driver list.
Because printing from the Windows 7 desktop works, there's got to be a way to make it work for Windows XP.
I'm thinking that if there was a way to just load the XP driver files we need to print rather that the whole driver package maybe this will solve the problem.
IanTh
the small usp print servers probably only supported lpr you need a print server thats compatible with the protocol (raw maybe) that the printer is talking over the lan
SOLUTION
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Download the drivers for XP and Windows 7 from here :
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=441125
Make sure you install the driver correctly for the OS, would be good to let the PC to search for the driver automatically as once it found the compatible driver then will auto install it.
To prevent the crash of different printer drivers, you may delete the other print drivers :
http://theitbros.com/removing-windows-xp-printer-driver/
Lastly, make sure you are sharing the printer by adding the group "Everyone" to print of it.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareCategory?cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&product=441125
Make sure you install the driver correctly for the OS, would be good to let the PC to search for the driver automatically as once it found the compatible driver then will auto install it.
To prevent the crash of different printer drivers, you may delete the other print drivers :
http://theitbros.com/removing-windows-xp-printer-driver/
Lastly, make sure you are sharing the printer by adding the group "Everyone" to print of it.
ASKER
Thanks for replies but, as I mentioned, I loaded the drivers and tried the windows update method (where it finds the drivers itself) however, the "windows update method" works for Windows 7 computers but not for Windows XP.
Loading the drivers from HP for Windows XP doesn't work either because it will only complete the driver install if you connect the printer directly to the USB port.
I know the comment from rindi will probably work (as I've done that in other situations before), however, there's 30 computers and I was trying to find a less time consuming way to accomplish this.
I'm hoping that maybe I can load the drivers on 1 XP machine via direct USB connection, then, find where the driver files for printing were loaded on that machine, and copy them
to another XP machine in the same directories as the first XP machine. Not sure if this
would work, but, I'm thinking if it did work, it would save a lot of time.
Anyone tried anything like this before, or, is it just wistful thinking ? Anyway, it will be a couple of days before I will be able to work at the location to try anything, but, wanted to get some ideas from EE before I go into to tackle this issue again. I'll also check the protocol of the printer.
Loading the drivers from HP for Windows XP doesn't work either because it will only complete the driver install if you connect the printer directly to the USB port.
I know the comment from rindi will probably work (as I've done that in other situations before), however, there's 30 computers and I was trying to find a less time consuming way to accomplish this.
I'm hoping that maybe I can load the drivers on 1 XP machine via direct USB connection, then, find where the driver files for printing were loaded on that machine, and copy them
to another XP machine in the same directories as the first XP machine. Not sure if this
would work, but, I'm thinking if it did work, it would save a lot of time.
Anyone tried anything like this before, or, is it just wistful thinking ? Anyway, it will be a couple of days before I will be able to work at the location to try anything, but, wanted to get some ideas from EE before I go into to tackle this issue again. I'll also check the protocol of the printer.
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ASKER
Connected directly to the PC and then loaded the drivers to it. Then, was able to use the PC to connect to share and install the shared printer okay. However, the time it would take to do this for 30 PC's was not cost effective.
Instead we luckily found a Photosmart 2600 series printer for $30 (craigslist) which has an ethernet port and it was a better solution.
Instead we luckily found a Photosmart 2600 series printer for $30 (craigslist) which has an ethernet port and it was a better solution.