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General discussion

My printer won't work on my MacBook...

Apr 15, 2008 4:43AM PDT

Ok, I have a HP PhotoSmart C4280 All-in-One...I also have a MacBook 13in Widescreen Notbook. I have bought 3 different USB cables to connect the printer to the laptop and I have installed the CD software. The computer still can not detect that a printer is connected. Do I need to purchase a USB cable from the Apple store or should it work with a regular old cable I bought from Wal-Mart? Any suggestions? Thanks

bsts126sabre

Discussion is locked

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That printer
Apr 15, 2008 9:14AM PDT

HP claim that this printer works with OS X up to 10.5

What version of OS X do you have?

To answer your question, this printer should work with any USB 2.0 cable, even one from Wal-Mart.

Question. Has this printer ever worked with USB to another computer?
Question. Do you have any other USB peripheral that you can plug into the USB ports of your Macbook?

Three different cables would indicate either a problem with the printer or the USB ports on the Mac.

I doubt the cables are faulty, not three new ones.

P

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Drivers
Apr 15, 2008 9:17AM PDT

You may want to download the latest drivers from HP for this printer, especially if you are running OS X 10.5.x
The older drivers can become corrupt when installed under 10.5.x

P

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the details...
Apr 15, 2008 9:19AM PDT

I have the newest version on OS X Leopard as of December.
There are two USB ports and I have tried both of them.
This printer is brand new, never been used.

bsts126sabre

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If you have Leopard
Apr 15, 2008 12:15PM PDT

you need to be up at the HP site, downloading the correct driver for OS X 10.5.x

Again, do you have any other USB peripheral, even a USB Flash drive will do, to test your USB ports?

P

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yes...
Apr 16, 2008 1:28AM PDT

I went to the HP site and filled out a problem thing and an email was sent to me saying that it was sent. I'm just waiting for them to answer now. I have plugged in a little USB trinket that saves files onto it and it works just fine...but it will not recognize my printer. :o(

bsts126sabre

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Drivers
Apr 16, 2008 4:11AM PDT

This is almost certainly about having the right drivers for that printer.

Right now, I don't believe you have the correct drivers for the version of OS X that you are using.

If HP ever get back to you, do not be surprised if they tell you to download the latest drivers.

Click Here to go to get that driver.
Download it and install it and you may find that all is well again

your USB ports work, check off one task. Next stop Drivers, last stop Printer

P

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now what?
Apr 16, 2008 7:39AM PDT

I downloaded the exact driver you gave me a link to and installation was successful. My computer still can not recognize and HP devices. I then put the CD of software in and did it all over again, didn't work, so I then installed yet again the driver you sent me a link to and still nothing gives. HP still has not contacted me. What do I do?

bsts126sabre

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I have to ask these questions
Apr 16, 2008 10:00AM PDT

When you turn the printer on, is there a light, usually green, that indicates that the printer is "Ready"?

When you first took it out of the box, did it do exactly as the manual said it was going to do?

Were the ink carts installed correctly? Not removing the tape over the contacts is a favorite problem.

If all the answers are Yes, and you have been through the Add a Printer in the Print dialog box, your next move is to call HP Tech Support and get them to talk you through it.

What happens when you go to print and say "add a printer" from the print dialog box?

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iMAC problem solved!
May 7, 2008 11:35AM PDT

Went to HP and downloaded software to make it work with 10.5.2. FINALLY IT WORKS! For a change, HP's new install was much easier than it was originally when the printer was bought a couple of years ago.

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(NT) Are you the original poster with another name?
May 7, 2008 9:49PM PDT