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General discussion

Printer quits printing

Sep 16, 2007 2:37PM PDT

I connected my Hp 3845 printer to my new computer running Vista Home Premium, and Vista installed it's LiDiL drivers.
The printer works ok with the drivers except for one thing.
If I leave the printer and computer idle for an hour or so, I can no longer print.
Turning the printer on and off doesn't help, but if I reboot the computer, the file will then start to print right away. I didn't have this problem (that I can recall) with my XP computer and the same printer. Hp has no updates for the printer, and says just use Vista's drivers, or get a new printer.
Wondering if anyone may have run into a problem like this.

Discussion is locked

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Could be the same old problem.
Sep 17, 2007 1:48AM PDT

In Windows XP this same issue happens. The fix was to dive down into the USB properties and check or uncheck a power savings checkbox.

Bob

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Sleep mode
Sep 17, 2007 1:04PM PDT

Sorry to take so long getting back.
USB settings look ok. Power savings not enabled.
After fooling with it off and on all day, seems the problem has to do with Sleep mode.
Computer was set to Sleep after 1 hour, and when I brought it out of sleep, printer refused to work. A warm boot clears things up.

I just Googled "Vista +sleep +mode +problems", and my problem seems minor compared to problems others are having.
Oh well, good old M$.

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It's not MS.
Sep 17, 2007 9:36PM PDT

It's HP's drivers. You now have a warranty issue with HP. Call it in and ask for a fix or a refund of that printer.

If you haven't checked HP.com for latest printer drivers...

And this very issue happened on XP so don't blame Vista yet.

Bob

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i had a similar problem with my hp...
Sep 17, 2007 9:56PM PDT

and found that the printer had defaulted to offline mode. this may have happened after a vista update. i'm not sure. check to see that your printer is not in offline mode. just a guess Happy.

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Just don't go to sleep
Sep 18, 2007 3:19AM PDT

Sounds like an old "Nightmare on Elm Street" movie.

Bob, this is an older printer, well out of warranty, so doubt if I have any recourse with HP.
And, as I stated in my first post, they offer no updates, just say use Vistas drivers. Actually have no complaints about the printing as it works fine, except for the sleep/wakeup issue. Not blaming Vista, just MS in general.
In fact after much tuning and tweaking, I really like Vista.
Off the subject but, tried my hand for the first time at networking. Have the Vista machine and 2 XP machines, on a wired LAN, and had no "real" problems with connecting and sharing files and printer.

To bklynrickel: when problem occurs, printer shows to be online, just won't accept any commands to print, or cancel printing.
No error messages, and although printer icon is on taskbar, it does not appear in running aplications. Whatever command I give to the printer only takes place right after reboot. As stated, if I don't use sleep mode, never a problem.

Thanks.

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if you click the printer quick launch item on the taskbar...
Sep 18, 2007 7:02AM PDT

then you are able to get into the queue(sp?).

from there, there is a pull down menu, and you will see if the printer is offline.

i don't know if you have already done this or not.

if not, try it.

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Its the drivers...
Sep 18, 2007 10:13AM PDT

If the manufacturer won't or can't supply the OS specific drivers for your printer, it won't work properly to "specifications". Windows' drivers may work, but often with issues, like not waking up, missing options or features...