Windows Vista Forums

Printer shows as “Offline”
  1. #1


    Ricegroup Guest

    Printer shows as “Offline”

    I own a HP Color Laser Jet 2500n printer and it’s installed on my network,
    however, it shows up as “Offline” to my VISTA computer but it prints just
    fine from my XP Computer, and my daughter’s Apple Laptop. I’ve downloaded
    and installed the most current driver software does anybody have any ideas?



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Scows Guest

    RE: Printer shows as “Offline”

    We have almost the same problem. We have just bought a new HP LaserJest
    4350dtn.
    Everytime we have had power turned off on either computers (Vista) or HP
    printer we have offline message and we have to install the printer again.
    Other computers with XP don't have this problem.
    By the way we have other HP laser printers which don't have this problem.



    "Ricegroup" wrote:

    > I own a HP Color Laser Jet 2500n printer and it’s installed on my network,
    > however, it shows up as “Offline” to my VISTA computer but it prints just
    > fine from my XP Computer, and my daughter’s Apple Laptop. I’ve downloaded
    > and installed the most current driver software does anybody have any ideas?


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Scows Guest

    RE: Printer shows as “Offline”

    We have almost the same problem. We have just bought a new HP LaserJest
    4350dtn.
    Everytime we have had power turned off on either computers (Vista) or HP
    printer we have offline message and we have to install the printer again.
    Other computers with XP don't have this problem.
    By the way we have other HP laser printers which don't have this problem.

    Rgds - Scows

    "Ricegroup" wrote:

    > I own a HP Color Laser Jet 2500n printer and it’s installed on my network,
    > however, it shows up as “Offline” to my VISTA computer but it prints just
    > fine from my XP Computer, and my daughter’s Apple Laptop. I’ve downloaded
    > and installed the most current driver software does anybody have any ideas?


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Jerry L Guest

    RE: Printer shows as “Offline”

    Yes, I posted the same problem on 4/07/2007 with no responses so it appears
    that I am not alone on this and no one has yet to come up with a solution. I
    don't have a solution for you either, but will say that I've spent a lot of
    time surfing the net in hopes of finding one. I have Vista Home Premium and
    the latest drivers and am NOT networking with any other PC or OS. In case it
    may apply, my BIOS is not the most current, but I'm reluctant to flash it
    until I see a real need and have no proof at this time that BIOS has anything
    to do with it.

    "Ricegroup" wrote:

    > I own a HP Color Laser Jet 2500n printer and it’s installed on my network,
    > however, it shows up as “Offline” to my VISTA computer but it prints just
    > fine from my XP Computer, and my daughter’s Apple Laptop. I’ve downloaded
    > and installed the most current driver software does anybody have any ideas?


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    Alan Morris [MSFT] Guest

    Re: Printer shows as "Offline"

    If you are connected to the hostname of the device verify that the hostname
    responds to ping

    The Standard TCP/IP Port monitor will place the networked device offline if
    SNMP queries to the device fail.

    One can also configure the port such that SNMP is disabled.

    --
    Alan Morris
    Windows Printing Team
    Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

    This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

    "Jerry L" <JerryL@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:78AA899B-7D11-422B-A549-D75E88A3D048@microsoft.com...
    > Yes, I posted the same problem on 4/07/2007 with no responses so it
    > appears
    > that I am not alone on this and no one has yet to come up with a solution.
    > I
    > don't have a solution for you either, but will say that I've spent a lot
    > of
    > time surfing the net in hopes of finding one. I have Vista Home Premium
    > and
    > the latest drivers and am NOT networking with any other PC or OS. In case
    > it
    > may apply, my BIOS is not the most current, but I'm reluctant to flash it
    > until I see a real need and have no proof at this time that BIOS has
    > anything
    > to do with it.
    >
    > "Ricegroup" wrote:
    >
    >> I own a HP Color Laser Jet 2500n printer and it's installed on my
    >> network,
    >> however, it shows up as "Offline" to my VISTA computer but it prints just
    >> fine from my XP Computer, and my daughter's Apple Laptop. I've
    >> downloaded
    >> and installed the most current driver software does anybody have any
    >> ideas?




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    Jerry L Guest

    Re: Printer shows as "Offline"

    Hummm, I would assume having no other computers but my one PC and an Ethernet
    cable running to my printer means I'm "connected to the hostname." I did try
    pinging the address the wizard gave it back in the day, but don't recall the
    result or it certainly did not leave an impression and I'm not going there
    again. I had poked around the links from your suggested research of the
    Knowledge Base and read a bit about SNMP. I now have a new acronym to use at
    cocktail parties, but basically, it's geek to a user like me. I'll stick to
    my USB cable and accept that I'm out of my league here. Thanks anyway and
    good luck to the others as I hope your insights help them.

    "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

    > If you are connected to the hostname of the device verify that the hostname
    > responds to ping
    >
    > The Standard TCP/IP Port monitor will place the networked device offline if
    > SNMP queries to the device fail.
    >
    > One can also configure the port such that SNMP is disabled.
    >
    > --
    > Alan Morris
    > Windows Printing Team
    > Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
    > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
    >
    > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
    >
    > "Jerry L" <JerryL@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    > news:78AA899B-7D11-422B-A549-D75E88A3D048@microsoft.com...
    > > Yes, I posted the same problem on 4/07/2007 with no responses so it
    > > appears
    > > that I am not alone on this and no one has yet to come up with a solution.
    > > I
    > > don't have a solution for you either, but will say that I've spent a lot
    > > of
    > > time surfing the net in hopes of finding one. I have Vista Home Premium
    > > and
    > > the latest drivers and am NOT networking with any other PC or OS. In case
    > > it
    > > may apply, my BIOS is not the most current, but I'm reluctant to flash it
    > > until I see a real need and have no proof at this time that BIOS has
    > > anything
    > > to do with it.
    > >
    > > "Ricegroup" wrote:
    > >
    > >> I own a HP Color Laser Jet 2500n printer and it's installed on my
    > >> network,
    > >> however, it shows up as "Offline" to my VISTA computer but it prints just
    > >> fine from my XP Computer, and my daughter's Apple Laptop. I've
    > >> downloaded
    > >> and installed the most current driver software does anybody have any
    > >> ideas?

    >
    >
    >


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  7. #7


    Bill Guest

    Re: Printer shows as "Offline"

    How do you turn snmp off on the port? which port.

    thanks

    "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

    > If you are connected to the hostname of the device verify that the hostname
    > responds to ping
    >
    > The Standard TCP/IP Port monitor will place the networked device offline if
    > SNMP queries to the device fail.
    >
    > One can also configure the port such that SNMP is disabled.
    >
    > --
    > Alan Morris
    > Windows Printing Team
    > Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
    > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
    >
    > This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
    >
    > "Jerry L" <JerryL@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    > news:78AA899B-7D11-422B-A549-D75E88A3D048@xxxxxx

    > > Yes, I posted the same problem on 4/07/2007 with no responses so it
    > > appears
    > > that I am not alone on this and no one has yet to come up with a solution.
    > > I
    > > don't have a solution for you either, but will say that I've spent a lot
    > > of
    > > time surfing the net in hopes of finding one. I have Vista Home Premium
    > > and
    > > the latest drivers and am NOT networking with any other PC or OS. In case
    > > it
    > > may apply, my BIOS is not the most current, but I'm reluctant to flash it
    > > until I see a real need and have no proof at this time that BIOS has
    > > anything
    > > to do with it.
    > >
    > > "Ricegroup" wrote:
    > >

    > >> I own a HP Color Laser Jet 2500n printer and it's installed on my
    > >> network,
    > >> however, it shows up as "Offline" to my VISTA computer but it prints just
    > >> fine from my XP Computer, and my daughter's Apple Laptop. I've
    > >> downloaded
    > >> and installed the most current driver software does anybody have any
    > >> ideas?
    >
    >
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  8. #8


    Alan Morris [MSFT] Guest

    Re: Printer shows as "Offline"

    Printer Properties, Ports. Configure the selected port. There is a check
    box to disable SNMP.

    --
    Alan Morris
    Windows Printing Team
    Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

    This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

    "Bill" <Bill@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:4E960F4B-3392-4E7E-B2E4-174B7A610AAA@xxxxxx

    > How do you turn snmp off on the port? which port.
    >
    > thanks
    >
    > "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
    >

    >> If you are connected to the hostname of the device verify that the
    >> hostname
    >> responds to ping
    >>
    >> The Standard TCP/IP Port monitor will place the networked device offline
    >> if
    >> SNMP queries to the device fail.
    >>
    >> One can also configure the port such that SNMP is disabled.
    >>
    >> --
    >> Alan Morris
    >> Windows Printing Team
    >> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
    >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
    >>
    >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
    >> rights.
    >>
    >> "Jerry L" <JerryL@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    >> news:78AA899B-7D11-422B-A549-D75E88A3D048@xxxxxx

    >> > Yes, I posted the same problem on 4/07/2007 with no responses so it
    >> > appears
    >> > that I am not alone on this and no one has yet to come up with a
    >> > solution.
    >> > I
    >> > don't have a solution for you either, but will say that I've spent a
    >> > lot
    >> > of
    >> > time surfing the net in hopes of finding one. I have Vista Home
    >> > Premium
    >> > and
    >> > the latest drivers and am NOT networking with any other PC or OS. In
    >> > case
    >> > it
    >> > may apply, my BIOS is not the most current, but I'm reluctant to flash
    >> > it
    >> > until I see a real need and have no proof at this time that BIOS has
    >> > anything
    >> > to do with it.
    >> >
    >> > "Ricegroup" wrote:
    >> >
    >> >> I own a HP Color Laser Jet 2500n printer and it's installed on my
    >> >> network,
    >> >> however, it shows up as "Offline" to my VISTA computer but it prints
    >> >> just
    >> >> fine from my XP Computer, and my daughter's Apple Laptop. I've
    >> >> downloaded
    >> >> and installed the most current driver software does anybody have any
    >> >> ideas?
    >>
    >>
    >>


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  9. #9


    JDeville Guest

    Re: Printer shows as "Offline"

    I've had the same issues. This isn't a fix, but it's a better
    workaround than uninstalling and reinstalling.

    1. Open a command prompt in administrator mode (Start >> Accessories

    >> Right-Click >> Run as administrator)
    2. type the following, and the press enter: ipconfig /release
    3. type the following, and the press enter: ipconfig /renew (you'll
    have to wait a second for this one to complete)
    4. Go to your printers, and right-click the network printer that says
    it was online. Hopefully there will be Use Printer Online option now.


    It seems that vista may be trying to check on the status of your
    printer before your computer's networking bits are fully configured
    when you boot. My best guess is that it appears to be willing to
    recheck when it detects changes to the state of your network
    connection, which is essentially what we did with the steps above.

    Hope that works for others.


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  10. #10


    Paul in Montreal Guest

    Re: Printer shows as "Offline"

    Hello all,

    I've found a solution (worked for my setup) that clears the printer offline
    problem when printing from a Vista laptop PC over a home network to a printer
    connected to a Windows98 desktop PC. I never had this problem with my XP
    Home laptop accessing the printers on the Windows98 PC.

    With the Vista PC, I was always able to Add my 2 printers (HP PSC 1350 and
    Canon i560) using Vista's wizard (Add a local printer), but after a restart
    of the Vista PC, both printers would be offline. In Printer properties,
    Ports tab, both printers would appear as Client Side Rendering Provider under
    the Description column.

    My Vista PC is a new Dell Inspiron 1420, Vista Home Premium (WiFi networking).
    My print server is a Dell Dimension V350, Windows 98 (ethernet networking).
    Home network is WiFi using a D-Link 624 router, WPA-PSK security enabled.
    Canon i560 bubblejet printer on parallel port of Dell Dimension V350
    HP PSC 1350 on USB port of Dell Dimension V350

    Here's the fix:
    1. In Control Panel, Printers, delete offline printers. If they wont
    delete, it may be because there are pending print jobs in the queue. Open the
    printer and Cancel the jobs.
    2. In Printer properties, Ports tab, delete the previoulsy installed
    printers (offline statuts) that appear as Client Side Rendering Provider
    under the Description column. To do this, highlight the port, then click on
    Delete Port button. Click Apply.
    3. Restart your PC.
    4. Now reinstall the printers as follows:
    5. Open Control panel, Printers, and click Add a printer.
    6. Click Add a local printer.
    7. Select the "Use an existing port" radio button, and select LPT1: (Printer
    Port). Click Next.
    8. Install the printer driver. Mine were found in the list inlcuded with
    Vista. Select the manufacturer and the printer. Click Next.
    9. In the next window, accept the printer name or type in a new name. Leave
    the "Set as default printer" box unchecked. Click Next.
    10. Vista should now install the printer. A window should open saying
    "You've successfully added printer name.
    11. DO NOT Print a test page at this time, because nothing is connected to
    the LPT1 port on the laptop. Just press Finish. The printer you just added
    should appear in the Printers window.
    12. Click ONCE on the newly added printer to highlight it, then right-click
    and open Properties.
    13. On the Ports tab, click Add Port…, select Local Port, then click New Port…
    14. When the Port Name window open, Enter a port name as follows:
    \\computername\printername
    (replace computername with the name of your PC acting as print server, and
    printername with the name of your printer). Click OK.
    15. You should now have a new port listed on the Ports tab of the printer
    Properties, but now the Description should be Local Port, instead of Client
    Side Rendering Provider. Click OK.
    16. Now you can go to the General tab, and Print a Test Page.

    Hopefully, your test page will print. Then restart your computer to check
    that the printer comes back online.

    This procedure worked for me. Hope it works for you too. Let me know. Good
    luck!
    (PS: bi-directional printer support is enabled).



    "JDeville" wrote:

    > I've had the same issues. This isn't a fix, but it's a better
    > workaround than uninstalling and reinstalling.
    >
    > 1. Open a command prompt in administrator mode (Start >> Accessories

    > >> Right-Click >> Run as administrator)
    > 2. type the following, and the press enter: ipconfig /release
    > 3. type the following, and the press enter: ipconfig /renew (you'll
    > have to wait a second for this one to complete)
    > 4. Go to your printers, and right-click the network printer that says
    > it was online. Hopefully there will be Use Printer Online option now.
    >
    >
    > It seems that vista may be trying to check on the status of your
    > printer before your computer's networking bits are fully configured
    > when you boot. My best guess is that it appears to be willing to
    > recheck when it detects changes to the state of your network
    > connection, which is essentially what we did with the steps above.
    >
    > Hope that works for others.
    >
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

Printer shows as “Offline” problems?

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Hdd shows raw RAJESH MALIK General Discussion 1 09 Mar 2009
No mail shows in WLM Andre Live Mail 3 27 Jan 2009
SP1 shows 4GB RAM Electron Vista General 10 09 May 2008
after reboot a copy of the printer shows up Robert J. Lafayette Vista performance & maintenance 1 07 Feb 2008
SP1 shows all 8GB Tom Lake Vista General 17 18 Dec 2007