Computer help forum: Printer Won't Print

Where and to what was the printer plugged into before you moved? You mentioned plugging it into the modem and also plugging in your PC to the cable modem. Are these the same device and, if so, is what you have a modem/router combination? My first thought is that your printer doesn't work because it's in a different port and that port is not defined in your PC...that it's still trying to print through the old port. What has changed from then to now in that regard might be the cause of this issue.

Just got home and will try the other ports. I remember before I moved I was using a cable modem and router with my computer and printer. The person who did the internet said with the modem is was putting in that I did not need the router anymore. Do I need to have a USB cable going from the printer to the computer? Right now I just have the printer going to the cable modem.

By plugging it into a different port, I didn't mean a different ethernet port on the same device. But it does sound as though you have a modem/router combo since you seem to have both your PC and printer plugged into the "modem". What may have happened is an IP address change. We don't know how your printer was set up before you moved but it's likely your new modem is using a different address range from the old one. This shouldn't matter if both used DHCP addressing but would matter if your printer had a static address. Is there any way you check that? You should be able to find that information under "properties" for that printer. The port settings should be viewable. In the worst case, you can delete and re-add the printer. You'd have your PC search for network printers or perhaps your printer came with discovery software such as HPs Jetadmin tool.

Unlikely. If it was USB or ethernet, then the port shouldn't really matter. The hardware can figure that out on its own. If it were an old parallel port printer, then maybe we'd be on to something.

Now, if the IP address for the printer has changed THAT could most definitely have something to do with the issue, and it seems quite likely to be the case given that the hardware has changed. So to the OP, I would suggest running the add printer wizard thing again, and see if Windows can't find the signal your printer is broadcasting to announce itself.

I want to make sure that I understand what you are saying in that my printer should print either by ethernet cable going to the modem or usb cable going to the computer. I just wanted to confirm that I don't need both.

I called the my internet service provider and he said that the IP address was the same. The only change was the type of modem that they gave me which is a wireless modem yet because my desktop isn't wireless I do have to have the computer go to the modem to get the internet service. I'm not sure if I still have the cd and if I don't then I"m thinking I would need to get the cd from HP first then delete the printer and readd the printer.

Hope I'm making sense. I've been moving these last 4 days and have ben without A/C at my new place until just a few hours ago.

and while the printer was working was it connected to the computer with a USB cable?

That is likely the case and re-connecting it with a USB cable would get things working again.

To hook it up either wired to the network or wirelessly REQUIRES that you install the proper drivers and might also require you to set the printer IP address within the same range as the router supports.

Name the printer and model and we can likely point you to the proper drivers for ethernet.

The make and model is HP Officejet 6310 All-In-One. I don't think it was connected to the computer as I did not find a USB cable in the box that had everything from the computer and printer in it.

The modem is a Arris DG950.

Let me know what I should do and will try your suggestions.

http://www.broadstripe.com/pdf/UserGuides/DG950.pdf

I can't guess if that's it but we do turn it off for the testing.

I turned off the firewall on the Arris modem and restarted my computer. I tried to print a test page from the printer and that did not print.

This really has me stumped. Do you have any other suggestions? I don't know what else to try. I just it find it strange how it printed the day before the move and now it doesn't print.

Next we uninstall and reinstall the printer driver. I have to do that when I have a change in my network and I don't have time to look at the network firewall in the OS or Antivirus.
Bob

I will try that. It might be a few days before I am able to do that as I need to get unpacked. Once I try that I will come back and let you know the status.

Thanks for all the help.

It might be good to make certain you have the latest drivers available.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/ProductList.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=18972&prodSeriesId=1120059&taskId=135

I'm not seeing a reference to your OS but pay attention to the 32 bit and 64 bit choices and select the correct file for your OS if you're using Vista or Windows 7. With a little luck, the installation wizard will find the printer on its own but it's a good idea to have some idea about the port address or printer name if not. My personal preference with network printers is to use a static IP address rather than DHCP (router assigned) as it makes troubleshooting easier if a printer disappears.