Network Printer isn't working

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
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Very small network, just 2 computers and a printer. The printer has stopped working. I believe the computer still can see the printer, but nothing prints. No error message, but I sometimes see printer is offline.

No idea what might be the problem. Toner is low if that can be a factor?

It is a dell3010
 

Tarrant64

Diamond Member
Sep 20, 2004
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I would think that it would just say toner low if that was the case.

You can try to restart the print spool service. Start -> Run -> services.msc

Scroll down to the service and restart it.
 

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
13,679
119
106
Hmm I guess that might be it. I just removed the printer and reinstalled it and it was fine, but today it randomly went offline again.

Can there be another cause before I have to replace the toner and hope that was the cause?
 

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
13,679
119
106
It is a dell 3010cn

connected to the router that 2 other computers are connected to
 

dawza

Senior member
Dec 31, 2005
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In Control Panel, when you right click on the printer, is the "use printer offline" ticked? If so, untick it and see if that resolves your problem.
 

slayer202

Lifer
Nov 27, 2005
13,679
119
106
Originally posted by: dawza
In Control Panel, when you right click on the printer, is the "use printer offline" ticked? If so, untick it and see if that resolves your problem.

I think this may have been the problem. What might cause it to do that? trying to print while not on the network?
 

Fullmetal Chocobo

Moderator<br>Distributed Computing
Moderator
May 13, 2003
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Have you power cycled the equipment? Turn off the router then the printer, then turn on the router then printer.
 

dawza

Senior member
Dec 31, 2005
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Originally posted by: slayer202
Originally posted by: dawza
In Control Panel, when you right click on the printer, is the "use printer offline" ticked? If so, untick it and see if that resolves your problem.

I think this may have been the problem. What might cause it to do that? trying to print while not on the network?

I honestly have no idea; I came across a similar problem when setting up a network AIO for my lab- some of the computers could not access the printer some of the time, even though initially, all was well. The fix turned out to be as simple as unchecking the "use printer offline" function (you do need to have administrative privileges to do this, if I remember correctly).