Printer(s) problem: Read = No printing, no how

[RHPConsult]

I think I've been down this blind alley before in some connection, but, I'm sorry, I just can't recall the TeeEss "solution".

Sequence of events:

1. Without any warning(s), printing became non-functional  this afternoon, when we began to print both color photos and grayscale photos (we're working on editing a Family History)
2. No on HP LaserJet 4MV
3. No on HP DeskJet 970cse
4. Printer Set-up utility lists both printers, while declaring Jobs Stopped, BUT, Resume not available for selection.
5. Rebooted both printers and all Macs
6. Repaired Permissions w/DiskUtility
7. Verified Disk w/Disk Utility
8. Downloaded and installed new drivers for both printers from HP's we site
9. Repaired Permissions

Any ideas? What may I have overlooked? I've done something wrong, inadvertently, but apparently.

Nothing newly installed except new firmware for AEBS. Subsequently, it  functioned quite smoothly for several days and then Boom!, this afternoon. Nothing.

No grayscale, no color photos. Nothing except Text.

How do I get Jobs Stoppedoverridden by Resume?

One request, please: Do not recommend that 3d party alleged repair utility for Printer Setup. I'm sorry, at my age, sad to say, that was absolutely the murkiest set of instructions (filled with insider references) I recall ever having the misfortune to encounter. It's use was NOT necessary to get out of a similar dilemma in the past. Thank you.

[chriskleeman]

Uhh, duhh, have you,  by any chance, rebooted the AEBS in this process? Perhaps a stoopid question, but, I have done more stoopid things that that... I would reboot the internet modem, then reboot the AEBS, and see if that works, but you've probably already done that???

Additionally, are you hard-wired in to one of the computers with one of those printers and nothing still works?

But you are printing text?

I'm stumped! But then, it doesn't take much sometimes...

Chris K

[RHPConsult]

'Tis a puzzlement.

I am connected to the 'net just fine. Seamonkey and Firefox are working just fine. I can print text . . . photos . . . I don't think so!

DP

[sandbox]

Can you delete the print job?
A shared printer would require you to access the printer from the computer that sent the print file. If your trying to resume or delete a file sent by another computer the options will not be available.

[pendragon]

Dick,

Indeed it does seem (to me) to be a printer queue or network problem. Of course, the network can be verified (or not) by connecting a printer directly to computer.

So, if SB's suggestion doesn't work, a few suggestions, well, guesses really, just to prime the pump a bit more--

1. When you restarted, was it just a restart or was it from a shut down? AFAIK, printer queues are often deleted when the power is off, ergo, a power down of both the printers and computer may clear the Job Stopped/Resume issue.

2. Since this may be a network issue, resetting all network devices (Airports, routers, modems, etc.) can't hurt (well, shouldn't). Also, since you have a scanner (and other peripherals?) connected, disconnecting that is worth trying.

3. You checked for loose cables and the like?

4. I have five printer plists (Home/Library/Preferences). I presume you have a similar list:
com.apple.print.PrintingPrefs.plist
com.apple.print.PrinterProxy.plist
com.apple.print.PrintCenter.plist
com.apple.print.custompresets.plist
com.apple.print.favorites.plist

Perhaps one of your printer plists is corrupt and needs removing.

Sorry for all the guesswork.

[Xairbusdriver]

You'll probably need to open the individual printers 'activity' dialog which you get simply by double-clicking its listing in Printer Setup Utility. In that printers 'activity' window/dialog, you can attempt to start the print job, assuming there is even one showing. Success may be marginal or non-existent. I usually get this kind of problem when I've accidentally asked to print something on the manual feed drawer which is non-existent on one of my printers. At other times, the printer memory can get corrupted and the only solution is to turn it OFF/ON. That usually clears up the printer "Stopped" message when there is no print job showing.

Other than that, just be sure you are not asking for a print job in any abnormal way from either of these printers. I think you now have them attached directly to the two Macs, correct? They should therefore not be concerned about any networking problems other than having the Printer Sharing turned ON at each Mac.

[RHPConsult]

To review: - Tuesday morning

Without preamble or warning the LaserJet resumed “normal” operations when I came in this morning, i.e. it again prints BOTH text and images from both the iMacs (G5 and Intel). The only recalcitrant puppy now is the DeskJet.

Both Printers and all Macs were shut down cold and restarted at least 3 times last evening
Both are part of our Airport LAN, have been for m-o-n-t-h-s
Latest AEBS firmware was updated 4-5 days ago. Everything was working quite fine until yesterday afternoon

DeskJet is ON
Personal fire sharing ON;
Printer sharing ON

Have just trashed 5 plists as suggested by Harv

Printer Set-Up Utility seems stuck-on-stupid as afar as having “Resume” become active.

[attachment=365:Print_Qu..._DeskJet.jpg]

The Print Dialog for the DeskJet continues to displays a tiny exclamation point next to its placement in the Printer roster . ..before/after trashing the prefs. Clicking on it produces . . .nothing! No explanation, no clue to remediation. It's the tiny black circle in the ilustration below.

The Dropdown in the DeskJet now shows a strikethrough I've not seen before this morning
 

[attachment=364:Dropdown...ethrough.jpg]

And, finally, a very curious "stop error" dialog is non-functional and grayed-out after it pops-up. Unfortunately I cannot display it, since a sterm FORBIDDEN appears as I attempt to upload the prospective attachment it to this message.  Its legend offer the following alternative:  Add to Queue;  Cancel;  Continue none of which are functional.

Further ideas solicited.

[Paddy]

Dick, at this point I'd try deleting the Deskjet from the printer list, trashing all its plist files, turning it off and letting it sit for a few minutes and then turn it back on and add it back into the printer list. You might want to shut all three Macs down for good measure too. Somewhere, somehow, there is probably something stuck in the print queue/corrupted. I've occasionally had to delete a printer and add it back in - usually cures whatever wacky behaviour it's been exhibiting.

[Xairbusdriver]

Have you opened the "activity" dialog for each printer on each Mac? There should be two dialog windows on each Mac, one for each printer. Open "Printer Setup Utility". Double-click each printer, separately. You should now have two windows, one for each printer shared/used my that Mac. Does either indicate a print job stopped?

Now do the above steps on the other Mac. Any difference in those two "activity" windows?

The basic problem is that one or both printers think they have jobs in a queue for printing. There is a file on at least one Mac that says it has stopped a print job for each printer. It is similar to the file that is supposed to get deleted when you shut down your Mac intentionally, if the Mac gets shutdown in any other way, it knows from the existence of that file that things may not be copasetic and it performs some basic routines to make sure. A similar file ( the "Queue" has not been erased for some reason for both the printers. The solution is to find the file(s) and delete them. They may well be hidden in a "/tmp" directory which I don't think Spotlight can display. Do you have another Find utility such as EasyFind?

The real problem is, we don't really know the name of this queue, it could be called a chache, a queue, a printtmp, etc. You might have better luck just looking for files that were created yesterday, especially any that have "cache", "queue", "print" or "This_is_the_file_that_tells_the_printer_dialog_that_the_requested_printer
_is_not_available_without_easy_and_simple_access_to_how_to_fix_it.txt".

[RHPConsult]

Thanks, Jim and Paddy:

I, too, had the horseback opinion that something was probably "stuck" but everywhere I looked there has been

1. An absence of data on what, where, why
2. Some kind of barrier (i.e. no access to Resume) to surmount the barrier, the congestion, the clog (technical term)

I'll try deleting and re-listing again, though when I downloaded new drivers last night that drill didn't seem to have an effect.

I'll also search for

QUOTE

"This_is_the_file_that_tells_the_printer_dialog_that_the_requested_printer_i
_not_available_without_easy_and_simple_access_to_how_to_fix_it.txt". wallbash.gif

Thanks. very much.

[Xairbusdriver]

I doubt that re-installing will affect any "queue". That's a machine specific and supposedly temporary file created when one tells the printer to uh, print. The location is probably hard coded to use some "/tmp" directory in the users Library. You might try using Onyx or similar app to clear all temporary files/caches/etc. But I suggest you get a bunch of good #2 pencils ready for your 'printing' needs... ( ink pens should be used for archived 'prints' )

[krissel]

Dick, it's that baby hawk interfering with the signals.  

[RHPConsult]

Finally . . . a "solution" I can understand.

He/she did crash into one of our picture windows on the 1st day of "solo" flying, last week. AOK now.

[cdub1988]

RHP,

I know that you don't normally want to discuss anything Terminal-related, but at this point, you may find it easier to solve the problem by opening a Terminal and trying to locate where the print job was spooled in the process list.

You can do it by typing:

ps ax

Then when you find your print job, you can issue the following command:

kill process#

So, in my case, I'd say:

kill 9214

When I spool on this Linux partition, I get this in the process list for our Samsung LAN laser printer.....



Again, I apologize for suggesting Terminal, but it really may be the easiest way. You need to get the queue clear from everything you've said.

Be glad to walk through a sample of it on the Mac here if you need me to spool something and then grab another screenshot from Terminal on that if it would help.

Just let me know.

Take care,

Chris

[RHPConsult]

Very kind of you, Chris.

Do you have iChat, should I need you to perch on my shoulder for a few minutes, if I were to try this exercise for the first time?

This does not appear too intimidating . . . only if I think of what you (and other denizens of Terminal) would conceive of as nothing more than reflexive behavior, for which I would require step-by-step instructions, so to avoid unintended (and very unpleasant) consequences!