Laptop & HP wireless printer issues...

[katz]

I suppose I'm missing something simple here...help me out guys.

I'm working with a Lenovo Win 10 x64 laptop & an HP 3630. The laptop has just completed the latest Win 10 update (1903).

When the laptop scans for the printer, it will find it and install. After that, I lose internet connection on the laptop. Only way to get it back online is a reboot, and then the printer no longer works wireless.

Tried latest driver, same issue.

Ideas? Could this be a bug from the latest Win 10 update?

 

[Porthos]

Tried latest driver, same issue.

Have you uninstalled everything HP including devices and printers in control panel(remove device) restart and use the basic driver installer from HP. Not the full feature one.

 

[katz]

I did use the basic driver. I see there is a firmware update. That might help. I suppose I should connect w/ USB to get it installed, apply the firmware update and then try wireless.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Sounds like it keeps adding it "ad-hoc". So that behavior is expected. In ad-hoc mode, the computer connects to either the printer, or the wifi/router, but not both at the same time.

I can't stand installing/supporting wireless printers, I always strongly recommend a printer wired to the network. But in the rare cases I'd have to do so...I connect the printer to the networks wifi..so the printer is now on the network. And then I created a DHCP reservation for the printer, so the printer always gets the same IP address. Then I add the printer, using the standard print wizard...but using its TCP/IP address...I can't stand that auto find WDS port thing that frequently breaks.

And log into the printers web admin and turn off that wifi broadcast ad hoc thing.
And if I have a printer that is combo ethernet/wireless..and I use ethernet..I always log into the printer and disable its wifi..since that just cuts into the networks wireless performance (takes up channels, interference).

 

[katz]

YeOldeStonecat

Thanks for that explanation! makes perfect sense! I used to know about ad-hoc, years ago. Since I'm not as busy as I once was I seem to be forgetting a lot of stuff I once knew. I'm not a huge fan of installing wireless printers, but I must say they have improved greatly over the years.

HP's can still be buggy, especially with their unbelievably huge driver files, lol. I rarely have issues with any other models. A couple years ago, I had a client with an expensive Ricoh laser printer with as similar issue. In the end, Ricoh support sent a tech to his home and he installed a special driver that I did not have access to. The tech was kind enough to give me a copy of the driver, since it was a "fix-all" driver for all Ricoh's.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I actually prefer HP printers..but I usually work with the business models.
Things are easy with HPs Universal Print Drivers! Pretty small driver package.
Similar with Canons UFRII drivers.

 

[katz]

I actually prefer HP printers..but I usually work with the business models.

Makes sense. Most of the residential work I get, the client buys a cheapo HP, which takes forever to install a driver, and of course, not to mention the cost of the replacement ink carts for the cheap thing.