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12-Jan-23 11:15

So, I've been unable to print to my HP printer. If you go back and find a past post, I technically failed and acquired a printer that requires it to call home to HP. Now, why it needs to call home, I can only surmise it wants to let HP know if I need more toner (looking on my shelf with a cartridge sitting there). It's been sitting in my office blinking with an error light. Well an exclamation point. I just put in new toner, the paper is in it, I can ping the printer so I know it's on the network.

Apparently there is some elephanting level of bullshit in the printer that disables the device if it cannot reach home. Deadman timer or some such thing. I bumble around the buttons and it finally prints me a page - simply by providence - can't phone home. The HP Stupid s/w won't install on my laptop and there is nothing to give me a hint as to what the problem is.

After fighting for an hour, I took the time to say f it and bought a brother printer. But it's installation process is looking for a WIPS code (I want wireless - too many cables already) and I have not been able to find it.

Grab your popcorn and stay tuned. John, I need a full clip of ACP for the HP. Office Space - Printer Scene (UNCENSORED) - YouTube[^]

Update: Finally just went around the s/w installation, assigned a static IP and everyone is happy. I have an amplifi mesh network in my house, so had to figure out how to turn on WPS. I know that this is supposed to simplify things, but I don't see how.

Anyway, out with the trash.

Charlie Gilley

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759

Has never been more appropriate.

modified 13-Jan-23 6:49am.

Mike Hankey12-Jan-23 11:28

Mike Hankey

12-Jan-23 11:28

I bought a Brother wireless color laser printer about 6 months ago, it was a little bit of a pain to set up but has run smoothly since.

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Greg Utas12-Jan-23 11:43

Greg Utas

12-Jan-23 11:43

SWMBO also wanted a color laser printer and also bought a Brother.

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Jim Sefton12-Jan-23 12:37

Jim Sefton

12-Jan-23 12:37

I had an HP M500 and loved it, but consumables were very expensive. Replaced with a Brother... much cheaper to run but not nearly as good quality.

Peter_in_278012-Jan-23 14:02

Peter_in_2780

12-Jan-23 14:02

I think the disease is limited to networked (wired or wireless) printers.
While it may be possible for a USB printer to phone home (with a bit of help from the host), it's got to be too difficult for them to bother, methinks.
I have had a number of different brands of USB-only inkjets, and never encountered that issue. (The current one is hp, btw.)
I also have a very old hp laserjet 1600 that refuses to die. In it's 2600, networked, guise it was a very popular office printer in its day.

Cheers,
Peter

Software rusts. Simon Stephenson, ca 1994. So does this signature. me, 2012

Rick York12-Jan-23 14:06

Rick York

12-Jan-23 14:06

I have a Canon unit that I like quite a bit. It has wireless capability but does not seem to phone home. The part I like most is I can use third-party ink in it that costs twenty bucks for five sets of cartridges or four bucks per set. That is considerably cheaper than Canon's ink at about fifty bucks per set.

I have ranted about HP in the past. I detest them.

"They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen?"

jmaida12-Jan-23 17:09

12-Jan-23 17:09

which HP model?

"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger

charlieg15-Jan-23 15:52

15-Jan-23 15:52

m140we - w for wireless, no USB connection Wink | ;)

Charlie Gilley

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759

Has never been more appropriate.

jmaida15-Jan-23 16:24

15-Jan-23 16:24

I have the HP Smart Tank 650.
I had similar issues, but it was static IP and wireless modem issues.
What a pain. I paid good money for this very nice printer that works
like a charm when it works. Ink lasts forever. No more ink jet cartridges.
But HP seems to want you hooked somehow to its product renewables.
Ink tanks seem to reduce that need.
However, I have to log in to HP to make scanner work.
Grrr. Curse and blessing of internet.

"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger

Daniel Pfeffer12-Jan-23 21:50

Daniel Pfeffer

12-Jan-23 21:50

I've had networked Brother printers for the last 10+ years. I had to replace one a couple of years ago (fixing turned out to be more expensive than it was worth), but un general - they have very reliable.

My current printer works on both Wi-Fi and Ethernet, but I prefer the latter. We live in an apartment block, so Wi-Fi is a shared resource; if I can avoid using it, I do.

Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.
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DerekT-P12-Jan-23 22:11

DerekT-P

12-Jan-23 22:11

Return it under your consumer rights as "not fit for purpose" - you should get 100% of your money back.

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Phasmid email discussion group ... also nothing to do with IT
Beekeeping and honey site ... still nothing to do with IT

charlieg15-Jan-23 15:55

15-Jan-23 15:55

I don't have the time for that. The printer is not the expensive. I just wish they had a "we can't call home so you can't print light." It is just elephanting nonsense.

I rarely print things - maybe 25 pages a month on a bad month. It's probably more affordable and easy to just send a PDF file to the local UPS, office max or what ever store.

Charlie Gilley

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759

Has never been more appropriate.

DerekT-P16-Jan-23 2:23

DerekT-P

16-Jan-23 2:23

... and so, they'll just keep on making this stuff. Frown | :(

Telegraph marker posts ... nothing to do with IT
Phasmid email discussion group ... also nothing to do with IT
Beekeeping and honey site ... still nothing to do with IT

charlieg16-Jan-23 8:05

16-Jan-23 8:05

I'm going to let the free market do its thing. I would easily spend 4 hours (WAG) working your suggestion - no offense - for a $149 printer. For the record, I have flamed them on Facebook, but interestingly no response.

Charlie Gilley

“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759

Has never been more appropriate.

BJOD again

jmaida12-Jan-23 9:59

12-Jan-23 9:59

What shivers at the bottom of the ocean?
A nervous wreck.

"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger

Matthew Dennis13-Jan-23 6:53

Matthew Dennis

13-Jan-23 6:53

What are 100 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?

A good start.

"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana."

jmaida13-Jan-23 9:57

13-Jan-23 9:57

LOL

good one
How can you tell a lawyer is mentally ill?
They have their hands in there own pockets.

"A little time, a little trouble, your better day"
Badfinger

trønderen14-Jan-23 3:19

trønderen

14-Jan-23 3:19

Musicians(*) tell the same joke about 100 violas.

(*) except for viola players.

trønderen14-Jan-23 3:24

trønderen

14-Jan-23 3:24

What's the difference between a run-over cat and a run-over lawyer in the road?

There are skid marks in front of the cat.

Jeremy Falcon13-Jan-23 12:01

Jeremy Falcon

13-Jan-23 12:01

When I see BJ of the Day... my mind does not think bad joke.

Jeremy Falcon

jmaida13-Jan-23 14:50