We are having an unsuaual problem all of a sudden printing to networked printers from Windows 7 clients. XP and Vista clients print as usual. Windows 7 clients say the printers are offline. I'm sure I was able to print from Windows 7 clients last week.

Hi, First, I would like to confirm how the printer is connected and what the model of the printer is. Please update the printer driver to latest version first. If it does not work, I suggest a System Restore: System Restore ============= 1. Click the Start Button, type "system restore" (without quotations) in the start search box and press enter. 2. Click "Choose a different point" and click next. 3. Check Show more restore points box. 4. Choose a date before this issue happening, and click Next. 5. Click Finish. If it persists, try removing and reinstalling this printer: 1. Click Start button and choose Devices and Printers. 2. Right click on the network printer and choose Remove printer. After that, add a printer again. Vivian Xing - MSFT

I'm having a similar problem in Windows 7 Ultimate. I have a shared network printer that's an HP LJ 4000 - this thing has been around since the stone age and works fine - the driver has been bundled with every version of Windows since 95 I think. The HP LJ 4000 is connected to a Windows Server 2008 box and shared across the workgroup. Everybody in my workgroup can print to the printer just fine, but if I RDP to my main workstation running Windows 7, then next time I log in through the console, the HP LJ 4000 (which is my default printer) shows up as offline even though all the other workstations and server can print fine, so the printer isn't offline at all. I can connect to the server fine and I can delete the printer, but I can't reinstall it until the workstation reboots. Alternately, a reboot is required to show the printer back online again. I used to have a similar problem in Vista Ultimate when I would login remotely via RDP but then it would only clear the default printer flag, so I'll I had to do was re-select it as the default printer. This is very annoying. Jeff Balcerzak

I was having the same issue with Windows 7 64-bit Ultimate. For some reason the port changes. Had to go in any manually reset the IP address from 192.168.0.101 to 192.168.0.100.

thkx a lot! reinstalling the printer works!!

I am having this same problem with windows Vista and two different computers, one a Dell Laser the other an HP office Pro.

I am having this problem as well. I have been able to get the printers to show online again by restarting the print spooler. Does anyone have a fix? I have Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

Dear Vivian, I don't think you are solving any problem. This is a Windows 7 issue, either configuration or some bug as the printer works in the past via network now appears offline. Pls do not BS the users to restore a perfectly running system as a trial and error way to brush off the real roblem. SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

Thanks Vivian, My windows 7(64bit) laptop all of a sudden showed my wireless printer (brother MFC_255CW) as "offline" eventhough it had been working fine for weeks. Your first suggested step (installing the latest printer driver) did the trick. Thanks again!

I know this issue is still not fixed. Restoring to an earlier date does not work. This has been an issue for me as soon as I bought a 64 bit computer and added Windows 7 Pro. I have a domain and we setup one of our domain controllers as a print server for our users. We have Toshiba copiers and I have installed latest, greatest drivers and such, but I still have the offline problem. I have restarted my print spooler - - Did not fix. I have changed the power options on my network card to not shut down to save power. I have tried every suggestion I have found on every forum. Bottom line is this issue needs to be fixed before I commit my entire network (150 computers) to Windows 7 Pro - - Or tell me how to get them to online status so I can print and not have to use my Big Chief tablet and #2 pencil - - - Howard

I have the same problem but have already committed all of our users to W7. At first I would restart the Print Spooler and Workstation service on the workstations having the problem. This seemed to help but then later the user would experience the same problem, next I disabled the power management for the NIC and that seemed to help until about 2 weeks ago something happened and again I was getting calls from users unable to print. I try to keep the print drivers up to date and I removed all of the older HP Printers using the universal drivers. I have a mixed environment of 2003 and 2008 servers, someone mentioned that maybe the server running 2003 which is also my print server may be the issue and that I need to upgrade it to 2008, not really the answer I was looking for. The one common thing with these users are they all use one of the seven HP1055 plotters. This may boil down to print driver problems using older printers, it would be nice for HP to step up and help since that is what I think the issue is, but HP wants us to buy their newer plotters.

Problem seems to be fixed with Win7 SP1 update I installed this morning. Let's see if this update fixes the problem for others who have posted here.Seth Thomas

The only thing that would fix it for me was to turn SNMP off on the printer driver/properties and it stays online now. Andy

Hi, The actual problem is with file sharing, (Printer Sharing works Exactly same like file sharing) if you can access PC A from PC B only than you can Print from Printer (Windows 7 features are advance) Next time if you face such problem with Shared Printer not printing (Windows 7 shows Offline) Open that PC from My Network Places, than it should ask you for Credential (check remember me) Note: when you open file system in network it asks for User name & password, when you print from network without knowing User printer goes offline, you can't access. Harjit

As I read over this and other post, there is no "fix" to "printer offline" that works long term. Yes reinstalling the printer works until whatever conditions drive this issue happens again. jcr

I think I found a fix or you may consider it a work around. I just had the same problem with my printer. My laptop is running 7 64-bit version and I have a Hp OJ 6500 series shared on my network. Here's how I put my printer back online 1. Double click the offline printer to bring up the print queue 2. Select printer from the menu tab- Once you select the printer you will notice that offline function is checked. Click on it an the printer goes back online. 3. Print a test page to see if the issue is resolved. I didn't have to reinstall the printer or update the drivers. True, for some old reason, when you share a printer using Window 7 it kicks the printer offline. Now, I'm not sure this is the solution but it is a great work around. Maybe MS will come out with a patch to correct this problem but from the print queue you have the ability to put an offline printer back online. The printer also retains its share permission as well so you don't have to remove the share capabilities from it to apply this fix. I hope this Helps God Bless

Hi, I've been having this problem for as long as this forum's had the original post and have tried most of the things mentioned. As someone else has stated they all appear to be temporary fixes and the problem keeps reoccuring suggesting it's a software issue. Any chance of a fix in an upcoming Windows Update?

hello, same problem happened to me yesterday, printer suddenly stop working (wirelessly) on my Windows7. In the Word document I was about to print, it says the printer is ready but when I clicked the print button, I got this message indicating printer cannot communicate with computer. I checked my printer's (Lexmark) network connection via my computer and via printer but it's fine, printer is connected to network. Then I tried uninstalling my printer's software on my computer and reinstalled it, but again it didn't work, it says printer cannot communicate with computer. So, I checked my firewall set up, but printer has full access. I checked updates to Windows7, but my computer is up to date. Please help.

I just figured out my offline printer problem. I have a wireless Lexmark Printer 4600 series. I have it wirelessly connected to my desktop upstairs. I also have a laptop which uses the same wireless network and it is connected to the printer as well. I just looked at my printer settings and it says under the sharing tab: You can share this printer with other computers on your network. The printer will NOT be available when the computer is sleeping or turned off. This is exactly what my problem was. I turned on my computer that has the wireless router and the printer went immediately on line and I was able to print. Now I just need to figure out why and how to set up my wireless printer to print from my laptop as well. I hope this helps others.

Hi, Just reset your all printer setting and start up.I think its really can work. http://www.uniquemarking.com/products/laser-marking-yag-2/

I had the same problem with my Windows 7 Pro desktop and a Brother MFC-7440N that had been working fine. The printer power was on and I could use it to scan, but the printer driver was showing as offline. I could print files and they would show up in the queue, but not actually print unless I rebooted the computer. Yes, during startup (before getting the CTRL-ALT-DEL prompt), files previously queued would suddenly start to print, but then once I logged in, the printer would show as Offline. My fix was to: 1. 'Remove Device' from 'Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Devices and Printers' (right-click on icon) 2. Select 'Add a Device'. My printer showed up in a list, double click on it, and voila, re-installed and now working fine as far as I can tell. Other information: My printer is setup with a static IP address. It responded to ping, telnet and http:// appropriately. My $0.02 Cheers, Tristan.

The only thing that would fix it for me was to turn SNMP off on the printer driver/properties and it stays online now. Andy Perfect Andy! Did this for all of the printers showing offline while using wireless and they all showed up online immediately. :)

Hi, For turning on the offline mode, firstly you have to firstly click Start. You have to take the Control panel. In that, you would select the option named ‘Printers and Faxes’ icon. When you click that it would open a window. That window would show the list of printers which are being connected to the system. Then, double-click the printer in which you have to change the mode. A pop-up window would then appear. You would go to the printer in the menu bar of that pop-up window. Lastly uncheck the ‘use Printer Offline’. After performing that the printer would go into the online mode. get more help to fix windows 7 network printer offline...................... http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/18319-63-printer-line-problem http://printers.iyogi.com/errors/windows-7-network-printer-error.html Hope this helps you. Regards!

I agree that Vivian does not have an answer here. I have the same problem on a network setup with 7 printers going offline. Win 7 64bit! SP1 seems to be the only change in my setup from original Win 7 install over a year ago and in some cases from date of release. This seems to be a bug to me and we need a windows update. Also there is no option to go back online when double clicking the printer to see whats printing ... connect and update driver are both grayed out.

i suppose thrs two things that should be tested. 1) allow guest to access network (without username & password should be able to access network) 2) change DNS (maybe its taking long time to find printer server) Add one Local default gateway in DNS & other Internet DNS let me add one more thing 1. In Windows 7 Control Panel 2. Select "Programs and Features" pane 3. Click "Turn Windows Features on or off" 4. Turn on the LPD protocol. with Regards.

I had the same problem and found by deleting the printer from list of available printers and then adding the printer again solved the problem :)

I had similar issue and discovered that on my network-attached printer I had different network mask that the one on the computer exhibiting this problem. I made my printer's static IP's mask match the mask on DHPC, i.e. on the local computer -- that fixed the issue.

Thank you ! it worked for me, although it wasn't easy to find how : for my printer I had to go to " HP OfficeJet Pro L7700 Serie Properties" (clic on "Customize your printer" in "Devices and Printers" from the Control Panel), then in the "Ports" tab, selected the Port with my IP adress and then clicked "Configure Port", then I was able to uncheck "SNMP Status Enabled" ! Thanks a lot Andy !

I had the same problem... This has something to do with security settings. Check if you can access other folders on the host where printer is installed. If Windows prompts you for the username and password simply enter it. Printer then appeared online. It worked for me. I need to check shared options to have a permanent solution.

Thank you andygee11!! After working on this problem all morning, disabling snmp did the trick for me.

I'd like to thank everybody on this forum for their suggestions. I was having almost the same problem as this. However only one of three Windows 7 clients was unable to print. They all were able to print when configured a year ago. However one started having the printing problem about two months ago. I'm using a Brother network printer. After a few moments of time, success occurred. Steps: Reinstalled printer driver - No Success (NS) Installed Win 7 (X64) SP1 - NS Reinstalled printer driver - NS (even though printer was found during install process, regardless of firewall settings) Switched the port to ensure it was going to the printer - NS In the process at several alternatives, turned off firewall (Comodo) entirely - NS Then installed printer driver via "New Printer", not via Brother install - Success !!! So far, so good. Have turned off SNMP according to some posts - still able to print. (Was able to do so even with SNMP enabled). Tags for the search engines : printer offline with Windows 7 even though other computers can print okay

This solution worked for me. Okidata C3530 MFP. Was working for several days, after long weekend printer was offline on all computers. Unchecked SNMP within printer settings and printer immediately can online. Good job Andy!

The only thing that would fix it for me was to turn SNMP off on the printer driver/properties and it stays online now. Andy Excellent advise Andy.... I have been trying for hours upon hours. I even unistalled and reinstalled the print drivers/software. Configured the port to deselect SNMP and the printer came online immediately... Thanks for the advise.

Hi, First, I would like to confirm how the printer is connected and what the model of the printer is. Please update the printer driver to latest version first. If it does not work, I suggest a System Restore: System Restore ============= 1. Click the Start Button, type "system restore" (without quotations) in the start search box and press enter. 2. Click "Choose a different point" and click next. 3. Check Show more restore points box. 4. Choose a date before this issue happening, and click Next. 5. Click Finish. If it persists, try removing and reinstalling this printer: 1. Click Start button and choose Devices and Printers. 2. Right click on the network printer and choose Remove printer. After that, add a printer again. Vivian Xing - MSFT FAIL!!! Thx alot Andy, you made my day!