Beware, hp wireless printer Mac compatibility issues.

[Jenko]

First off I would like to apologise for the huge length of my thread/post.
My problem began nearly 8 weeks ago, when I received my first ever Mac purchase (15" i7 MBP) an amazing computer and great investment, I for one will not be returning to PC land again.
I decided to purchase a hp all-in-one photosmart wireless printer B110a series, foolishly I was following the staff pick choice for printer. Now excuse me for being stupid but when a site such as Apple says a product is compatible with its own devices it should work, shouldn't it.
I installed the hp software on the MBP everything went great until I entered the WPS password and was told my MBP could not reach the device. After a few hours trying to get it to work I phoned hp technical advisers. Well first off what a bunch of clueless idiots. I spent four weeks (roughly two days a week, 2hours each call) on the phone to them trying to troubleshoot as to why I could not print wirelessly.
The main issue as far as I could make out was that the printer kept changing its 'IP address' on its own why this happened I do not know but it meant it could not be reached by my MBP.
Before I continue my story I would like to say that the printer works very well when connected by USB cable and I know that maybe I should just use it without the wireless connection, but at the end of the day that is why I bought it as I need a wireless connection.
Every time I was connected to a technical advisor they would go over the same problems every time it was a vicious circle, that included the promise of call backs that never happened and being told my case was being raised to a higher supervisor they are all lies to to drive you mad and put you off so they do not have to fix your problem because they do not know how.
One piece of advice for anyone on the phone to hp from Ireland or the UK ask for 'Abby' in customer services she saved my sanity and helped me get a replacement which is due in 5 days and 'Russell' in technical advisors he was the only person who understood my problem and gave me a replacement straight away.
I have since learnt that the reason for the 4 weeks of hell is that hp has a policy that they will not replace a printer until you have been in contact with them for 28 days or more, what lunacy. I explained to them that any other company selling a product would have sorted this type of problem out a lot sooner.
My advice would be to stay away from hp altogether, I would but I am stuck with the printer now so I will try the replacement if this does not work I have been promised an upgrade to another model To be continued....

Ps Thanks for reading my long rant it is therapeutic for me, hp sucks.
What got me as well was I phoned Apple Customer service after the second week and they said no problem they would change it straight away, but then it would have been messy as I had already sent of my barcodes for the printer rebait, which meant I would have to resend them etc...

Anyway I am almost cured now, still in ongoing hp therapy though.
Thanks for reading.

Regards
Jenko

 

[MrCheeto]

So it came with a software install disk?

Here's a little tip: uninstall everything that is even slightly related to HP from your computer (if the printer is the only HP device you have connected to it) and toss that disc into the woods.

I had a similar problem when I upgraded to Snow Leopard. The solution? Let Mac OS X handle it! I just plugged in the printer, chose to add a printer in the System Preferences and it took care of the rest! Done!

Uninstall everything and go to System Preferences>Print & Fax. Under Print, right-click the white area where printers are listed (don't select a printer, just the white field behind them) and click Reset printing system...

Now you can just connect the printer to your network, or however you're doing it, then open System Preferences>Print & Fax, click on the + symbol and click the printer on the network.

 

[DolemiteJackson]

I can sympathize with you. I've had nothing but headaches from HP printers. And I still can't get all the software off my HDD.

 

[GGJstudios]

I plugged an old HP printer into my AirPort Express and turned it on. My Mac immediately detected it and the first time I printed, it worked perfectly. I didn't have to install any software. I've never had a problem with it, or with any HP printer I've ever owned, which is why I buy only HP printers. YMMV

 

[geri.k]

exactly same problem here...!

 

[Jenko]

So it came with a software install disk?

Here's a little tip: uninstall everything that is even slightly related to HP from your computer (if the printer is the only HP device you have connected to it) and toss that disc into the woods.

I had a similar problem when I upgraded to Snow Leopard. The solution? Let Mac OS X handle it! I just plugged in the printer, chose to add a printer in the System Preferences and it took care of the rest! Done!

Uninstall everything and go to System Preferences>Print & Fax. Under Print, right-click the white area where printers are listed (don't select a printer, just the white field behind them) and click Reset printing system...

Now you can just connect the printer to your network, or however you're doing it, then open System Preferences>Print & Fax, click on the + symbol and click the printer on the network.

Thanks for the info, but I have already tried this. I rang apple care and a very useful technician at apple went through every step with me. As a last resort we even re loaded the the entire OS and HDD. But nothing worked. It will be interesting to see what happens when the replacement printer arrives. If this does not work it will be either an upgrade to another hp printer or refund and maybe an epson or cannon. Who knows, watch this space.

 

[peapody]

Not the same with all hp pritners. I have a p1102w and was able to get it working after some trouble shooting. I youtubed the answer. HP support sucked.

 

[belvdr]

My HP multifunction (OfficeJet 6500) worked straight out of the box with 10.5 and 10.6. Of course, I checked the OS X drivers first before buying so I wouldn't have to go through the mess above.

 

[peapody]

My HP multifunction (OfficeJet 6500) worked straight out of the box with 10.5 and 10.6. Of course, I checked the OS X drivers first before buying so I wouldn't have to go through the mess above.

Yes I did this as well. Even with mac drivers it was still difficult to get the wireless going. Main reason why I got that printer in the first place. Love it though. wireless mono laser for $100. Can't really go wrong with that.

 

[jlblodgett]

My HP Photosmart 6180 works great - wireless and all.

I think it DOES work better to just let Apple's own drivers do the setup.

 

[mangrove]

My HP Photosmart C7180 All-in-One works flawlessly via wifi.

Instead of starting with a computer as it sounds like you did, I did not load the HP software and password'd it to my Time Capsule's wifi network via the setup button on the HP and all is good. We have 5 macs in our house and all print to it wirelessly.

Does your printer have to have an IP address to connect to a small wifi network?

 

[Jenko]

My HP Photosmart C7180 All-in-One works flawlessly via wifi.

Instead of starting with a computer as it sounds like you did, I did not load the HP software and password'd it to my Time Capsule's wifi network via the setup button on the HP and all is good. We have 5 macs in our house and all print to it wirelessly.

Does your printer have to have an IP address to connect to a small wifi network?

Yes the printer needs the WPS key and IP address although we did try setting it up in ADHOC but it did not work.

 

[zadd3l]

My HP multifunction (OfficeJet 6500) worked straight out of the box with 10.5 and 10.6. Of course, I checked the OS X drivers first before buying so I wouldn't have to go through the mess above.

Cheers, how can you setup to can use the wireless scanner function in OfficeJet 6500, I have that one but I can't use the scanner through wireless. I try both Image capture and HP scan in HP utililies but both of them can't see Printer. This function work well when I connect through USB cable.
Thanks

 

[belvdr]

Cheers, how can you setup to can use the wireless scanner function in OfficeJet 6500, I have that one but I can't use the scanner through wireless. I try both Image capture and HP scan in HP utililies but both of them can't see Printer. This function work well when I connect through USB cable.
Thanks

You can't do multiple pages, but if you web browse to the device, you scan a page that way.

 

[animatedude]

Cheers, how can you setup to can use the wireless scanner function in OfficeJet 6500, I have that one but I can't use the scanner through wireless. I try both Image capture and HP scan in HP utililies but both of them can't see Printer. This function work well when I connect through USB cable.
Thanks

i have the same problem.any solutions? apparently if the the printer is plugged into the airport express usb you can't use the scanner or the fax.any solutions for this? you think getting Time Capsule or Airport Extreme will solve this?

 

[justwright03]

MBP losing HP printer after PC prints

I have a related problem with an HP wireless Photosmart printer. As long as I'm the only one using the printer - from my MBP - everything works great. But if my wife prints anything AT ALL from her PC laptop, I can't print again until I re-boot my computer, re-set the router and re-start the printer. Anyone else having this problem? And what can I do about it? It's infuriating.

 

[psymeister]

2 years on no change

Dear Jenko,
I have exactly the same problem going on currently. I've for the same printer and a MPB. I've printed wirelessly (easily) on an HP at my friends house but have had no luck, reaching the same "cannot find device" message each time despite the fact the MBP and the printer both have 5/5 signal from my home wi fi. HP are a bunch of muppets, I got the same thing, promises of calls back with no replies, useless information and asking me to do the same thing over and over again, going in circles and having to re-explain the problem over and over again.
Thanks for sharing at least I know I'm not going crazy. Thinking about upgrading the modem to see if thats the problem, but after reading your post...I doubt it...
Psymeister

 

[tacba]

So it came with a software install disk?

Here's a little tip: uninstall everything that is even slightly related to HP from your computer (if the printer is the only HP device you have connected to it) and toss that disc into the woods.

I had a similar problem when I upgraded to Snow Leopard. The solution? Let Mac OS X handle it! I just plugged in the printer, chose to add a printer in the System Preferences and it took care of the rest! Done!

Uninstall everything and go to System Preferences>Print & Fax. Under Print, right-click the white area where printers are listed (don't select a printer, just the white field behind them) and click Reset printing system...

Now you can just connect the printer to your network, or however you're doing it, then open System Preferences>Print & Fax, click on the + symbol and click the printer on the network.

I must thank you so much for this info. I have spent the last two days trying to get my new wireless hp printer to work properly with my iMac. I could not even get in touch with HP because they notified me that my printer, which i bought yesterday, was out of warranty. so I repeatedly downloaded from HP and searched for answers on their site. then I found this forum, tried what you said (uninstalled all) and in literally 5 seconds my printer was fully operational.