Printer troubleshooting

[Jayems]

Here's a bit of a head-scratcher. I assume it's obviously a setting somewhere that I can't locate, but here goes:

We have two work computers that recently returned from being fixed (both Macs). Both print fine during the day, but as soon as 5pm rolls around, the printer suddenly appears "offline" and we can't print until the next day.

Last week, we were miraculously able to print from after 5pm with no issues. All the other computers print fine after 5pm and the printer is very much online.

Any idea where to start?

[sclitheroe]

Is the printer wireless, or is it connected to one of the Macs via USB?

[chalms04]

[Otto-matic]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Here's a bit of a head-scratcher. I assume it's obviously a setting somewhere that I can't locate, but here goes:

We have two work computers that recently returned from being fixed (both Macs). Both print fine during the day, but as soon as 5pm rolls around, the printer suddenly appears "offline" and we can't print until the next day.

Last week, we were miraculously able to print from after 5pm with no issues. All the other computers print fine after 5pm and the printer is very much online.

Any idea where to start?

IMO its probably the print server, IT probably shuts down all print drives at 5pm.

What type of printer is it? One of those large scale Xerox or just a small office printer.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by chalms04

What does that even MEAN?!!

[Jayems]

Sorry, I got bogged down at work and forgot to come back here.

It's connected by a network. It's a sharp. Big thing

Looks similar to this:



The thing is, everyone else can print except these two specific computers. And the two people that are on them (I'm one of them) need to print after 5 p.m. We're a small office, so we don't have an IT department, so I'm trying to figure it out on my own so we don't have to call someone.

How do I make adjustments to the print server?

[Wiggum_PI]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Sorry, I got bogged down at work and forgot to come back here.

It's connected by a network. It's a sharp. Big thing

Looks similar to this:



The thing is, everyone else can print except these two specific computers. And the two people that are on them (I'm one of them) need to print after 5 p.m. We're a small office, so we don't have an IT department, so I'm trying to figure it out on my own so we don't have to call someone.

How do I make adjustments to the print server?

If you have admin rights for the specified printer, then you should be able to make the neccessary changes.

Go to: Control Panel > Printers and Other Hardware > View Installed Printers and Faxes.

Right click on the printer you are connected to and select > Properties.

Under the Advanced settings tab there is a box that says > Always Available

Check off this box, and see if that fixes the problem.

[Hack&Lube]

Is the printer network enabled? Can you print out a status/diagnostic page from it manually? Is there an IP address for it on the network? Sometimes you can login to a printer via IP and change settings.

[Jayems]

I've figured out that it's directly related to whether the receptionist's computer is turned on or not. If her computer is on, it works. If it's off, it doesn't.

wth.

[mykalberta]

Its probably a setting on the printer meant to deter people from coming in on off hours and printing 1000s of pages.

If you know the IP address of the printer then it should have a web console page you can look at.

Confirm that is computer related and not user related. If its one of those two things than its possible that someone has put your computer names on a block list of sorts for after 5pm printing.

I cant assist more as I dont live in the Mac Universe.

If you have admin rights and know the IP then I would suggest installing the printer as a local network printer instead of connecting to it via a print server.

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Jayems

I've figured out that it's directly related to whether the receptionist's computer is turned on or not. If her computer is on, it works. If it's off, it doesn't.

wth.

That means her computer is the print server and your computers have the printer mapped via her computer. That is normal in a small office to make printer mangement easier, rather than having to manually install it on every computer you install it on one and everyone simply connects to that computer.

Just tell him/her to lock the computer and not turn it off at night and you should be fine.

Or install the printer as a local network printer (you will need to know the IP address and have admin rigths) and that will bypass the receptionists computer altogether.