Printer idle Hi: I want to print something but the printer dialogue box says the printer is idle, even though the power is on, the printer is ready to go, the printer is recognized in the dialogue box, the cable connecting the printer and the computer is properly installed and the printer is ready. Help! I couldn't find this problem being addressed on this website or in the Pixma MP780 user manual that came with the printer. Thanks. I have been trying to print to my HP PSC4180 printer for two hours now... it was fine yesterday. it is also recognized in the dialogue box, has been selected as the default printer, yet its status is idle. I even tried poking it to wake it up...lol... H -E-L--P!!! what am i doing wrong? cheers, Pippy

look inside of printer.see if something is pulled or unpluged. see if there is ink and paper inside.

that printer is not compatible with xp,you need to upgrade to at least windows 8

You can add a printer though the print wizard built into Windows XP.

1. Open the add printer wizard.

2. Then select local printer... even if it is a network printer

3. If you are not using a USB cable to connect you printer, uncheck the box next to "automatically detect plug and play printer". --->click next. If you are using a USB cable Skip step 4.

4. Your selection on the screen depends on how the printer is connected. In you are using a parallel cable, you will selct the radio button next to "Use the following port" and select LPT1 from the dropdown box. If your printer is a network printer, you select "create a new port" and Standard TCP/IP port from the dropdown box. Then, enter the printers IP Address in the next dialogue box

5. When you come to the install printer software screen click "have disk" and navigate to your machine specific .inf file

6. Enjoy your printer without the annoying bells and whistles

You can connect the printer via USB to a single PC or via Ethernet on a network. Though it doesn't have wireless capability built-in, you could also connect it to a wireless router or a print server for a shared wireless connection.

check the print quee if is there delet the print quee then try .......if its not working means
uninstall the printer driver and reinstall again

Check th printer settings. Dat should help

1. Shut the printer down
2. disconnect the power cable and network cable if you have one
3. wait 5 minutes
4. put the cords back in
5. power the printer back up

Good Luck !!!!!

Goto Control Panel > Printer and Faxes > Right Click > Printer Prefernces
(on your desired Printer)

A dialogue box will appear, now from here every printer got a bit different tabs.
Even though its too easy to find somthing like "color".
Under such tab you will find options like

• Color Printing
• Gray Scale
• Black Ink Only
• Toner Saver mode (For Lasers)

So select the Black & White option, and its done.

Do Rate Me!, If helpful.

Hi,

The default printer is set to be "file". Here's what you must do:

- Go to printers dialogue box and right click on your printer name and selectd "Set s default printer"
 - Right click on printers name and chose Properties. then look for a check box saing something like "print to file" and unchek it.

This sould resolve the problem.
Best regards

that's a printer settings issue...when you open the print dialogue..go to print preferences, and make sure you are selecting the printer, and NOT print to file