# Printer issue: Is it the printers, or my computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 18, 2026, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162 "2026-09-18T02:50:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/1 "2026-09-18T02:50:16Z")
My printer’s pretty old, and when it refused to print a couple hours ago and I saw a question mark by the touch screen, I figured it was at the end of its life, so I got out another printer I had stored away that’s newer (I bought it refurbished) and guess what? Even after multiple attempts at downloading, I’m getting the same thing with it. First world problem, yeah, I know. Both my laptop and the printers are HP and I have Windows 11, if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/2 "2026-09-18T03:15:19Z")
Are you sure that question mark icon isn’t a help button? Does anything happen if you tap it? Did you try restarting the computer and deleting the print job, if there is one, and printing something else? Otherwise I think you’ll have to be more specific (which printer models, what the exact steps you’ve already tried were, etc.). ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/3 "2026-09-18T03:23:04Z")
It’s HP Office Jet 5222. I have followed all the prompts, multiple times, and still nothing. It consistently says “Printer not found.” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/4 "2026-09-18T03:25:09Z")
Assuming that they are wireless/Bluetooth printers: are they actually connected to your wifi? ---
**Author:** ![Palooka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/palooka/32/2902_2.png) [@Palooka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palooka)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/5 "2026-09-18T03:25:16Z")
I used to work for HP so I can confirm that both printers being HP printers is not helping. Are you using them over WiFi or wired? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/6 "2026-09-18T03:28:37Z")
Wired. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/7 "2026-09-18T04:24:44Z")
Okay, I tried ANOTHER method, and it’s STILL not connecting. The icons are there, etc. but they are all gray. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/8 "2026-09-18T04:25:57Z")
What icons are you talking about? Where do you see them? What “methods” have you tried? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/9 "2026-09-18T04:28:08Z")
The [123.hp.com](http://123.hp.com) website, and of course I followed the instructions in the guide. It’s Officejet 5222. I’m seeing “5200 series” and did actually find a 5222 link, but it didn’t connect either. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/10 "2026-09-18T04:45:37Z")
You say that they are wired printers. What sort of port on your computer do they plug into (I’m guessing USB)? Does that port work with a different device? Have you downloaded and installed the latest Win11 drivers for the printer model from the HP website? Do the printers need to have new firmware installed? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/11 "2026-09-18T04:46:00Z")
Tried that. Didn’t work either. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/12 "2026-09-18T04:46:44Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Tried that. Tried what? I suggested several things (port, drivers, firmware). ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/13 "2026-09-18T04:50:49Z")
Specifically, the Windows 11 printer app. “Firmware” is a word I first saw just a few weeks ago. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/14 "2026-09-18T04:56:02Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > “Firmware” is a word I first saw just a few weeks ago. In this case, it’s the operating software on the printer itself. That, too, may need to be updated, but if your computer can’t “see” the printer at all, you can’t yet update that firmware (if needed). When you say: > [@nearwildheaven](#): > > The icons are there, etc. but they are all gray. …do you mean the printer icons on the Windows Control panel? Have you tried checking to see if the port on your laptop is working? If it isn’t, that might explain why your computer can’t connect. When is the last time that you successfully printed something out on the first printer? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/15 "2026-09-18T05:02:24Z")
Last time I printed something on the first printer was probably yesterday, or 2 days ago depending on the time zone. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/16 "2026-09-18T05:10:06Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Last time I printed something on the first printer was probably yesterday, or 2 days ago depending on the time zone That’s good information, and probably rules out software or firmware being wildly out of date or support. Did you use the exact same cable trying to connect both of the two printers to your computer? If so, it might be that the cable has failed. Asking again: have you tried to use the port that you’re plugging the printers into to use some other peripheral device? Does that port work if you try to use it with something else? Also: are you certain that the port on your computer that you’re trying to use tonight is the same port that the printer was plugged into a day or two ago when you successfully printed? Knowing just enough about computers to be dangerous, this sounds to me like either the port on your computer has failed, or the cable has failed. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/17 "2026-09-18T05:17:15Z")
Port’s fine, and the time and date on the touch screen are correct. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/18 "2026-09-18T05:19:10Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > touch screen Do you mean a touch screen on the printer? Were you using the same cable on both printers??? And are you certain that it’s the same port which you used successfully to print recently? (I’m really trying to help, but I feel like I’m pulling teeth to get answers. I truly understand that printers are finicky things, and printer issues are very frustrating, but terse answers aren’t helping.) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/19 "2026-09-18T05:26:37Z")
Printers have approached “disposable” prices nowadays, so later today I’ll go across town to Staples and get a new one. We’ll see what happens then. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2026, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162/20 "2026-09-18T05:27:05Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Printers have approached “disposable” prices nowadays, so later today I’ll go across town to Staples and get a new one. Maybe see if it’s the cable before you buy a third printer? Nothing you’ve shared so far clearly points to that the printer(s) are actually dead, and AFAICT, the issue seems to be that your computer can no longer connect to them. That sounds like a connectivity issue, not necessarily a “get a new printer” issue. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-issue-is-it-the-printers-or-my-computer/1033162.md?page=2)