# Printer offline problem

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-offline-problem/741176>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 23, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-offline-problem/741176 "2015-12-23T14:58:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-offline-problem/741176/1 "2015-12-23T14:58:29Z")

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I have three computers in my home and a networked printer. Two of the computers print fine and the third insists the printer is “offline”. I have rebooted the computer, unplugged and replugged the printer and the problem persists. Two of the computers (including the recalcitrant one) use Win-XP; the other uses Win-7. Any Doper have suggestions how to fix the problem?

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**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-offline-problem/741176/2 "2015-12-23T15:19:33Z")

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> [@Hari\_Seldon](#):
>
> I have three computers in my home and a networked printer. Two of the computers print fine and the third insists the printer is “offline”. I have rebooted the computer, unplugged and replugged the printer and the problem persists. Two of the computers (including the recalcitrant one) use Win-XP; the other uses Win-7. Any Doper have suggestions how to fix the problem?

Have you removed and re-added the printer in the control panel of the problem computer? Sometimes weird things can happen if the printer restarts and gets a different IP address from the router.

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**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-offline-problem/741176/3 "2015-12-23T19:56:51Z")

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> [@jz78817](#):
>
> Have you removed and re-added the printer in the control panel of the problem computer? Sometimes weird things can happen if the printer restarts and gets a different IP address from the router.

That’s a thought and I will try it. Let you know if it works.

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**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/printer-offline-problem/741176/4 "2015-12-23T20:25:49Z")

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> [@Hari\_Seldon](#):
>
> That’s a thought and I will try it. Let you know if it works.

I uninstalled the printer and when I tried to reinstall it, it couldn’t find it. I rebooted, same result.