HP 4200n printer prints blank pages nonstop only while plugged into network.

ITKM

Reputable
Jan 21, 2015
5
0
4,510
We have a HP 4200n installed in a computer lab of about 30 computers. It is networked, and is pushed out with Group Policy from the print server (Win Server 08).
The printer prints blank pages until the printer runs out of pages.
Tried plugging it in to a different network port. The issue stops once the Ethernet cable is unplugged. Also, when every computer is off in the lab, the printer doesn’t print paper non-stop. There is nothing in the print queue.
The printer was swapped with a known good working HP 4200n, and the issue still remains. The cartridge that was being used and worked, was placed the printer.

Somethings that I have found online as possible solutions, but have resulted in no solution:
-Reinstall Print drivers on all computers connected to printer.
-Use a PCL5 driver on server and client computers.
-Use the most up to date drivers.
-Clear the print queue and restart the print spooler on client computers and print server.
-Uncheck setting on client computers and print servers under printer properties that says "Enable bidirectional support" a.k.a. Two way support
-Uncheck the option in Port configuration in printer properties called "SNMP Status Enabled" on client computers and server.
-Cleaned component inside of printer that often causes a blank page after each print job (according to some websites)
-Cold Reset the printer

I would highly appreciate any solutions anyone may have besides what I have already tried.

I would also like to note that we have another HP 4200 in a building idenical to this one in a lab setup identical, and the printer doesn't print blank pages, and it uses the same driver as the problem printer does.
 
Solution
Check the switches make sure you don't have any loop-backs in them (same cable going from one port of the switch to another). Did you try changing the newtork cable, moving the printer to another jack?

This may be a network error that is sending bad data to the printer and it's interpeting it as a print job. A similar thing happens if the printer tries to print a program file (say you somehow tell it to print word.exe), it will print a ton of pages out, some blank some with random characters.

This does not sound like it's an issue with the drivers or the printer or with the actual computers, at least not the software on them.

One of the systems or a few may have a bad network card, cable or jack.

Update the firmware on the printer...

ITKM

Reputable
Jan 21, 2015
5
0
4,510
What you mentioned was done before to see if it was possible to narrow down which system were causing the problem. I unplugged the ethernet cable to each of the computers, until the printing of blank pages stopped. I ended up finding that only about 10-15 were causing it (supposedly). The next day or in a couple hours, I would go in it would be a different group of computers in the lab (which may have included ones from the day or hous before). I went ahead and went through each of the solutions stated above (except the printer specific related solutions) on all of the computers in the lab.
 
Check the switches make sure you don't have any loop-backs in them (same cable going from one port of the switch to another). Did you try changing the newtork cable, moving the printer to another jack?

This may be a network error that is sending bad data to the printer and it's interpeting it as a print job. A similar thing happens if the printer tries to print a program file (say you somehow tell it to print word.exe), it will print a ton of pages out, some blank some with random characters.

This does not sound like it's an issue with the drivers or the printer or with the actual computers, at least not the software on them.

One of the systems or a few may have a bad network card, cable or jack.

Update the firmware on the printer and on the network card as well, not just the drivers.
 
Solution