My HP Deskjet 6980 printer would no longer connect wirelessly after we changed routers recently. After much floundering, we finally got it working again. I hope--but am not sure--that I recorded all the pertinent steps for Windows XP here, in case I need to do this again in the future.
- Connect a network cable to the printer.
- Print a test page to make sure the printer has an IP address other than 0.0.0.0. (Press the second button from the right on the front of the printer.)
- If the PC can't connect to the network, right-click the network icon in the system tray and choose View Available Wireless Networks, Change advanced settings, and Wireless Networks tab. Remove the network and add it back. Hopefully then the PC will successfully connect.
- Select View Available Wireless Networks, Set up a wireless network for a home or small office, Add new computers or devices to the network, and Use a USB flash drive.
- After the wizard says, "Your network settings are saved to the flash drive," I click on the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the system tray twice for the flash drive, since it's not successful the first time.
- Then remove the flash drive from the PC and plug it into the front of the printer and wait for the printer to flash all its lights.
- Remove the flash drive from the printer but do NOT plug it back into the PC and do NOT click Next in the wireless network setup wizard. (Otherwise, I had to delete the network and add it back to get network connectivity.)
- In a browser window, go to the wired IP address for the printer (specified on the printed test page), run the wireless wizard, and print another test page to find the wireless IP address.
- From Windows, open the properties for the printer and go to the Ports tab. Take a look at the port the wizard added (with the checked checkbox). Add a new port like that one but use the wireless IP address.
It sure seems like it should have been easier than this. Does anyone know a shorter procedure? The HP printer software has caused me so many nightmares that I only want to run it as a last resort. I'm glad I didn't have to reinstall HP software for this.
An HP web page helped, though.
