Windows 7 computers sometimes will refuse to print to the HP LaserJet 4250 that sits near the secretariat. The printer icon is greyed-out in the control panel:

and has status 'Offline':

Hence Windows refuses to print to it.

At that moment, other computers can print fine to it, so the printer itself must be OK.

I accidentally found a work around for the problem:

  • Right-click -> Printer Properties
  • General -> Change properties
  • Ports, then select the port in use, then click Configure Port...
  • Deselect "SNMP Status Enabled"
After this the printer will have status "Ready", and you'll be able to print to it again.
I suspect this has his something to do with the fact that this printer only runs on IPv6. Probably the SNMP doesn't work over IPv6, which fools Windows into thinking that it's offline.
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