Printer offline-How can I change it to "on-line"

Anonymous
2011-01-04T17:10:46+00:00

How can I change a printer that is networked from "off-line" to  "online" to one computer?

Ours is accessible to my computer but not my wife's as her status is "off-line."

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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Anonymous
2011-01-05T05:30:21+00:00

Hi WVseagull,

Check the status of the printer at Control Panel. Set it to online if it’s shown as offline. If this doesn’t fix the problem, check whether installing the vista driver available at your printer manufacturer’s website helps.

Step 1:

a. Click Start, go to Control Panel and select Hardware and Sound.

b. Click Printer.

c. If the Printer is offline, it shows “Offline” status. If the Printer is online it shows “Ready”.

d. If the Printer is offline, set it to online.

e. Right-click on the printer and select “Use Printer Online”.

f. The display should change to ready when the printer is set to online.

Step 2:

If still you are facing issues, then update the printer driver. This should fix the problem.

Update drivers: recommended links

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Update-drivers-recommended-links

Hope this information is helpful.

Praseetha K

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-08-10T16:29:47+00:00

    changed internetcompanies and upgraded to windows 10 when I try to print the message is printer is offline and response is turn printer on  which is already is.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-05-27T03:46:03+00:00

    DanMauk you're a genius. That was the only thing on this post that worked except completing deleting the printer and reinstalling it. Thanks! Now I wish someone at Microsoft could fix it so this stops happening. I've got 3 PC's in my house and this happens on every one of them.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-05-26T02:57:00+00:00

    I do not find Hardware and Sound in Control Panel

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-05-23T21:02:03+00:00

    This whole-site is useless.  Microsoft should be embarrassed about offering misguided amateur solutions to clear software or printer compatibility problems.  I need help from the people who are responsible.  The number of times this problem shows up indicates a user-wide issue.  It happens to me regularly and wastes massively amounts of time.  If it's a compatibility problem between software and printer, just tell us where to go to find a solution.

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