Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

[sandmanmac]

I often connect my laptop directly to devices that I'm looking to buy for resale, via an ethernet cable, in order to test their print and scan functionality, when I don't often have network access to do so.

Today, I was unable to communicate with a device and initially thought that the device had an issue, but after trying another one with the same result, I determined that whatever the issue was, it was related to something with my laptop.

I'm able to connect and print without issue via wi-fi or when hardwired over a typical network connection.
I came home and tried my home pc (laptop) and had the same result - can't connect directly.

I happen to have another laptop that hasn't been used or updated in a while and it still connects just fine.

I know it's a bit of an oddball question that probably doesn't affect many people, but as I said I connect this way quite often so I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced it, or might just get curious and try themselves.

I even went old school and tried a proper crossover cable that used to be required for this type of connection, but no joy.

I feel like it must have something to do with an MS update, so I'd appreciate any advice that might help me resolve it.

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

Laptop O/S , Win7 ,8, 10?
Last update done, when?

Both lights flashing when ethernet cable is connected?
Not getting half duplex?
Not running inside a firewall container?

[sandmanmac]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

Laptop O/S , Win7 ,8, 10?
Last update done, when?

Both lights flashing when ethernet cable is connected?
Not getting half duplex?
Not running inside a firewall container?

My bad, I should have included they my OS is Windows 10.
One is the home version, the other is Pro. All updates have been applied.
I can't say when it may have ceased to work. I don't think I've had it directly connected since prior to the pandemic, so it's been a month or more, but like I said it works fine over a proper network connection.
Nothing special security wise, just Windows security.

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

My bad, I should have included they my OS is Windows 10.
One is the home version, the other is Pro. All updates have been applied.
I can't say when it may have ceased to work. I don't think I've had it directly connected since prior to the pandemic, so it's been a month or more, but like I said it works fine over a proper network connection.
Nothing special security wise, just Windows security.

Laptop connection works fine over DHCP network?
When you switch to a fixed Laptop IP it stops?
You on the same subnet?
With WiFi are you on the right network?
Might want to bridge ???

[kuby]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

Could be a SMB problem with Windows 10.

How to temporarily re-enable the SMBv1 protocol on Windows 10

• Open Control Panel.
• Click on Programs.
• Click on Turn Windows features on or off link.
• Expand the SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support option.
• Check the SMB 1.0/CIFS Client option.
• Click the OK button.
• Click the Restart now button.

Probably an update changed this in Windows 10 as they are trying to get away from SMBv1.

[tsbservice]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

Can you ping machine when do direct connection? Also your cable may be bad, use another one for test.

[rthonpm]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

Could be a SMB problem with Windows 10.

How to temporarily re-enable the SMBv1 protocol on Windows 10

• Open Control Panel.
• Click on Programs.
• Click on Turn Windows features on or off link.
• Expand the SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support option.
• Check the SMB 1.0/CIFS Client option.
• Click the OK button.
• Click the Restart now button.

Probably an update changed this in Windows 10 as they are trying to get away from SMBv1.

His issue is with printing. SMB wouldn't be playing a role with that.

[bsm2]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

Use a simple network switch or hub to see if your getting a link light
you should also turn off your wifi
Make your laptop a static IPaddress also the copier or printer also needs to be static

IPaddress and subnet you don't need to set the gateway

[kuby]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

I had one that I could not print and SMBv1 turned off was the issue. I know that it should not have made a difference but it fixed my problem?

[bsm2]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

You should NEVER turn SMBv1 ON! MS has disable it do security risks.

[sandmanmac]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

Thanks for the input fellas!

First of all, For those that aren't aware, I'm not at all full on IT person at all, but I'm pretty good at connecting devices, and do most of the setups for my clients. However a lot of the IT lingo does make my head hurt, so I often need it dumbed down so I understand .

So I'm about to give my update in my dumbed down lingo....
I just got in from calls and sat down to have another go at this. I had a couple of ideas come to me in my sleep last night.
I run Nord VPN, on both of the laptops that are giving me issues - and I have for over a year now, and never had it cause a conflict like this - at least for directly connected printing.

Anyway Nord VPN (and I assume all/ most VPN Services) creates it's own network adapter (if that's the right term?), so today I decided to disable the service and see what happened.
BOOM! I can connect directly to my printer(s) again, so it obviously has something to do with a recent update to my VPN that's causing the conflict, so I'll have to sort that out, or just disable it when I want to connect without a network.
I appreciate the advice in the meantime, and maybe someone will stumble along this thread in the future and save themselves some grief.

Stay Safe all!

[tsbservice]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

Thanks for the update. Maybe you just should just disable TAP network adapter(Nord VPN) prior when do direct connections to machine.

[sandmanmac]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

Thanks for the update. Maybe you just should just disable TAP network adapter(Nord VPN) prior when do direct connections to machine.

I just disabled auto startup.
I'll turn it on if/when I feel I need it, which is pretty rare for how I use this particular laptop anyway

[tsbservice]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

I just disabled auto startup.
I'll turn it on if/when I feel I need it, which is pretty rare for how I use this particular laptop anyway

O yeah, just have a nap or sleep well and bam problem solved...mind need some time sometimes but works as a rule.

[NeoMatrix]

Re: Printing direct from Laptop via ethernet cable

Thanks for the update. Maybe you just should just disable TAP network adapter(Nord VPN) prior when do direct connections to machine.

I assume you have NordVPN software and you're not using hardware VPN...

In settings:

Set NordVPN to "not connect to trusted network".
Nord will ignore your local network connection an bypass the TAP adapter. NordVPN will continue to load on startup as normal...

Alternatively you can turn off "Always connected", and manually connect to VPN world servers.

HTH..