L7680 Can't connect via Network works fine direct connected via USB Please Help!

Question

Greetings All,
I have an HP L7680 that has been having this same problem since I purchased it and the only cure that has ever worked is to completley reload Windows XP and start over which I am very tired of reloading XP to resolve a printer problem.
This has been posted by several other people but I don't see where anyone has posted a fix.
When I first install the printer everything usualy works fine and it runs fine for a few mionths. Then the first indicatrion of a problem is the scanner quits working. Then when I try to reinstall the software the printer does not show up.  I read and tried every solution and have spent nuerous hours with HP support to no avail.
The printer works fine direct connected via a USB cable and it works fine with two other computers on the same network. One of the other computers has the exact same OS and is the same HP model laptop.
I don't think the uninstall is completley removing all the files or reinstalling everything fresh when I reload. I have tried the Level 1 through 4 uninstall utility posted on HP's site and have tried all sugestions posted in this forum.
Below is a better rundown of the problem.
When the Scan function is called, a "Scanning" window appears, and hangs
I have an HP Laptop with XP32 Bit software
Once the scanning window appears it stays there forever
Only way to clear scanning page is to terminate hpoews01.exe with Task Manager
Scanner does not show up in Paint or Photoshop ect.
Web Scan Does work and printer shows up using IP address.
Scanner shows up fine on a web page
HP support in India has been no help and now my printer is out of warranty so even less help
Thank you,
Dave

Answer 1

I had a similar problem with my OfficeJet L7680 and here's how I fixed it.  
18APR10 - from Dan
     I lost my L7680 network link (using CAT5 from printer to router) and could not print to it over the network.  However, I could print from a PC with a USB cable directly to the printer, but there are currently three PCs connected wireless to the network.  I think I have a viable solution for anyone with the same problem and is not related to the operating system of the PCs.
     Originally, I went to the HP site and downloaded the program for the L7680, Critical Update to Enhance Reliability of Network and USB Connectivity and Improve System Responsive....  This worked wonders until my modem and/or router went down.  I could see ink levels from my PC, scan, print, and so on.  Then I somehow lost my network connection again.  When I checked the network settings on the L7680 printer panel (Setup, 5 - Network, 1 - View Network Settings, 2 - Display Wired Settings), I noticed a different IP address than the original 192.168.1.100.  Once I figured out how to reset the printer to that one, it connected and worked as it should. 
    Here's how to reset it:  1.  Power down all devices (wired and wireless) to the router (I even disconnected the printer power cord and CAT5 cable at the printer); 2. Power down the modem and router - wait a minute or so before powering back up;  3.  Power up the modem and give it a minute or so to go through system checks, which will normally acquire a new IP address from your ISP;  4. Power up the router and let it go through its system checks; 5.  Connect the CAT5 cable from the printer to the router and power it up before you power up and connect any other computers.  This should assign the printer the first IP address from the router, which should be 192.168.1.100.  Once the printer goes through its start-up checks, you can check its assigned IP address from its panel.  6.  Power up any other PCs or devices to the router.  They should be assigned successive IP address numbers from the router.  You can check these using a browser in the PC after typing in 192.168.1.1, logging in to the router, and checking the appropriate place in the router driver/software displayed in the browser.  I was not able to reassign IP addresses in my router's driver/software to individual devices, but this method did the trick.  I did not try to change the IP address of the printer from its panel to match what had been inadvertently reassigned to it.  That might be another option to synchronize the printer and router with the same IP address.  If the printer loses its connection again, you'll have to synchronize what the printer has with what the router shows.  This worked for me.