Overview
Having trouble with network printing? Here are a few fixit suggestions. many times it can be the router that has locked up.
article
windows workgroup makes no difference for printers (that's only for when windows wants to share a printer). the printer uses its own network printing protocol - I think it's lpr port . you could try to rollback your printer drivers or reinstall your printer drivers that came on your cd/dvd if those worked.
print-srv 170/tcp #Network PostScript printer 515/tcp spooler
deleting the printer MAY delete the printer drivers and allow you to reinstall AFTER you clear the jobs.
I have software which will clear print queues when nothing else will. one part is a batch file which works for lexmarks, based on something written by Brad Kovach (I improved it and added more platforms), the other part is software I wrote in C for modern windows computers.
wired
did the network plug fall out partially? sometimes those don't get in all the way or the boot precents the plug from getting into the jack all the way.
could be your router!
try power-cycling/rebooting your router! router firmware is surprisingly buggy/flaky or slowed way down over a week and then locked up. my linksys and belkins had to be power-cycled every week or 3 days. I thought I had to buy a whole new router because mine was old and decrepid... Until I put dd-wrt firmware on my linksys. now my linksys is rock solid. make sure you read the peacock thread first before flashing dd-wrt firmware! unfortunately, no firmware for my flaky, buggy new belkin.
ip addresses
with network printers, a fixed/static IP address usually works better, however, some printers can work over DHCP just fine. if you do go with a static IP, make sure it is outside of the range of DHCP addresses of your router (check your router's settings to see what those are - some are 1-100 or 50-100 for linksys).
you may be able to fix the printer by simply selecting the right IP port. you made one when you installed the printer last time. it starts with EPSON_192.168.1.105_CA3467FG or IP_192.168.1.105 or something similar. it's in printer properties (not preferences), under ports.
you should be able to ping your printer from a cmd shell and get a decent response time back.
you could also try turning off the printer and turning it on again after changing settings, sometimes this clears the problem, like printer errors.
[I have a wireless printer, and I was just on the phone with HP, and they showed me a neat trick to find the new IP of your printer. simply do start, printers and faxes, right click on your printer icon, pick properties, ports tab, configure port.]