How do you fix a network printer that suddenly shows as offline in Windows Vista, 7 or 8? This solution is not an IP address issue but far simpler than that. Windows Vista automatically enables SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) support for networked printers. It is a way of receiving info from routers, servers, and printers, usually so it can find out if there are any problems with the network devices. SNMP will respond to quires with info, but some do not respond. If your printer doesn't implement it, Vista will never get a response to an SNMP message. Thus, the printer will start showing as offline at random times -- since Vista sent an SNMP message, it didn't respond.
What is the simple fix?
The simple way to fix this problem is simply to tell Vista not to try to communicate with the printer via SNMP. 1) Right click on the printer in the Printers window 2) choose the "Ports" tab 3) select Configure Port. In Configure Port, you should notice a checkbox that reads something similar to "SNMP Status Enable." Uptick this and the printer should go back to showing online.
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