968W cannot access network settings

Nozmoking,

Try using these Recommended Wireless Router Settings in your wireless router, I use channel 11. I would make a new SSID to make connecting easier.

Without knowing the make and model of your computer and operating system, 32-bit or 64-bit, this is basic.

After the network is corrected, with the printer disconneced from the computer, insert the printer disk in the computer, choose network and choose that printer has a wireless adapter or is connected to a wireless print server. Then follow the instructions. It should prompt for type of security and password. See if the printer can connect to your network. It will then install the printer on your computer.

Remember virus programs and firewalls will block communications.

Dell 968 & 968w All-In-One Printer owners thread (W7)

Rick

Nozmoking,

You'll need to remove the bluetooth adapter to setup the printer. You can use usb cable, wireless adapter or bluetooth, but you can use ONLY one at a time.

First, run Delete Print Jobs to remove and stuck print jobs in the queue.

Disconnect the printer. Also remove the bluetooth adaopter from the printer.

Do you see an antenna in the back of the printer? If not, then you probably do noe have the wireless adapter installed.

Uninstall the printer.

Restart your computer. Make sure the printer was removed. Manual Printer Driver Removal

Insert the printer disk and install the printer. If there is an antenna, then choose network and follow the instructions.

Virus programs and firewalls will block communications.

Rick

One more thing - the environment is Windows XP Pro, 32 bit.

Thanks

Thanks, but what's confusing here is that I cannot access the network settings via the printer's control panel or print a network configuration page. As I mentioned, the only settings I can access are for bluetooth and it doesn't seem to be working either. Any attempt to open the network settings from the printer menu results in the message "A network connection is in progress. Please try again later".  When I run the setup routine from another computer connected to the same switch the printer is connected to via Ethernet (not WiFi) it cannot find the printer or its network interface. The printer's network interface seems to be stuck in some setup mode and cannot be accessed. I guess I can try mapping an IP address to the printer's MAC address through ARP and see if the setup routine can find it that way but from what I can tell tell so far the network interface simply isn't working at all, although the Ethernet link light does flash like data is being sent when a cable is connected.

No luck - I followed the steps outlined and the program still did not find the printer, and the network card in the printer continues to be "stuck" in non-working bluetooth mode. It is in fact the p/n 150 adapter with antenna and Ethernet jack. I then repeated the process with a laptop and crossover Ethernet cable connecting the printer and computer directly that never had this or any similar printers installed with all firewall and antivirus services stopped with the same result.

As I mentioned, there is data being passed through the Ethernet connection but I cannot view or change the network settings. It seems the network adapter in the printer has either failed outright or the printer firmware has lost touch with reality...

Unfortunately the settings described in the printer manual cannot be accessed. Any attempt to alter network settings results in the error "a network connection is in progress. Please try again later."

There is also no wireless or Ethernet indicator present on the printer's display panel, and all I have access to is to turn bluetooth on or off but regardless of which state it is set for the network adapter does not work.

Nozmoking,

Try using the instructions that are located HERE. It tells you how to install the wireless adapter and how to configure it.

Rick

Nothing I've tried seems to work. I've tried a fresh install on a machine that has never had the 968 installed and the network settings. setup cannot be accessed even with a crossover or straight-through cable straight from the PC to the printer with no router involved. The printer only works with usb and its network adapter is "stuck" it seems in WiFi mode.  I can see the printer's network adapter and the adapter's MAC address when I do a WiFi scan but there is no way to access it, resolve its IP address or change the settings. And when accessing the network settings from the front panel it throws the message "Network connection in progress. Please try again later." I see many posts about this issue all over the internet but no one seems to be able to come up with a solution. It's an extremely frustrating and lousy situation, and a waste of what could be quite useful hardware.

Nozmoking,

Make and model of your wireless router and type of security you're using?

What channel?

Rick

Maybe I'm missing something - I am using a Buffalo router but the main devices on the network are wired, not wireless, and I am trying to configure the printer's network interface to use the Ethernet connection. But I cannot get to the network configuration page on the printer's CP nor can I print out the network configuration. Any attempts to access those pages on the printer's control panel throws the message "network connection in progress please try again later". I can see the printer's WiFi MAC address being broadcast on channel 11 on my wireless devices but there is no way to connect to it or access the network configuration. The only network feature I can access is to turn the bluetooth on or off but that's all. I've tried connecting to the printer using a laptop and crossover Ethernet cable and using ARP to try and associate the MAC address to a dummy IP address but that doesn't get me anywhere. I've removed and reinstalled the network adapter and it stays stuck in this weird "connecting" mode. I've also tried a fresh installation using the latest driver downloaded from the Dell site on a laptop that has never hd this printer installed on it and the installation fails, saying that "no devices can be found" if I select the option to use the network adapter. I don't know if the interface is just cooked or what, but as far as I know the printer has only been used connected by USB from the day it was first installed by the original user. At this point I'm out of clues - following the network installation instructions in the manual takes me straight to the same dead end.

Nozmoking,

Try using these Recommended Wireless Router Settings in your wireless router. I use channel 11. I would make a new SSID to make connecting easier. Make sure you're NOT using Mac Address filtering. If the Buffalo router has a firewall, turn it off.

After the changes are saved, then I would setup the printer, using the wireless adapter. All computers, can access the wireless adapter, being installed as network.

Rick

Rick,

The security settings on my router are exactly as described in the post you referenced. There are a dozen or more other routers broadcasting in the area so I don't understand how the configuration of any available wireless router can cause the printer to block access to a front panel network configuration menu item, throw errors when trying to configure the network settings when installing the driver via USB or deny access to print out the network settings. I am not trying to connect the printer to any wireless router at this time, I'm simply trying to set up the Ethernet connection (wired) and the printer is not allowing the settings to be accessed through any available method.

-noz

noz,

Make sure the firewall in the wireless router is turned off.

Make sure the wireless router is NOT using Mac address filtering. If it is, it will block the printer from communicating.

Virus programs and firewalls will block communications.

Rick

Noz,

I too am having the same issue with a 968w.  I uninstalled and reinstalled the printer and it fixed the problem....for a day.  I have tried using both wireless and wired...but after a day or so...it just gives me that error when trying to get into the network setup.  I will report here if I figure out what causes it.  Please do the same if you ever find a fix.

matro