Solved Wake a Computer to Print

I have a USB printer connected to an 8.1 system. This printer is shared. I don't like keeping the computer on 24/7 so I set it to sleep.

Is there a way to send a wake command to the system when I want to print? WOL is working on the system. I noticed Homegroup has the option to wake the computer to view shares (and that does work).

If I can't wake the computer before a print job, what is the best practice to conserve energy on a system that is primary used as a print server?

Get a Network interface for the printer, to connect it to your router. Or if the printer is capable of connecting through wifi to the network, do it that way. USB Print Server TRENDnet | Products | Miscellaneous | Print Servers

broe23 said:

Get a Network interface for the printer, to connect it to your router. Or if the printer is capable of connecting through wifi to the network, do it that way. USB Print Server TRENDnet | Products | Miscellaneous | Print Servers

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The printer is a non-networked printer. USB is the only interface. I could use an old router with USB and flash it to DD-WRT or Tomato, but that is not what I want to do. I want to use the Windows box as the print server. I just don't want to waste unnecessary electricity.

You could do that, but then you are going to have to take risks if it will work or not. The biggest problem is if the printer is too old. It may not work properly with either way.

What is the mfg & model of the printer?

BTw, you do not waste electricity when the unit is just sitting there waiting for commands. It goes into a sleep state, like the printer, waiting for a print job. It uses very little in a month. That it would not affect your electric bill. As for wasting money. Time is money. The print servers run around $30. Worth the investment. Otherwise, just get a wifi or ethernet capable printer and use the other for back up jobs.

broe23 said:

You could do that, but then you are going to have to take risks if it will work or not. The biggest problem is if the printer is too old. It may not work properly with either way.

What is the mfg & model of the printer?

BTw, you do not waste electricity when the unit is just sitting there waiting for commands. It goes into a sleep state, like the printer, waiting for a print job. It uses very little in a month. That it would not affect your electric bill. As for wasting money. Time is money. The print servers run around $30. Worth the investment. Otherwise, just get a wifi or ethernet capable printer and use the other for back up jobs.

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broe23 do you read the question before posting your answers? This is the second time you seen not to read my question and post bad info. If I post another thread, please never reply. Even if you have the answer, don't.

The printer is not old and it works perfect. That is not the issue. I know the printer goes to sleep mode, I did not ask about that. If you read the question was how to auto wake windows when a print job is sent to it. I'm not wasting money if there is a software solution to my issue.

Yes I did read your reply. Even if the printer goes to sleep. The USB Print Server does the same thing. You mentioned a possible solution. But you are taking that risk that the hardware you have, will not work as allowing the printer to run on it, using the USB jacks as a print server.

As for waking windows. You do not. You leave the machine running 24/7. The computer will use more electricity than the Print Server hub does btw.

So, the problem is to wake computer over network, what it has to do after, to print or whatever else is another problem. If you have "Wake on LAN" option in the BIOS it should wake that particular computer when request is sent from network. If the printer prints over LAN when it's fully "Awake" it will do it when started from network.
It would still make more sense to use printer server if you are after simplicity and/or power saving especially if printer server and printer have power saving feature, computer would "eat up" more electricity during wake up (it takes more power during that time) plus it computer uses more power than printer server would even if printer server is left on full time.

All good points about using a print server, but if you know me I'm never about simplicity. I love doing things that no one tries. I was hoping there be a software solution to intercept the print job, add a WOL command to it and sent it off to the server. Or even better, have the Windows box with the printer attached wake when it sees a print job packet.

Ah, no "KISS" for you eh ? I haven't tried what you are looking for. Ideally WOL would be evoked by intercepting "Print" command on a computer you're starting printing from. Maybe some type of Batch file can do that. In any case, computer that has printer attached to it would have to be fully awake before print command is evoked or you'll get "Printer not ready" error.

CountMike said:

Ah, no "KISS" for you eh ? I haven't tried what you are looking for. Ideally WOL would be evoked by intercepting "Print" command on a computer you're starting printing from. Maybe some type of Batch file can do that. In any case, computer that has printer attached to it would have to be fully awake before print command is evoked or you'll get "Printer not ready" error.

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That "printer not ready" error is what I think stops this dead in its tracks. Without changing the Windows code, there is no way to do an offline print. I always thought you could do an offline print or queue the job to send when the printer goes online.

So one last ditch question, is there a 3rd party print server software for Windows?

No idea, to tell you frankly, maybe you can find something from here: Download Networking Tools for Windows - MajorGeeks
This one for start: Download EMCO WakeOnLan - MajorGeeks
or: Download WakeMeOnLan - MajorGeeks

Also check the computer's BIOS, may have a Wake on LAN setting.