Thanks, Quasifish! In this case, the electronics things are happening in 4s. I moved my previous living-room TV up to my bedroom, where I haven't had a working TV for years. Got it all set up with a Fire Stick and a DVD player, and then discovered the TV's remote sensor isn't working very well. Tried three remotes, all with the same result. The TV looks so nice in its corner unit, but the necessity of standing in front of it and hitting the remote buttons over and over (or shining a flashlight on it so I can poke it in the right spot) is taking a lot of the fun out of this new toy. :-)

For the printer, do you have the original driver disk or is the driver available from the HP website? If so, I would suggest that you uninstall all of your printer software from the control panel, first Programs and Features, then go to Devices and Printers and remove it. Disconnect the USB cable and restart your computer. Now reinstall the driver software and follow the on screen instructions during the install (wait until instructed to plug in the USB cable). If that doesn't work, maybe a newer printer is needed.

Do you have the TV tucked back into the cabinet so that the 'line of sight' for the remote is blocked or at an odd angle? Did you try fresh remote batteries? We have to sometimes pull components to the front of the cabinet to allow a clear line of sight for the remote to function reliably.

I don't have an HP printer, Susan, but from time-to-time, I've noticed that my Canon printer options have a mind of their own. I blame it on Win 7/Office updates. Could your printer settings have changed to "print last page only" kinda setting? If you have the options...it's worth checking if you haven't done so. Also...aren't you currently using Windows 10? The problem might lie there, too.These are just guesses on my part but might lead you to the right area.

As for your TV remote...try resetting the remote # required for your TV. You should have done this minor chore when you first set the TV up down stairs. Dig out the installation instructions if need be. The remote ID # may have been erased when you moved the TV up stairs and the smart TV...in all its brilliance...has returned to manual options.

Then go get a high priest and have him/her do an exorcism on your home. You've had one annoying problem after another this summer. It's time for peace.

Have you updated the driver? A full uninstall and install as a new printer might work. Also they can refuse to work if you use anything but HP ink.

The HP website/ support has drivers and software for your printer.

You will need to uninstall existing drivers and software prior to installing fresh drivers and software. Your printer utilities will help you uninstall and reinstall.

HP 1200 printer series drivers and software

Good advice. This is the one time I believe PC drivers should be uninstalled/reinstalled, when there are problems with external hardware. Driver files can get corrupted and this can indeed cause issues. I think drivers should be left alone otherwise, "updating" them is rarely necessary and can be troublesome.

15 years of service, whether heavy or light, may be deserving of a retirement party with no tears shed.

Six months ago I bought a Brother All in One laser model (scanner and printer). I'm very pleased with the performance quality, both scanning and printing. They can be found at all the usual retail sources. $100 +/- for laser models, a bit less for just the printer function and a bit more if you want scanning and or fax too.

Since your printer is capable of printing the test sheet, its physical parts are probably in working order. This leaves electronics and software as problem areas. As the poster above recommended, install a new copy of the driver. If the problem persists, then query the HP site for updates for your printer. However, a 15 yr old HP printer may not have been designed to accept updates to its operating system. If you have printed 15,000 sheets or more with your printer, it may be time too get another one.

I never had a printer for 15 years. You got your money's worth no matter how this turns out. It is frustrating though. And it always seems to happen when you have something important to print.. Nope, not a chicken recipe.

Thanks, everyone! I’m prepared to get another printer, but
it’s certainly worth giving the uninstall/reinstall a shot. I’ll try the link,
Brushworks—thanks!

PKponder, the TV is a 32” set that just fits into the
opening. It’s at the front of the opening, and faces the bed, so I think the
line of sight is probably fine. I tried new batteries when I first encountered
the problem, and when that didn’t help I bought a replacement remote. Same
problem. Then my son brought over a Samsung remote. Same problem. According to
the Samsung website, I need to call a repair technician. Ha! Not likely to
happen.

Winter, I have Win10 on my other computer, but replaced it
with Win7 on this one. I suppose updates could have screwed things up. At least
then I could say “I didn’t do it!” :-) I didn’t know about resetting the remote
number. I have the owner’s manual, so looked it up. Didn’t see anything about
that, but I noticed a Troubleshooting section about remotes. It suggests using
it 5 feet from the TV. Earlier in the manual it says to use it within 23 feet.

Elizabeth, I haven’t used HP ink in years. I either buy
off-brand toner cartridges or refill them myself from bottled toner. Maybe the
older printers are more forgiving.

Elmer, if and when I do replace the printer, I’m planning to
get a Brother. Just the printer though, as I’m happy with my Canon scanner.
(Knocking wood all over the place!)

Jemdandy, according to the test sheet (the one that prints
so beautifully), I’ve printed 16,214 pages on this printer.

Elizabeth, I’m lucky to have my son and daughter-in-law
nearby, for lots of reasons. In this case, when I had to print something
yesterday I emailed it to them, and they delivered. ;-)

Well, I’m off to check out the driver solution!

Did you check the sensor on the TV? If it is an IR remote, there could be a thin film of dust, multi-surface cleaner or furniture polish on the front of the sensor that is blocking the signal?

Elizabeth, I dusted it yesterday, although I wasn't certain exactly where it was. I've never used any cleaning products on the TV. I assumed the sensor was near the bottom of the front, but maybe I'm wrong?

Probably right there, yeah. You could take the remote apart and check the rubber keypad sheet for foreign objects or dust. Check the contacts for the batteries. See if there is any leakage or corrosion in the device.

Many (perhaps all?) IR remotes can be checked by pressing a button while the remote is pointed at a smartphone in camera app mode. A red light is seen if a signal is emitted. Remotes aren't always compatible from one unit to another, even if the same brand.

For your TV you can buy an extender cable that you can connect to the TV by USB or some use a different connection. It will replace the one on the TV and you can put it in various locations. I had one a few years ago for one of mine. Here's the type.

TNP IR Infrared Remote Control Extender Repeater Cable (10 Feet) - IR Signal Receiver & IR Emitter Blaster Extension Cable Wire Cord USB Powered System Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H6S80YG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_L-fHBb4Z7EMH8. 

For the printer go to the manufacturer website and your model, download the updated firmware and drivers for the version of windows you have. That a pretty old printer!

As I mentioned above, I tried three remotes and got the same result with each of them. It's not that they didn't work at all; it was just that you had to stand close to the TV. And even then you might have to use the buttons (I tried the power and volume buttons) several times before you saw any action.

Raven, thanks for the link. I never heard of these. (There's a lot I don't know, apparently.) :-)

I tried what Elmer posted about using a smartphone. I was facing in the opposite direction of the TV and to my amazement it worked; it turned the television on! :)

When a remote button is pushed when the unit is facing away from the TV, the IR "signal" (actually a light beam) can do a 180 by bouncing off an opposing wall or a mirror if there. It'll often bounce off a ceiling too. It does in my house, with white ceilings. The old suggestion to "point the remote toward the TV or stereo equipment when using it" seems to not be so necessary anymore and maybe never was.

I have a Blu-Ray player mounted underneath a large old butcher block in the kitchen. The player isn't visible unless you bend down and look for it. When I want to turn it on I bounce the signal off the range across the room. One of my kids' friends told me years ago that her father liked to use the TV remote to bounce the signal off her contact lens. That sounded a little odd to me. LOL

With a UHF remote you can change channels even from another room. My grandkids like to prank each other that way.

OT. Most newer devices use RF remotes, which can control a device from about 60' away, from another room or even in the garage. My iPhone doesn't use IR to control any device, however it will control any smart device connected to the same network router. It uses WiFi, not IR to control the Smart devices. Instead of a phone, I prefer ARC & HDMI-CEC to control connected devices with master remote.

I have retired all dumb (non-network) IR equipment to my vintage listening area in garage.

Brushworks, does this new control pathway do something more than old fashioned controllers or is it only another way to do the same thing? I know I can control my Dish box with my Android phone but I haven't seen it as any more useful than the IR remote. I guess if the box were in a not visible location, an RF remote would also work (as others have said).

Well, I did the uninstall/download/reinstall, and at the end of the installation process a test page was sent to the printer--which resulted in nothing. Troubleshooting was next, so I said okay to that, but it came up empty again. I was amused to see one of its suggestions was to contact a friend for advice. Did that!

So I think it's time for a new printer. Many thanks for all your help and support!

One more suggestion; check the actual connections and make sure they are fully plugged in. You may have to place the connection between the printer and the PC. It's possible the cord may be bad or just loose. If you've got the cord plugged into a USB port on the PC, switch to another one. Don't give up on that workhorse!!

Susan...give this update a try. At this point...you have nothing to lose and this might just correct the problem. I don't think it was a drive issue per se. I think it's a MS issue. If you have the original HP installation disk...run it and then download this update. Or...you can try just running the update.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2647753/update-rollup-fix-printing-problems-in-windows-7-and-windows-server-20

And here's an info site...if you spend the time to read through it...may help.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/895612/how-to-find-a-compatible-printer-driver-for-a-computer-that-is-running

Thanks, team! :-) I tried the update this morning, and it didn't do anything. But I think Dees may be onto something. I remember when I moved the printer a bit to get at the connections in back, it made a jerky "on and off" type sound that I think would be compatible with a loose connection.

I tried to check the printer-computer connection this morning, but didn't succeed very well. In the process I managed to disconnect one of my monitors, but somehow restored it. With two monitors, the laser printer, my big photo printer, the flatbed photo scanner, and three speakers (yes, I have a long desk--it also holds my ham radio), a lot of wires are plugged into that computer. I'll ask my son--who plugged them all in--to check the connection for me.