Perplexing Problem with HP OfficeJet 4-in-One

[Dave Hardenbrook]

I am a computer tech with a home-user client with an HP OfficeJet 4-in-
One, model T45 (Parallel Port). My client was previously on Windows ME
and the printer worked fine, but since her recent upgrade to Windows XP
Home SP2, she has been having the following issues: Though the printer
often seems to work fine, every so often it will stall in the middle of
printing a page and put up an HP-generated dialog box saying "Printer
Hardware Communication Failed, Try a different cable". After a few
minutes, the print will sometimes proceed, but sometimes it ends up
ejecting the partially printed page, and the incomplete print job
remains hanging in the Windows printer queue. This "Communication
Failed" error also pops up every other time she tries to scan.

I have tried everything I can think of to address this: I've swapped
paralell cables, swapped printer cartridges, reinstalled drivers (yes,
they're the correct XP drivers from HP's web page), scanned for viruses,
even tweaked settings for the parallel port (IRQ, etc.). Nothing makes
the slightest bit of difference, and I'm baffled at this point.

As I say, I'm a professional computer tech, but I'm not a printer
expert, so if anyone here can make any suggestions about where to go
from here, please let me know.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[Tony]

I am a computer tech with a home-user client with an HP OfficeJet 4-in-
One, model T45 (Parallel Port). My client was previously on Windows ME
and the printer worked fine, but since her recent upgrade to Windows XP
Home SP2, she has been having the following issues: Though the printer
often seems to work fine, every so often it will stall in the middle of
printing a page and put up an HP-generated dialog box saying "Printer
Hardware Communication Failed, Try a different cable". After a few
minutes, the print will sometimes proceed, but sometimes it ends up
ejecting the partially printed page, and the incomplete print job
remains hanging in the Windows printer queue. This "Communication
Failed" error also pops up every other time she tries to scan.

I have tried everything I can think of to address this: I've swapped
paralell cables, swapped printer cartridges, reinstalled drivers (yes,
they're the correct XP drivers from HP's web page), scanned for viruses,
even tweaked settings for the parallel port (IRQ, etc.). Nothing makes
the slightest bit of difference, and I'm baffled at this point.

As I say, I'm a professional computer tech, but I'm not a printer
expert, so if anyone here can make any suggestions about where to go
from here, please let me know.

Thanks,

Dave

Dave
How easy is it to try the printer on a different PC for a few days?
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[Wilfried Hennings]

I am a computer tech with a home-user client with an HP OfficeJet 4-in-
One, model T45 (Parallel Port). My client was previously on Windows ME
and the printer worked fine, but since her recent upgrade to Windows XP
Home SP2, she has been having the following issues: Though the printer
often seems to work fine, every so often it will stall in the middle of
printing a page and put up an HP-generated dialog box saying "Printer
Hardware Communication Failed, Try a different cable". After a few
minutes, the print will sometimes proceed, but sometimes it ends up
ejecting the partially printed page, and the incomplete print job
remains hanging in the Windows printer queue. This "Communication
Failed" error also pops up every other time she tries to scan.

I have tried everything I can think of to address this: I've swapped
paralell cables, swapped printer cartridges, reinstalled drivers (yes,
they're the correct XP drivers from HP's web page), scanned for viruses,
even tweaked settings for the parallel port (IRQ, etc.). Nothing makes
the slightest bit of difference, and I'm baffled at this point.

I had problems with my parallel port scanner after upgrading from Win98
to XP.
There are several possible problems:
1. Principally, under W98, the driver software could communicate
directly with the parallel port hardware.
Under XP, the parallel port is only accessible through the operating
system. This interfacing can slow down communication.
Therefore, stop and/or disable all unneeded windows background
processes, as e.g. indexing.
You should also also try whether disabling the virus scanner (if
installed) helps.

2. Check the BIOS settings of the parallel port. It may be standard, ECP
or EPP. HP writes on page
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...1848&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=60398&lang=en
that this printer needs ECP mode. Have a look at this page for more
settings.

Hope this helps.

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

HP OfficeJet 4-in-One, model T45 (Parallel Port).

Does this printer have USB connectivity? If it does, you might give it a try
and see if it works any better. Trying it with another computer wouldn't
hurt either. Finally, do you have access to an I/O card with a parallel port
that would fit in the computer?

My client was previously on Windows ME and the printer worked fine, but
since her recent upgrade to Windows XP Home SP2

When you say "upgrade", do you mean that Windows XP was installed over
Windows Me?

If that is the case, there's a very good chance that the upgrade is the
reason why the unit won't work properly now. If it would be at all possible,
a clean installation would be the best thing to do.

even tweaked settings for the parallel port (IRQ, etc.).

Does that include the operating mode of the port? (ECP, EPP, SPP, etc...)

William

 

[Dave Hardenbrook]

Hi!

Hi! Thanks for your response.

Does this printer have USB connectivity?

Nope. I think it's a fairly old machine.

When you say "upgrade", do you mean that Windows XP was installed over
Windows Me?

No, it was a clean install, though I did use "Files and Settings
Transfer Wizard", if that might make a difference.

Does that include the operating mode of the port? (ECP, EPP, SPP, etc...)

I verified that it's using ECP.


Dave

 

[Dave Hardenbrook]

Therefore, stop and/or disable all unneeded windows background
processes, as e.g. indexing.

I'll try this.

You should also also try whether disabling the virus scanner (if
installed) helps.

What should I do as a long-term solution if the virus scanner is indeed
an issue?

2. Check the BIOS settings of the parallel port. It may be standard, ECP
or EPP. HP writes on page
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...1848&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=60398&lang=en
that this printer needs ECP mode. Have a look at this page for more
settings.

Hope this helps.

I printed out the page HP. We'll see what happens when I see her again
tomorrow. Thanks for your advice!


Dave