Photo Printer Miseries

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ted Scherbel
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Ted Scherbel

I run WXP on a three year old computer.

1. Bought an Epson photo printer and it refused to print. It connected
via my USB port which has been running a scanner with no troubles. The
install went okay and the printer appeared in the control panel, but NO
PRINT output. No messages, no warnings - nothing - it just would not
print.

2. It also would hang up my computer any time I tried to acces the
printer properties. This resulted in my computer refusing to boot until
the USB cable was removed. Epson admitted they were having some
compatibility issues with a few makers and suggested I simply unplug the
printer for booting and then plug it in - which did allow the system to
operate, but not to print.

3. Being a bit disgusted I traded it for a HP 7760 photo printer.

4. More or less the same result except it did manage to print a test
page, but still refuses to print a JPG image. Again, no messages and no
warnings - just zero output.

5. Am I alone here? Do I need a new motherboard? I am really in a funk
over this matter. I really suspect I have an issue with the USB stuff
and am pretty sure this is a USB-1.

Regards, Ted

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Ted Scherbel said:
I run WXP on a three year old computer.

1. Bought an Epson photo printer and it refused to print. It connected
via my USB port which has been running a scanner with no troubles. The
install went okay and the printer appeared in the control panel, but NO
PRINT output. No messages, no warnings - nothing - it just would not
print.
Click to expand...
Both scanner and printer software takes control of the port. To use both,
you connect them to different ports.

The printer software installation says to leave the printer disconnected
until prompted to do so by the software. If the printer is connected
(turned on that is) while the computer is booted in the abscence of the
printer software, the O/S loads the generic driver which is not up to the
task of printing images. The printer will seem to be connected, but nothing
will happen.

Before going any further, remove the printer software, disconnect the
printer, and reboot. Then install the software and do not connect the
printer until instructed to do so. The port must be dedicated to that
particular printer.
Jim
 
Jim, The scanner is not connected. I just said that I had been using
it so felt the USB port was okay.Yes on the procedure. I have done this twice now and got the same
results - No Print. I did download the latest HP installer software,
but it didn't help.

Ted

Both scanner and printer software takes control of the port. To use
both, you connect them to different ports.

The printer software installation says to leave the printer
disconnected until prompted to do so by the software. If the printer
is connected (turned on that is) while the computer is booted in the
abscence of the printer software, the O/S loads the generic driver
which is not up to the task of printing images. The printer will seem
to be connected, but nothing will happen.

Before going any further, remove the printer software, disconnect the
printer, and reboot. Then install the software and do not connect the
printer until instructed to do so. The port must be dedicated to that
particular printer.
Jim
Click to expand...



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testing signature:
scherbe6
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Ted Scherbel said:
Jim, The scanner is not connected. I just said that I had been using
it so felt the USB port was okay.
Yes on the procedure. I have done this twice now and got the same
results - No Print. I did download the latest HP installer software,
but it didn't help.

Ted
Click to expand...


You can buy a USB2 PCI card and install that instead of getting a whole new
motherboard. Some of them are only $11 with free shipping. Look around.
 
Ted Scherbel said:
Jim, The scanner is not connected. I just said that I had been using
it so felt the USB port was okay.
Yes on the procedure. I have done this twice now and got the same
results - No Print. I did download the latest HP installer software,
but it didn't help.

Ted
Click to expand...
Ted, the printer cannot share a port with any other device. That means that
if your scanner works on a particular port, the printer will not work on
that port.
If you want the printer to work on your port, you must first remove the
scanner software.

There might be another reason for your problems, but you must first remove
all of obvious ones.
Jim
 
Ted Scherbel said:
I run WXP on a three year old computer.

1. Bought an Epson photo printer and it refused to print. It connected
via my USB port which has been running a scanner with no troubles. The
install went okay and the printer appeared in the control panel, but NO
PRINT output. No messages, no warnings - nothing - it just would not
print.

2. It also would hang up my computer any time I tried to acces the
printer properties. This resulted in my computer refusing to boot until
the USB cable was removed. Epson admitted they were having some
compatibility issues with a few makers and suggested I simply unplug the
printer for booting and then plug it in - which did allow the system to
operate, but not to print.

3. Being a bit disgusted I traded it for a HP 7760 photo printer.

4. More or less the same result except it did manage to print a test
page, but still refuses to print a JPG image. Again, no messages and no
warnings - just zero output.
Click to expand...

It seems you have some USB communication issues. The problem with booting may
be related to a BIOS that is trying to boot from the USB device. The following
may help:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=c00040790.
Also check the following for known USB chipset issues:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=buu01860

If this does not help please post more details about the configuration (PC
model, USB chipset, etc.).

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP
 
Ted said:
I run WXP on a three year old computer.

1. Bought an Epson photo printer and it refused to print. It connected
via my USB port which has been running a scanner with no troubles. The
install went okay and the printer appeared in the control panel, but NO
PRINT output. No messages, no warnings - nothing - it just would not
print.

2. It also would hang up my computer any time I tried to acces the
printer properties. This resulted in my computer refusing to boot until
the USB cable was removed. Epson admitted they were having some
compatibility issues with a few makers and suggested I simply unplug the
printer for booting and then plug it in - which did allow the system to
operate, but not to print.

3. Being a bit disgusted I traded it for a HP 7760 photo printer.

4. More or less the same result except it did manage to print a test
page, but still refuses to print a JPG image. Again, no messages and no
warnings - just zero output.

5. Am I alone here? Do I need a new motherboard? I am really in a funk
over this matter. I really suspect I have an issue with the USB stuff
and am pretty sure this is a USB-1.

Regards, Ted
Click to expand...
You printer and scanner should have no problem working together through
a USB connection. That is one of the advantages of USB over the old
parallel ports. Both my printer and my scanner, and other devices are
connected via USB here and all are working fine.

Your problem may be an incompatibility in the USB card in your machine,
or in your hub if you are using an external multiport USB hub. There
are only a few manufacturers of the chipsets involved and some work
better than others. Take a look at the simpler of the troubleshooting
tips at http://usbman.com/Troubleshooter General.htm

A new USB card in your machine may resolve your problems, and cards with
the NEC chipset seem to provide fewer problems than some other.
Although it is not focused on your scanner or printer, the information
on USB at http://k0lee.com/dc3000/index.htm#usb1 may shed some more
light that will be useful.

Bernie
 
There have indeed been some USB conflicts with some printers. Do you
happen to be using a Creative Audigy Sound system? If so, please email
me privately, I would like to get some details.

Art
 
I am not fully following this thread/issue, but it may be an OS/driver
issue, in which case it may not resolve even with an independent USB card.

Art
 
Ted,

What other devices do you have on your system that either use a USB
connection, or can use a USB connector.

That would include any car that provides a USB interface, any software
that interfaces with a USB device, or any peripheral that plugs in via a
USB connection.

Once again, do you own an Audigy sound card by Creative, or the front
panel model?

Art
 
Ted Scherbel said:
Bob, Thanks. I don't know anything about the USB hardware except it lives
on my IWILL model KA266 motherboard which has an Athlon 1.2 gb processor.
Click to expand...

You can check the chipset version of your USB chipset by following the
procedure at the following:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=buu01860#N10020.
Based on the particular chipset there are a number of suggested fixes
available, including that apply in particular to come models of Athlon
motherboards.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP
 
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