printing stalls

[Linea Recta]

Some time ago I needed to print some pages (from internet Explorer 7), and
every
time printing stalls after having printed about halfway the page.

Today I needed a printout from another program (Nero coverdesigner) and I'm
having similar trouble again.

This is lousy... when you need to have something functioning most, it lets
you down!
Of course I have Googled, and found the problem mentioned many times, but no
obvious
solutions :-(
According to HP site, they don't provide a driver, instead I have to use
Windows XP driver.

This seems to be a random non-reproducable problem; sometimes it occurs,
sometimes it doesn't.
Any ideas?


Windows XP SP3
HP DeskJet 720C (parallel)



--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

 

[Max]

Some time ago I needed to print some pages (from internet Explorer 7), and
every
time printing stalls after having printed about halfway the page.

Today I needed a printout from another program (Nero coverdesigner) and I'm
having similar trouble again.

This is lousy... when you need to have something functioning most, it lets
you down!
Of course I have Googled, and found the problem mentioned many times, but no
obvious
solutions :-(
According to HP site, they don't provide a driver, instead I have to use
Windows XP driver.

This seems to be a random non-reproducable problem; sometimes it occurs,
sometimes it doesn't.
Any ideas?

Windows XP SP3
HP DeskJet 720C (parallel)

--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

It might help to be more specific about what "stalling" means to you.
Does it eventually print the work? Are there any messages? When you
call up the task manager, does it show something not responding?
I've sure had my problems with parallel ports before. I don't know if
the 720 offers USB. If it did, I'd switch.
Also, you might find other drivers on driverguide.com that would work.

 

[Linea Recta]

It might help to be more specific about what "stalling" means to you.

It stops in the middle of a print job, unfinished and partly printed.

Does it eventually print the work?

No, it stops indefinitely.

Are there any messages? When you

No messages whatsoever.

call up the task manager, does it show something not responding?

No idea, I'll keep that in mind.

I've sure had my problems with parallel ports before. I don't know if
the 720 offers USB. If it did, I'd switch.

This model has no USB.

Also, you might find other drivers on driverguide.com that would work.

I'll have a look. Thanks for input.


--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

 

[Linea Recta]

Sounds like a buffering/timout problem, printer memory/buffer
fills, stops flow, in the ensuing delay while the printer prints
what it has got, a timer expires, so when the printer asks
for more, nothing happens.

Can I enter/increase this parameter somewhere?

Typically short text prints are OK, the problem occurs
with large files, such as web pages and images.
Are there any setup options in printer properties?

Yes, there seems to be a real 'settings jungle'. Which are relevant?

e.g.
properties - Ports - LPT1 - configuration - time out - 90 sec. default.

or
properties - Advanced - printing processor (rough translation) - choice:
Modiprint (with many sub choices) or Winprint (with many sub choices)

Default = Winprint - RAW

....and I don't dare making any changes because this is going way above my
head...

Is the paper size set to match the paper size?

Yes, always A4 default. (remember, sometimes there's no printing problem at
all)

Some printers have paper edge sensors.

Unlike serial ports where you can use an LED monitor
and watch the handshakes, parallel (and USB) ports
just sit there with no diagnostics.
All is not lost try
http://www.lvr.com/parport.htm
A fair way down the page you can download a free
parallel port diagnostic utility
Para14.zip. Parallel-port diagnostic and information
utility from Parallel Technologies. (88K)

Going to look into that.


Is it sensible to look at parallel settings in BIOS?



--
thanks,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

 

[Arthur Entlich]

I will try to help and clarify a few things.

The driver which Microsoft provides with your XP installation disks for
your HP printer was actually written by HP. Microsoft does not create
any of those drivers. They may not be as complete or specific a driver
as one written specifically for the printer when it is sold to you, but
don't excuse any dysfunction as not being HP's responsibility. They
write and provide those drivers.

The most common cause of partially completed pages on an inkjet printer
is inadequate free space for spooling on your hard drive. The raster
image is created on your hard drive before being sent line by line to
the printer. In XP, most spooling is by default stored on the C: drive.
The Virtual drive for Windows is also usually stored there, so even if
there appears to be adequate space, it may be taken up by the virtual
drive, and if you also have a scratch disk from Photoshop on that same
drive, it is very possible there isn't adequate space for spooling the
full image for printing.

Sometimes the spooling process is corrupted or disrupted and many
partial or complete files may end up stuck in the spooling folder,
taking up a fair amount of room. These need to be removed. You may try
to find out from HP the name they use for the spool folder for that
printer. It may have its name or part of it used as the folder name.
As I said it is usually on the C: drive and usually a root directory
folder rather than nestled, but HP (or perhaps someone here who knows HP
printer documentation better) will know better than I.

I suggest clearing your C: drive of extraneous and unnecessary files and
placing others which don't need to be stored there, onto another drive
letter, or off the computer completely onto an external drive.

Then do a defrag on the C: drive. You may have to do this from "safe"
mode, as some programs like screen savers and virus protection can
interrupt the process and make it continually start over. By doing the
defrag in safe mode (after your clean up) will allow it to work through
without disruption. Depending upon the size of your C: drive and how
fragmented it is, it may take several hours to perform this.

Since Windows virtual memory and Photoshop Scratch disks can compete for
space, I can't tell you how much space you need free on the C: drive to
resolve the issues, but I suggest trying to have several gigs free, if
possible.

Once you have done so, see if that resolved the partial page printing.
In most cases it will. If not, ask for further assistance.

Art



If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:

http://e-trashtalk.spaces.live.com/

 

[Rob]

Is it sensible to look at parallel settings in BIOS?

yes and you have 3 options and the one you set it at is EPP

SPP standard
EPP enhanced
ECP extendard Capabilities port

 

[Linea Recta]

I will try to help and clarify a few things.

The driver which Microsoft provides with your XP installation disks for
your HP printer was actually written by HP. Microsoft does not create any
of those drivers. They may not be as complete or specific a driver as one
written specifically for the printer when it is sold to you, but

Yes, I noticed that, but provided services options (callibrating, cleaning
work OK).

don't excuse any dysfunction as not being HP's responsibility. They write
and provide those drivers.

Yeah... who done it. I suppose HP prefer me to buy a new (of course HP)
printer in stead of providing support for an old one.

The most common cause of partially completed pages on an inkjet printer is
inadequate free space for spooling on your hard drive. The raster

I have loads of free space on C: and on D:

image is created on your hard drive before being sent line by line to the
printer. In XP, most spooling is by default stored on the C: drive. The
Virtual drive for Windows is also usually stored there, so even if

I have pagefile.sys on D:
Furthermore, I have tested settings print spooler, but also printing
directly to printer.

there appears to be adequate space, it may be taken up by the virtual
drive, and if you also have a scratch disk from Photoshop on that same
drive, it is very possible there isn't adequate space for spooling the
full image for printing.

No Photoshop.

Sometimes the spooling process is corrupted or disrupted and many partial
or complete files may end up stuck in the spooling folder, taking up a
fair amount of room. These need to be removed. You may try

This is something else than the spooler window where you can see, cancel and
remove printing tasks?

to find out from HP the name they use for the spool folder for that
printer. It may have its name or part of it used as the folder name. As I
said it is usually on the C: drive and usually a root directory folder
rather than nestled, but HP (or perhaps someone here who knows HP printer
documentation better) will know better than I.

I suggest clearing your C: drive of extraneous and unnecessary files and
placing others which don't need to be stored there, onto another drive
letter, or off the computer completely onto an external drive.

This is common practice here

Then do a defrag on the C: drive. You may have to do this from "safe"
mode, as some programs like screen savers and virus protection can
interrupt the process and make it continually start over. By doing the
defrag in safe mode (after your clean up) will allow it to work through
without disruption. Depending upon the size of your C: drive and how
fragmented it is, it may take several hours to perform this.

I completed a defrag a few days ago using the standard Windows utility, but
not in safe mode. After removing trash first.

Since Windows virtual memory and Photoshop Scratch disks can compete for
space, I can't tell you how much space you need free on the C: drive to
resolve the issues, but I suggest trying to have several gigs free, if
possible.

C: 46 GB free space
D: 11 GB free space
Should be enough for enabling to print two pages...?

Once you have done so, see if that resolved the partial page printing. In
most cases it will. If not, ask for further assistance.

PS
Yesterday I tried changing some settings in the printer driver:
properties - advanced - changed 'winprint RAW' to 'modiprint RAW'
(whatever...)
I don't really know what this is all about, but one becomes desperate... and
after this at least I could print my two pages succesfully!
I'm aware that this "solution" might not prove to be definite, but time wil
learn...



Thanks very much,
--

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Yes, I noticed that, but provided services options (callibrating, cleaning
work OK).




Yeah... who done it. I suppose HP prefer me to buy a new (of course HP)
printer in stead of providing support for an old one.




I have loads of free space on C: and on D:

It certainly seems so from your description, and with the other
information you provided, I think I would agree that it is unlikely the
cause of the problem.

I have pagefile.sys on D:
Furthermore, I have tested settings print spooler, but also printing
directly to printer.




No Photoshop.

Does sound like something is misconfigured, such as timing, as you
mentioned. Also make sure all wires to and from the printer are well
engaged.

Is there anything else you are running which is slowing the system down
enough to time out for certain driver features? Might be worth your
while to do a Google search on the changes you made and see if anything
are successful.

This is something else than the spooler window where you can see, cancel and
remove printing tasks?

I believe any failed print jobs would show up as you state, if they
hadn't been removed already. You also can manually removed them


Art

 

[Linea Recta]

It certainly seems so from your description, and with the other
information you provided, I think I would agree that it is unlikely the
cause of the problem.


Does sound like something is misconfigured, such as timing, as you
mentioned. Also make sure all wires to and from the printer are well
engaged.

Is there anything else you are running which is slowing the system down
enough to time out for certain driver features? Might be worth your while
to do a Google search on the changes you made and see if anything are
successful.

I do have an issue, I think due to the McAfee virus scanner. Since I use
this it seems I have intermittent "freezes" of the whole system. Sometimes I
have to wait several seconds before the desktop icons are refreshed, and
during all this time I can't do anything. Menu's won't respond etc. I can't
continue working until afther such a hickup.

Perhaps this might be disrupting the printing process? But of course it's no
option to work without a virusscanner these days!


--
regards,

|\ /|
| \/ |@rk
\../
\/os

 

[Jan Alter]

I do have an issue, I think due to the McAfee virus scanner. Since I use
this it seems I have intermittent "freezes" of the whole system. Sometimes
I have to wait several seconds before the desktop icons are refreshed, and
during all this time I can't do anything. Menu's won't respond etc. I
can't continue working until afther such a hickup.

Perhaps this might be disrupting the printing process? But of course it's
no option to work without a virusscanner these days!

If you think that the virus scanner could be the culprit then why not
temporarily remove the program, download and install a free anti-virus
program, (ie AVG or AVAST). Either one of those programs could be a stand in
while you see if you get a complete two page print out.

Jan Alter
(e-mail address removed)