Printing strange characters - way to stop?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Paulo R. Dallan
  • Start date Start date
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Paulo R. Dallan

Hi,

I don't know if this is off-topic here (if it is, I'm sorry, just if you
think of a better newsgroup where to post, would be thankfull to follow the
advice).

I'm running slack 9.1with cups and using an HP Deskjet 840C printer in the
parallel port.

What I notice is that after a paper jam (old printer, not so unusual at
present), the printer does not continue to print the normal text, but only
strange characters/blank pages etc.

So, I enter the printer job-list, cancel the printer job, turn off the
printer, but when I turn on the printer again, it resumes with the weird
behaviour.

It seems that this is not so uncommon (hp site describes this kind of
situation, but their ultimate "solution" is, at this stage, to reboot
both the printer and the cpu, which is impractical, for many reasons),
but I was wondering if there is an alternative solution?

It seems something remains in a (corrupt) buffer. The questions are: (i) is
this buffer in the printer or in the box? (notice I already tried
disconnecting the parallel cable and disconnecting the power button of the
printer, but the problem persists); (ii) Is there an way of "clearing" this
buffer (any kind of command, etc)?

Help welcome!

Best regards,

Paulo
 
What I notice is that after a paper jam (old printer, not so unusual at
present), the printer does not continue to print the normal text, but only
strange characters/blank pages etc.

So, I enter the printer job-list, cancel the printer job, turn off the
printer, but when I turn on the printer again, it resumes with the weird
Click to expand...
behaviour.

Paulo,

I've experienced this same type of behavior with an Epson and running XP.

Hopping for one foot to another, cussing, deleting the job from the queue and
turning off the printer achieved nothing, nada, zip. The only way I was able
to return matters to normal was (sigh, you guessed it) to reboot.

FWIW, I now have a Canon i960 and all such problems have disappeared.

John
 
JMooreTS said:
behaviour.

Paulo,

I've experienced this same type of behavior with an Epson and running XP.

Hopping for one foot to another, cussing, deleting the job from the queue
and
turning off the printer achieved nothing, nada, zip. The only way I was
able to return matters to normal was (sigh, you guessed it) to reboot.

FWIW, I now have a Canon i960 and all such problems have disappeared.

John
Click to expand...

Thank you, John.

Lol. I was afraid of hearing exactly that... But I still have some (tiny and
already disappearing) hope about finding an alternative solution. :)

I was really wondering if the buffer is in the OS or in the printer (being
saved anyway even if same was disconnected from power).

If it is in the OS (don't think so), it could be easier to make the "clean
up". If is in the printer, than I believe it is really hopeless.

I remember I used to have a printer which I could be "cleared" by pressing a
single button. How I miss it now! :)

Best regards,

Paulo
 
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