XP Pro keeps "forgetting" my USB printer

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Guest

My XP Pro (latest update) keeps dropping the connection to my USB printer (HP
1020 lasejet). A reboot often resolves the problem, but this is not a
desireable solution as it will drop the printer again after a short period.
"Device Manager" usually says "no driver installed". Some USB items are
NEVER dropped. Disconnecting the cable and replugging it sometimes helps.
How do I keep the USB port always alive?
 
Is it really an XP problem or could it be a printer problem?

Does the printer have some kind of option or preference to power itself down
or off it's idle for a period of time?
 
Jerry:
I think this a computer problem as the only control on the printer is "off"
& "on". I also see no icon in the system tray for removal of a USB device.
 
Sounds as though you have a loose cable or power plug on the printer.Power
cable have a transformer?? Plugged in well?.
 
-charles- said:
My XP Pro (latest update) keeps dropping the connection to my USB printer (HP
1020 lasejet). A reboot often resolves the problem, but this is not a
desireable solution as it will drop the printer again after a short period.
"Device Manager" usually says "no driver installed". Some USB items are
NEVER dropped. Disconnecting the cable and replugging it sometimes helps.
How do I keep the USB port always alive?
Click to expand...

See if there is newer software for the printer. I have always had
initial software problems with HP printers, including my HP 1020.
 
Printer power plug is secure. Can see the "Ready" light on the printer and
the light never falters. Printer runs on AC power.
Is there such a thing as a Parallel (output) to USB (input) plug? The
HP-1020 is USB only.
 
You were right. The installed driver is a Microsoft version dated 2001. The
new HP driver, dated 2007, will not install. It hangs on the "Please make
sure printer is on & connected". It then searches for "new hardware" and
then I enter a loop of try and fail with about 90% of the files installed.
How do I break out of this loop? Printer is connected and works (for the
moment) using the old driver.
 
-charles- said:
My XP Pro (latest update) keeps dropping the connection to my USB printer (HP
1020 laserjet). A reboot often resolves the problem, but this is not a
desirable solution as it will drop the printer again after a short period.
"Device Manager" usually says "no driver installed". Some USB items are
NEVER dropped. Disconnecting the cable and replugging it sometimes helps.
How do I keep the USB port always alive?
Click to expand...

Here's something to try:

Open Device Manager, open the properties on each USB port, click the
Power tab, and _deselect_ "Allow the computer to turn off this device to
save power".
 
-charles- said:
You were right. The installed driver is a Microsoft version dated 2001. The
new HP driver, dated 2007, will not install. It hangs on the "Please make
sure printer is on & connected". It then searches for "new hardware" and
then I enter a loop of try and fail with about 90% of the files installed.
How do I break out of this loop? Printer is connected and works (for the
moment) using the old driver.
Click to expand...

I working from memory here, so I may be a bit off.

What I remembered was that the HP software has to be installed before
the printer is attached. The printer has to be attached when the HP
software says so.

As for the driver, there is a Microsoft "USB Printing Support" driver
which is dated 2003-10-14. What you may have to do is install not the
HP driver, but a different Microsoft driver.
 
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