If anyone can help me with my printing problem, you will save me. I am helping my parents with their computer and the problems they encounter. In the middle of December, I upgraded them from Windows 95 to Windows 98 in order to allow a CD-RW to operate on their computer. Very soon after this, their printer stopped working (Epson Stylus Color 880). It would simply start printing a couple of sentences on the page, spit it out, put a few sentences on the next page, spit it out and continue to do this until I cancelled the job. It appears that the printer is not receiving the data too well. I have reinstalled the drivers to no avail and done what I can think. I called Epson support, but they unfortunately weren't too much help. The mentioned to look at the BIOS area. I have looked at the CMOS and BIOS sections, but I am not that familiar with these areas, so I am not exactly sure what they are supposed to be set at. Can anyone help out with any suggestions or help? I would appreciate it very much. Have a great day!
-Bob

Welcome to the Forum.

Did you clear all components out before you re-installed the printer.?
Are their any later drivers available?

Have had similar probs with a Canon, sometimes I can just re-install, other times I have to make sure everything is cleared out.

Another thing I had was the Print cartridge not making proper contact.


------------------
for every question there's an answer. Then a load more questions.
Definition of Upgrade "A means of introducing new bugs to a program to replace the ones that you have eventually found fixes for"

Regards..,
Vic.

Hi,

This definitely sounds like a driver issue. Have you checked Device Manager to see if there are any conflicts? There will be either a yellow splat or a red x beside a component if that component is having problems. You should at least have a look.

I'm trying to think of something that could have happened when you installed the CD-RW, but can't think of anything that would affect the printer.

I would try this: Boot in Safe Mode. Hold down the Ctrl key until you get a Startup Menu. Choose No. 3, Safe Mode. Let it continue to boot up. Then go into Device Manager and remove the LPT1 port. If there are multiple listings, delete them all.

Reboot in Normal mode and let Windows find and install the port again. Then try printing something.

Post back with the results.

Big Blue 66


------------------
Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.
- Pamela Vault Starr

Hi Brennecke, I have the 880 running on windows 98 if you have upgraded from 95 make sure you have the right updated 98 printer driver.
I'm not sure though what you mean by upgrade have you just upgraded by
operatering system I.E. 95 to 98 or have you changed the board forgive me if you mentioned this in your post but I only remembered bits of your post.
if you have changed the board you will have been through the BIOS so I would have thought the printer has been seen by the bios.
give me a be more on the upgrade
MB

------------------
MB

If we can't find the answer we keep on trying....never afraid to ask again.

Hi again Brennecke
I have had another look at your post this is probably a driver problem
but check to make sure there is no more defaulted printer drivers start/settings/printers. You haven't said how this upgrade
took place did you install 98 over 95 or did you wipe the drive
also sometimes windows puts extra's that are not needed on your machine
such as fax software etc!. anyway give me a but more and we will try
our best..
MB


------------------
MB

If we can't find the answer we keep on trying....never afraid to ask again.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I actually just installed 98 over 95. There was a previous Epson printer on the system, but it is not set as the default printer.

I have now rebooted in Safe Mode, deleted the LPT1 port and reinstalled it and still am still getting about 8 lines printed and then the printer halts. There doesn't see to any conflictions in the Device Manager and this printer is set as the Default in Print Manager. Help! If I can't fix this, does anyone recommend anyone to call for support, even if I have to pay. Thanks for any suggestions you have!
-Bob

Brennecke
Have you tried changing the printer settings in the BIOS?.
Win95 will more than likely use the default Bios setting for printing. Try setting to EPP or ECP. Have you tried a different printer cable? Have you tried using windows troubleshooter in windows help? (bring up help from the start button and type in TROUBLESHOOTING)
If possible connect the printer to a different computer and see if it works there.

The link below is the MS KBase for printer trouble shooting. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q128345


------------------
Ernie

Thanks Ernie. I'll tell you what I have done. I have connected my printer to my laptop and it works great, so I figured I could take the printer and the cable out of the problem. I have changed the BIOS settings but do not totally understand this area. Can you give me a little more help here? I see the ECP and EPP settings and have tried to change them without any luck. Is there anything else to the BIOS settings or the EPP or ECP settings that I can do? Thank you again for your help.

Brennecke

Disconnect the printer from the computer.

When you go into the BIOS pick either ECP or EPP, then press exit on the keyboard. This will take you back into the BIOS opening page. You now press F10 (or look for instructions to exit and save) to exit and save the settings. Reboot into safe mode and remove ALL references to your printer from ADD \REMOVE.

To see if there could possibly be a fault with the printer port drivers.

Next go to Device manager and remove the Printer port. Then reboot into windows. When you reboot windows will find and re-install the port. Now turn of the computer and re-connect the printer. Reboot the computer. When you bootup the NEW Device window will come up. Click CANCEL and boot into windows proper. Then go to Settings \ Printers and manually install the printer.
Good Luck

------------------
Ernie

Brennecke

Disconnect the printer from the computer.

When you go into the BIOS pick either ECP or EPP, then press exit on the keyboard. This will take you back into the BIOS opening page. You now press F10 (or look for instructions to exit and save) to exit and save the settings. Reboot into safe mode and remove ALL references to your printer from ADD \REMOVE.

To see if there could possibly be a fault with the printer port drivers.

Next go to Device manager and remove the Printer port. Then reboot into windows. When you reboot windows will find and re-install the port. Now turn of the computer and re-connect the printer. Reboot the computer. When you bootup the NEW Device window will come up. Click CANCEL and boot into windows proper. Then go to Settings \ Printers and manually install the printer.
Good Luck

------------------
Ernie