Windows ME
Printer was working on computer for 8 months no problems then yesterday stopped working/responding. There has been no software/hardware added to computer recently.

Booted yesterday morning and he tried to print. Error message saying no printer when print job sent. Printer settings shows printer still installed and working. No errors in Device manager. Cables OK.

On the phone tonight I got him to check his Printer port. This was missing. Took him into safe mode and 2 ghost LPT's sitting there. Told him to remove them and reboot. Windows should have re-found port, it did not.

On re-boot winME did not re-find printer port. Next told him to enter BIOS and change type of port from standard/normal to ECP/EPP and save and exit BIOS to try and force windows to find new (type of) port. No success windows still cannot find port. Also tried to add port manually without success.

Any ideas as to what could be wrong. (This is for a bussiness user who NEEDS printer working ASAP) I am going round to see computer tomorrow (Wednesday PM)

hi ernie,

had a similar prob some while back, never sussed out what had gone wrong but (in desperation) tried a scanreg/ restore and that got it back.

Connect the printer and its cables to another system.
If it works there, then the parallel(LPT1) port is bad.

If the printer checks out good...

With ME if he put in the patch to allow current System Restore points you might try that...

Or, as Vic pointed out...Scanreg /restore

Thanks guys
Is Scanreg/restore the exact same in ME as in 98?

I've used it in Windoze ME but not 98...

A window opens with 5 previously good registy boots...your choice and just follow the directions...

Just remember to pull the boot disk before rebooting! ;)

Scanre/restore is the same.

Problem still there. Cannot remove existing drivers (comp goes through process and removes from add/remove progs but stay on computer)or re-install printer drivers due to existng installation of HP drivers.
Hope that makes sense to you's

He has decided to look at buying new computer as existing one is to slow for present day use. So I had quick look but even Sys restore could not get it back. I think what it needs is a complet ere-install.

At present WinME upgrade over 98 (original) and been having "Problems for a wee while"

Still I had a good afternoon and got a couple of quid for enjoying myself. ;)

At present WinME upgrade over 98 (original) and been having "Problems for a wee while"

Ah, the infamous overlay/upgrade...fraught with problems!! :( :D

Whyzman
Did anyone ever tell you that you are a master of the under-statememt :D

Hehe!!:D