I just bought a new Epson Stylus CX5300 printer/scanner a few weeks ago and it was working. Recently I've tried to print in word and it freezes up. Even when I print in another program it does nothing. One time the icon came in the task bar then disappeared. I thought it might've bee na problem with the printing spooler program thingy. I tried re-installing the printing drivers but when it tries to autodetect the printer port in the USB slot it can't find it!! I don't know what to do!

Try completely removing any drivers that now exist. (You may want to enter safe mode to do this).

Then, depending on your owners manual, re-install. (In some cases you hook up the scanner first, then install the Software after Windows finds the new device and prompts you for a disk- other times you must install the Software first).
Again, follow the Manufacturers instructions specifically.
You might also be sure that your USB ports are working properly in device manager, and possibly try another port anyway...Or maybe even another USB cable.

Last (and maybe least), there's always Epsons On-line Support (http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/SupportIndex.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&infoType=Trouble)

And under the "goes without saying" category, be sure you've run scans for crapware and possible virus infections

Hi Daniel-man,

I am off to work, but did you look in device manager to see if any ! are showing?

LOL, thanks Jabber

Wow PrntRhd....Check out the post times. 11:01 right on the dot! :p

Well, ok, my post was a few dots after, and yours was a few dots after that. :D

Also check in Control Panel; Add/Remove Programs to see if your printer drivers are listed there. If so they will have to be uninstalled from that location as well as the Printers section of Control Panel.

Reinstall the printer after making sure everything is removed, and you might want to do the removing/uninstalling in Safe Mode to be sure you get it all.

Definitely try jabar's suggestion to try a different USB cable. Flaky cables can cause a lot of grief, in fact I would try that first.

ok thanks. Yes I have no exclamation marks in device manager but I will try removing printer from control panel and add/remove programs in safe mode. Then try and buy another USB cable to test it out

Also, sometimes just disconnecting and reconnecting a USB device with the computer running will get the device working again.

And if other USB devices are connected, then disconnect them and see if the printer works.
If it does, then the MB's USB hub does not ahve sufficient power to run all of the devices. Either install a powered USB hub, or install a PCI USB controller card.

But if all of the suggestions in this thread do not fix things, then the USB hub may be bad.
If you have another USB device, then see if it works.
If not, then the hub is probably bad. Install a PCI USB controller card.

I tried uninstalling the printer software and then unplugging and plugging the USB device into my computer and it wont even detect it!! I did install Windows Service Pack 2 Beta a few days ago and thats when the errors started happening I reckon. Also, Spoolsv.exe has been trying to access the internet, and when I go to printers and click on the printer it said unable to connect. And if I try and go into its settings it says operation not allowed or spooler not running.

I did install Windows Service Pack 2 Beta a few days ago and thats when the errors started happening I reckon.

Budfred has been trying to clean someone elses' machine with that one showing in HJT for the past week! See this:
thread (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?threadid=27967&highlight=hjt)

PROBLEM FIXED: Uninstalled Windows Service Pack 2 Beta, Reinstalled Printer drivers and everything is working again!! When I removed SP 2 beta it said removing this may cause Epson Smartpanel and some other epson program not to work and I laughed!! It was then that I knew for certain it had stuffed these necessary programs up!! Also, every now and then spoolsv.exe with [sp2beta] would try and access the internet and I thought this was very strange and somehow affecting the 'stuffing up' of the printing. My advice to all: Don't download any Beta bull**** of Microsofts, especially not Windows SP 2 beta!!!!!!!!!! The final versions of them have enough bugs in them already, let alone the quarter finished betas!!!!!!

Don't download any Beta bull**** of Microsofts, especially not Windows SP 2 beta!!!!!!!!!! The final versions of them have enough bugs in them already, let alone the quarter finished betas!!!!!!

Well, I think that about says it all! (Although I am looking forward to the Final release...Complete with mandatory Bugs) :p

I wasn't even aware you could get a Legal beta version of SP2 yet.....Maybe you can't? :confused: :D

I had a situation similar to this which leads me to guess that the following happened:

1. When you installed the printer software [with drivers], some Windows system files were updated to versions which included special functionality needed by the printer.
2. When you installed the Windows update, the Windows system files were versions not including the special printer functionality, so the printer ceases working. Had you uninstalled the printer software and re-installed it at that point the Windows update files would have been overwritten by the printer versions and the printer would work. That would make an interesting experiment would it not?

jabarnutcase: actually i dunno if there is, i got it from some tech site, looked legit though, not a warez or pirate site.


Sylvander: umm, well I tried re-installing the printer drivers after installing SP2 beta and it was still all stuffed.

Ah well!

Back to the drawing board:confused: :)