I am trying to help a friend by phone getting his printer going. But computer saying it can't find printer. Printer is a Cannon photo all in one Pixma PM210. The printer is off and disconnected from the computer, we turned the computer on then we inserted the software cd and it started running the installation. Then it got to where it says to connect the printer and turn it on, then it does nothing for a while then comes back saying it can not fine the printer. We did this about for times, we even shut down running programs thinking that those programs may be causing problems but not luck. The computer is running windows xp and the printer has a USB connecting cable. Can someone gives some imput with what is happening here?
Thanks in advance.

Try a different USB cable/port...

Try a different USB cable/port...


mjc, after posting we did just that, and same problem, " can't find printer, please make sure printer is connected and turned on".

When you plugged in and turned the printer on
Your windows O/S should have given you a message about new hardware being found

At that point the install program should have added the needed ports and drivers to the windows config

if the new hardware message or at least icon never came up
Then you have one of two problems
a usb port problem or printer port problem

It is not uncommon for people to fall pry to the Plug and pray feature of many devices

Check in device manager for the previous unknow device or printer listing
remove it if found
Then repeat the install process

Rick, thanks for your reply. I will have my friend try what you say. He also told me that he previously had a canon printer before he bought this one. He may have a conflict somewhere.

In that case make sure he correctly Un-installs the old cannon printer and it's related drivers

Especially if he is using the same usb port this one

The exact sequence when installing such USB devices for the first time can be absolutely critical and the instructions should be followed to the letter. If they go astray then hopefully uninstalling/deleting everything related that one can find (add/remove programs, control panel, printers and faxes, device manager, etc) and rebooting with nothing attached and then going through the steps one by one may be the only hope. Sometimes one may have to search for specific product related uninstallers to download.

Of course if its bad hardware such as a bad port at either end, or a bad all-in-one, or a bad cable that is another matter.

Thanks Rick and Paul for the help. I realy think that his problem is that he still has the drivers and software from the other canon printer installed. He just called me from his job and said as soon as he gets home he will call me to help him step by step for what he has to do. He is the kind of person that will not delete a folder unless I am on the phone with him. He tried his USB ports with other things like his mouse and other thinks like keyboards and what not. So he knows the ports are working on the computer, we also used different cords for the connection so we will see what happens letter on today.
Thanks again for the help and ideas.

I just had to come back and post again. My friend came from work and by phone we started to try again installing this printer. To make sure the printer and its cable was working, we installed the printer in his notepad (HP) and everything went well, no problem. So we went back to the tower computer and tried again. This time I told him to type msconfig in the run area and go to the startup tab and close down just about all the programs running in the background then try to execute the installation. When it got to the part to connect the printer and to turn it on he did, and the computer said it detected the printer and to wait while it install software, then about 4 minutes after, the computer said printer not detected. My question is how can it detect then not detect. I am completely stumped. I am way out of my pay grade so to speack on this one. I just feel like I am letting this guy down. I have always been able to help.
If you guys can figure something, please let me know.

At the point the system found the new hardware
The install should have found it also

In the install directions
Find out if he should close the found new hardware box or just ignore it and allow the install to close it

It's a little thing . But I have had it work both ways.
I'd also suggest he download the latest drivers and full installation program for his printer

Lexmark had the same problem with one of their units a few years ago
It would find it one time and not the next
It was a matter of program errors
The new drivers and installation program worked for awhile

Till I advised the guy with the printer to just upgrade to a better printer
Also Make sure his installation program is updated for his current version of windows.. ( I noted he is using XP) So this may not apply. But it is still worth the time to download the update.

Also check the USB connection on the desktop unit.
What if anything is plugged into the usb ports?
A self powered usb hub?
too many other usb devices?
How many ?

and is the Usb port he is using a 1.n or 2.0 usb port?

Go into Device Manager => View => show hidden devices and remove all the 'not present' printers that show up.

This is an all in one so remove any references to scanners as well.

These are great suggestions that you are giving me, but it would be extreamely difficult coaching him through this by phone, it could take me more than two hours with him, I will probably wait until I go back up to NY and go to his house and help him. Righ now I am down in Florida where I also live. I will copy all these suggestions to the notepad and save them there so I will not forget. I know for a fact the USB port is working fine 2.0 port. After deleting all the software for any Canon products, I made do a search and a few more files come up in the search and we deleted everything and started a fresh installation. I think I need to be there on the computer to get a better feel for what is happening. I want to thank you great guys for all the help.
Oh, one more thing, I don't know if I did mention this, but when he installed the printer in his HP notepad, the notepad was running windows Vista, and he had not problems installing the printer on the laptop.
Thanks again.

but it would be extreamely difficult coaching him through this by phone
Have you considered remote access help. Easily done if you have WinXP Pro but there are other approaches as well.

Particularly good if you are both on broadband. Once my uncle got broadband those one hour frustrating phone calls became two minute jobs with remote access.

I have heard of the remote access but never tried it because I think you do need a special peace of software to do so and I don't have it, and I could be wrong. However, If you explain to me how it is done I will put that idea to him. I am sure he would agree to do so.
Thanks Paul.

HERE's (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/remoteassist/intro.mspx) one MS article on the subject. There are two similar things; remote assistance and remote desktop. The latter is only available in WinXP PRO and means that you can access your own computer when away from it. It has to be on-line etc as necessary of course. The former is start from Help and support and lets you give receive help from other WinXP PCs that also are online.

Windows messenger is the least complicated way to initiate a shared desktop session. All you both need is to establish an IM session in messenger and then convert to remote assistance. As state earlier it will work on dial-up but is greatly embellished on broadband.

There is third party software such as PC anywhere - but its not necessary for what you want to do.

LogMeIn (https://secure.logmein.com/home.asp?lang=en)is superb freeware that does something similar and with which you connect to the other computer remotely via a web browser with an activeX control with IE or a plugin with firefox. You are not so restricted to WinXP with LogMeIn but they say you need a high speed connection - though I have got its remote desktop to work on dialup - but it does rather "stammer" when its doing its stuff via dial up.

Thanks very much Paul, I think I will use the LogMeIn. I will have to use it real fast, I only have the 30 days trial. If I realy like it, I will pay for it after the 30 days.
Thanks again.

Once installed on your friend's computer he can use logmein to access his own computer with remote desktop (just as you can yourself) from anywhere via a browser (on a wan or a lan) after the 30 day trial period. The embellishments such as file transfer are lost though.

P.S.
Remote access comes pre-configured on Ubuntu boxes using VNC (http://www.techotopia.com/index.php/Remote_Access_to_the_Ubuntu_Linux_Desktop). There are two "architectural differences" from logmein that affect its access and security. Unlike logmein and MS native software, which use a central server, the linux box is itself the server and so must be findable by domain or IP address. Security, particularly against anyone sniffing for passwords, also needs to be addressed as necessary.

The technology behind sending a bitmap of the screen in one direction and the keyboard and mouse actions in the other direction are not that complicated really. Configuring access, security and being able to find the remote PC (even behind NAT firewalls) are where logmein and windows make life easy for the user.

So Paul, if I understand correctly, both computer has to be running the LogMeIn software? I am thinking how is it going to work with it only running on one computer. From you last post, it does sound like it has to be on both computers.
Thanks big time for you help.

The logmein software needs only to be installed on the computer that needs to be accessed. It is accessed from anywhere by going on-line and logging on at https://secure.logmein.com/home.asp?lang=en with email and password. Additional plugin or activeX control will need to be allowed. The computer in the account or a list of computer if more than one have been subscribed to under the account should appear. One then logs on to the computer using a user name and password or an access code - depending on the OS and security already running on the target PC.

Both PCs need to be on-line (or on the same LAN) but only the one being viewed needs to have had the software installed on it.

Ok Paul, thanks very much, I do understan what has to be done now. This was almost spoon fed to me thanks again.