My Printer is dead.

[kfh]

Hi All,

Just moved my comp to a new house, everthing went well thanks to the advise from my other post.
One problem tho my printer is dead.
I'm not sure where to start, checked all the leads and connections.

OS Win XP Pro.

Thanks,

kfh.

[Budfred]

By "dead" do you mean no signs of power at all or do you mean it won't print?? If it has any life, have you checked settings in Device Manager and tried to run a test print page? If no power, the problem would almost certainly be a connection problem with the power cord or outlet you are plugging it into.

Budfred

[kfh]

Hi Budfred

Sorry for the delay in answering.

The transformer is warm, but no life in the printer.
Not even doing a maintanance test.
No printing either.

thanks,

kfh.

[Budfred]

If the transformer is getting warm, power is ok in the outlet. If the printer is dead, then it suggests that power is not getting into the printer and since you just moved, I would suspect that something got jarred loose. If it is old and cranky, you could try opening the case and checking the connections - completely unplugged of course. If it is in good shape with many happy years ahead, I would take it to a pro to get it checked out. Of course in many cases you could buy a new one for less than that will cost.

Good luck,
Budfred

[mjc]

I recently had an HP612C that wouldn't work......my sister had already boaught replacement printer, so there was nothing to lose. I openned it up and the internal connections were disconnected.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Did you manage to get Humpty together again??? :D


How many spare parts were left afterwards? LOL

[mjc]

Oh...yeah.......the surgery was a success, and the patient lives...hmmm, since I haven't sent it back to my sister yet I might as well hook it up and use it, no sense in letting the half full cartridge go stale......

[kfh]

Hi All,

Thanks for all the replies.
Just checked my scanner thats not working either.
The light is on but no responce huh.
Both units are Hewlett packard.

Os XP Pro.

Thanks,

kfh.

PS I did a windows upedate be for I moved.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

I have a car that was handling well yesterday. I put it away last night and today it handles just awful.

PS The flat tire wouldn't have anything to do with it, you think? :D

PS I did a windows upedate be for I moved.
Did you verify that everything was working between the time of update and before transporting the pc?

If not, you may want to consider a reg-restore to prior the update. Removing then re-installing softwares for your printer and scanner might work also.

Which update was it?





(I'm not mocking you jus funnin' ;) )

[kfh]

Hi All,
Update windows V4.

I just booted to Win ME.
And got the message Printer Port Problem.
Where do I go from here.

Thanks,

kfh.

[Budfred]

I am still a little confused about what is happening with your printer's power. If you disconnect the printer from the computer and power it up, do it light up and can you run the default test page. If this doesn't work, then it is not getting power and the problem is probably in the printer power connection. If it does work, then it could be a problem with the computer and software or the connection hardware.

Budfred

[ErnieK]

Hi ther KFH
If you go into Device Manager and check in Sytem Properties are the printer and scanner showing there?

If they are remove any mention of them reboot the computer and windows should re-find them. This will let you know for definate whether hardware - software or connection problem.
If connection problem windows will not find them.
If hardware windows should have problems re-installing them.

If the problem is still there after this remove any mention in ADD REMOVE PROGRAMS, reboot and then reinstall re-install software.

Are they Par Port or USB. Can you cadge a couple of cables to check with.

By the way, did you move to the new house along with the computer?:D

[Fruss Tray Ted]

I have a problem with a scanner in that it will not work unless it is allowed in start-up. I usually disable it in msconfig until I need it whereupon I enable it and reboot. I'm not sure if my printer acts the same. I'm thinking not.

But I won't be surprized to read that there's the 'little question marks' in device manager... on both devices.

[kfh]

Hi All,

Sorry for the delay in answering.

Theres no sign of my printer anywhere on my comp.
I uninstalled my scanner. And I am now getting a failure to comunicate error.
I'm not to worried about the scanner but need my printer asap.
Can't do a test print or a mantainance check it is dead.
I'm getting desperate guy's.

Thanks,

kfh.

[Paul Komski]

As already asked is this a USB connection (printer and/or scanner)?

Are you getting the same problem from both OSes on what is presumably a WinME/XP dual boot?

Is the correct printer set up as the default in the Printers Folder and (silly little point) check that it is not Paused if it is there.

If there are no printers in the printers folder and it is a USB printer (not being detected on bootup with add new hardware etc) you could try it in another computer and see if that one will detect it; or on its parallel port for that matter.

[gwallen4]

Are you sure you have the right power transformer hooked up to the printer? My computer has three different ones - for printer, scanner, speakers. They are not interchangeable!

[kfh]

Hi All,

Scanner usb, printer parr.
Scanner in add and remove but no sign of printer.
Not found on reboot.
Printer is set as default.
Transformers are coreect.

Getting failure to connect to scanner [1215].
Printer port problem.

Thanks,

kfh.

[Paul Komski]

kfh - sorry - not sure I follow; if "no sign of printer" then how do you know it is set as default? - if you follow me - perhaps I do follow you in retrospect.

Printers don't usually appear in Add/Remove. You can add and delete them from the Printer Folder. A number of printers may be installed simultaneously even if you never use them. You could add the same printer as a second instance and set it as a new default to see if it would then work.

Can you test the output voltage of the transformer with something like a multimeter or try another transformer and also try out another parallel cable.

In the printer's properties is it set to connect to LPT1?

[Budfred]

kfh,

I am sorry, but I am getting really confused. You seem to be saying that your printer is not even powering up. If this is true, you can mess with the software forever and nothing will change. Is this really what you are saying???:confused:

If this is what you mean, then you need to get the printer powered before you worry about your Windoze settings. Have you checked to make sure you have the right power cord and transformer, have you tried testing the printer while it is NOT connected to the computer, have you checked the power connections to make sure the connection isn't smashed or something????

If the printer is really dead, you have 3 options that I can see.
1. Take it to a repair shop and see if they can figure it out.
2. Open the case and see if there is a loose wire that you can fix.
3. Get a new printer.

Since the printer is the urgent need, please be very clear about its status and we can help with software options if there is life in it.

Budfred

[Paul Komski]

If the transformer is getting warm, power is ok in the outlet.
Likely, but not totally true; there could be a short in the transformer or its cable for example.

btw - are both the scanner and the printer running off the same transformer?

[Budfred]

Paul,

I meant the household power outlet that the power cord is connected to. It is clear that something is keeping power from getting to the printer and that could certainly be the transformer in the power cord to the printer. I am still confused about whether the printer is power dead though.

Budfred

[Paul Komski]

He He I'd like to know if the transformer can fire up the fairy lights on a Xmas Tree. ;)

[ErnieK]

KFH
Boot into safe mode and double check in Device Manager for printer. If there is remove all reference. (In add\remove there can sometimes be an item for printer enhanced software - so Dble check this as well) Also remove any reference to the Printer Port (LPT1) from Device Manager as well. Now reboot computer. It will now find the printer port again and reinstall it. Now re-load the printer drivers and see waht happens.

(You could aslo try temporarily changing the port type in the BIOS to check it out as well)

If not try this.
Attache another printer cable. Now make sure printer is powered on. Reboot computer. If not working try it on another computer.

As has been said a lot of scanners MUST be turned on (powered up) prior to computer boot up.

[Paul Komski]

A simple troubleshooter (http://www.waterwheel.com/Guides/Trouble_Shooting/Printers/Pinters.htm)

[kfh]

Hi All,

Thanks for your help.
Tried all the things sujested still no go.
Time to get a new printer.
Where can I go to read some reviews.
I was thinking of getting a printer scanner combo.
I've seen a lexmark one not sure of that make tho.

Thanks again guys,

kfh.

[Budfred]

www.pcworld.com

has tons of reviews about printers and other stuff, seem to be pretty objective to me.

The thing I have found with printers is that even the cheap ones are pretty good these days, so I pay attention more to operating cost than other details. Lexmark has some nice cheap printers, but somewhat higher operating costs. Not a problem if you don't print much, but costly if you do. HP has more expensive printers, but somewhat lower operating costs. And so forth...

Good luck,
Budfred

[kfh]

Hi All,

Just one last thing before I go out and blow my cash.
I'm wondering if A new combo will work now.
Windows cannot find my scanner.
And I now get this error with my printer.
Hpft bx 13 has caused an error in hpfscp 13.dll.

I unistall everthing to do with the scanner and printer.
Reinstalled in ME and XP still no go.
I'm now on dial up, but plugged my usb broadband modem in, and got a message this hardware my no work properly.

Thanks,

kfh.

[Paul Komski]

HP have a good reputaion for their hardware; the scanner at least shows power on it's lcd; all was well before your upgrade but as FTT picked-on, were things OK between this upgrade and the MOVE?

The problem seems to be with both OSes so this points to hardware unless there is "double pathology". But which hardware; so I would be inclined to try out both peripherals on another pc before you splash out any money.