won't print

Post by **jtd.75** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 9:13 am

Hi all its me again, this is one for the pc buff's out there. My PC has suddenly lost the ability to be able to print out for some reason or other. All was ok about 2 weeks ago, I am not sure if its down to any up date to the os that may have taken place. My os is XP Pro with all the latest service packs. When I try to print anything out the windows icon is shown just befor the subject that I want to print out whether it be a photo or a program. I know the printer is ok as I have tried it on an other pc. I have even tried 3 other printers an the out come on all is the same

Post by **d_harris** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 12:43 pm

Firstly, run through the troubleshooter (think you have to double click on the printer icon on the taskbar and then hit help) its been a while since I've done it.

The other thing, I'm guessing all the cables are correctly plugged in? Double check just to be sure!

Post by **Lukey** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:16 pm

Check everything is connected up properly. Make sure you have the correct printer selected as the default printer. Go to manufacturers website and download latest printer drivers.

Post by **jtd.75** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:53 pm

Yep done all that, that was the first thing I did B4 posting on here

Post by **CeeLou** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 2:12 pm

Silly question...

Have you gone to your Control Panel, Printers and checked it is still installed? Mine once managed to uninstall itself for no reason at all! There is a troubleshoot option there too. The other thing is to uninstall it and then reinstall - see if that helps?
Good luck!
CeeLou

Post by **dunketh** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 3:50 pm

Apparently XP Service Pack 3 can have issues with printer drivers.

Once you've checked all your cables pop online and see if the manufacturer has an up-to-date driver available for download.

Post by **jtd.75** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:43 pm

Hi all

done all of the above, I have solved the problem it turned out to be several things.
1) the serial port on the back of the pc had a broken pin (HP Printer).
2) usb on the back of the pc had some how managed to fall apart.
It seems that person or persons unknown had dropped something on them

either that or it was the gremlins. All now sorted out and working ok

What I was doing wrong in trying to localise the fault was to use only the end of the cables that went into the backs of the printer i/e and leave the cables connected to the pc. I only found the fault when I was about to try different cables. I assumed the fault was a software one as it on happed after up dating the service packs

. That teach me. As a retired BT engineer I should have known better

Post by **ASL642** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:47 pm

Oh well sorted now - mine has a hissy fit if the paper isn't standing to attention in the correct manner!

Post by **Kevin** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:37 am

That teach me. As a retired BT engineer I should have known better

So it was either caused by a Welsh micro dragon or more likely an iffy 9083 tester then.

Post by **jtd.75** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 5:18 pm

or even a detector no 4

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:58 pm

Well if you had used the clock & battery you would probably have found the dis a bit sooner