communicating with printer

[layler]

hi there

think i have a problem with the communication between my printer and laptop.

i know my printer is working cause i have been able to print a self test page, also i have been able to put my sd card into my printer and print via usb cable.

my printer can be enabled wireless however i cannot even get it to work with cable at the minute ,

wondered if it could possible be something to do with anti virus and firewalls?

i have comodo and avira anti virus on there at the minute.

thanks.

again sorry for keep bothering you.

layler

[BeeCeeBee]

HI Layler, How long has this been going on? Have you rebooted your computer since you first noticed it?

[layler]

weeks !!

so have restarted it many times! just never seem to get to the bottom of the problem !

[layler]

hi there

any sugESTIONS ON WHAT I CU TRY NEXT ?

THANKS

LAYLER

[Goku]

Hello Layler. What happens when you try to connect the printer physically to the computer? Does it give you an error message or does it just sit there doing nothing?

 

-- Goku

[BeeCeeBee]

Just to add to the questions,

 

What printer are you using? (manufacturer and model)

 

Does the printer show as having any print jobs as pending?

 

Regarding Goku's question, tell us whether the pc acknowledges the print command. For example does it ask the number of copies needed etc.?

[layler]

hi there in reply to your question.

i plug the usb cable in to my laptop and it makes a noise from my pc i presume to acknowledge connection.

if i press print, it brings everything up as normal ie the print page saying how many copies etc and then a message ccomes up from lexmark saying that it is printing but then it only gets to say this time 31% printing and then seems to stop, it has got as far before as saying 99% printing but still nothing comes off.

it is a lexmark x4550 model.

thanks

layler

[BeeCeeBee]

Before anything else try downloading updated drivers for your printer.

 

Lexmark - United States

 

If you follow the site and enter your model the driver for windows will be there don't be put off to the reference to the United States.

[layler]

hi there yes have done this now but same problem still just says printing started but has only got as far as 15%

[BeeCeeBee]

One thing to keep in mind is that there is a real possibility that the printer has just failed. It is also quite possible that all the print commands that you have been trying has backed up the spooler that stores and lines up the print jobs.

 

I am going to give you some instructions on how to clear it out and see if that solves the problem.

 

 

1. Go to your Start Menu and click on RUN
   
2. Type "services.msc" without the quotation marks
   
3. The services window will open and you should then scroll until you find "Print Spooler"
   
4. Right click on Print Spoolers and select stop.
   
5. Next go back to Start (you can leave the services window open) and search for for files and folders named "Spool" make sure that you include hidden folders in your search (under more advances options.)
   
6. A folder should show up in the search named Spool (not a file a folder)
   
7. Click on the folder and you should see a sub folder named PRINTERS.
   
8. Delete any and all files within the PRINTERS folder and close the window (if it is empty it is not likely that we have found the problem)
   
9. Now go back to services.msc (if it is not still open then just repeat 2 above.)
   
10. Go back to Print Spoolers, right click and then start the spooler service again.
    
11. Exit the services window.
    

At this point if it was a spooler issue your printer should work. If not (and if there were no files to delete in the printer spooler) then the problem lies elsewhere.

Edited January 6, 2009 by BeeCeeBee

[layler]

hi there

no have tried with the prin ter spoolers still not working could it be anything to do with anti virus or firewalls do you think ?

[BeeCeeBee]

could it be anything to do with anti virus or firewalls do you think ?

Try disabling the firewall and see if it works. If it does the answer is yes.:D

[layler]

sorry but how do i disable the firewall i have commodo and antivira are these firewalls

[BeeCeeBee]

I don't have commodo but assume there is an icon for it in the taskbar (near the clock) or else you may disable it through the start and program menus or again in the security center located in your control panel.

 

I must say, though, while anything is worth a try, I would be more then surprised if it is somehow being blocked by a firewall. You have rebooted, installed new drivers, cleared out the spooler and now it just may be time to find a good version of "The last post" on youtube and put the thing out of its misery.

Edited January 6, 2009 by BeeCeeBee

[layler]

hi there well have tried all of that again but still not working seems a bit strange because it does print if i print from my picture card in printer

also have only had the printer since may last year !

[BeeCeeBee]

Layler it is still possible that it is something else but I think you may be confusing the ability to print with the abilty to process commands coming from your PC.

 

Test pages are usually built into the printer and picture cards are also direct to the printer. ( I assume you do not use your card through a reader in the pc.)

 

Your printer seems to be getting the print commands from the pc but dropping them before completion. That seems to indicate a printer fault.

[BeeCeeBee]

I will give you a few more things to try but it isn't looking good.

 

 

1. Delete the printer completely and reinstall following manufafturers instructions to the letter and only connect when told to.
   
2. Check in your device manager Control Panel>System>Hardware>device manager. Pay particular attention to Universal Serial Bus Controllers and see if there are any warning icons.
   

I am afraid that Lexmark support is not the best so there does not seem to be much hope there.

[layler]

hi there

my printer is working at last !

i unistalled my printer software again and all my anti virus and firewalland then reinstalled printer and then anti virus and firewall and so far all good.

thanks again for all your patience and help

layler

[BeeCeeBee]

I will give you a few more things to try but it isn't looking good.

 

Ok so maybe its looking a little better now. :)

 

Glad its sorted!!!