USB printer issues

EricT · 04-20-2005, 10:36 AM

Hi all-

An old HP, post virus removal, is demonstrating some odd behaviour. If I use the printer utility (its a canon IP 3000 photo whatchamawhozit) I can print out calibration pages. If I print a test page through the win98 printer properties, or print out of any other program, it fails immediatly as if the printer isnt plugged in.

Canon utilities- print fine. The operating system seems to nto be able to print.

Anyone have any suggestions of where I can look to see what is going on? I removed and refreshed the USB drivers, reinstalled the printer drivers. Something else core to the system with printing is hosed though. Being primarily an XP guy, I dont really know where to look.

Any and all thoughts/comments welcome!

Eric

Geekgirl · 04-24-2005, 02:38 PM

Click Start>Run and type in sfc
Scan for altered files, you may need your 98 disc

If a file is corrupt or missing this should find it

EricT · 05-11-2005, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geekgirl

Click Start>Run and type in sfc
Scan for altered files, you may need your 98 disc

If a file is corrupt or missing this should find it

Thanks fo the attention Geekgirl!

Ran SFC - nothing comes up as corrupt or missing.

However, I no longer suspect the USB side. Rather, its the printing componentry that is screwed up.

Plugged in a paralell printer. Can print test pages - go to print, and I get a message about the default printer not being defined, even though it is in the print settings.

Any ideas, oh win98 experts? I do virus removal and XP, 98 is a bit foriegn to me at this point.

Eric

Geekgirl · 05-12-2005, 04:00 PM

Possibly the printer spool is messed up....

Is your printer listed in the control panel under Printers and also is it in the Program Files?

EricT · 05-12-2005, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geekgirl

Possibly the printer spool is messed up....

Is your printer listed in the control panel under Printers and also is it in the Program Files?

Hello again Geekgirl!

Yeah, the printer is in the printer section of the control panel. I can run any printer diagnostics, be it over USB or paralell, also have tried 2 diff printers now and they both have the same behavior. Print properties functionality works - but if I print from say word, I dont even get to the point where I can shoose a printer - it fails and says a default printer has not been chosen, even though one clearly has been in the control panel.

Its a goofy prob, for sure. I work on XP almost exclusively, and not usually on printing issues, so I am a bit lost here.

Eric

Geekgirl · 05-12-2005, 07:41 PM

Is the printer set as default? There should be a check mark beside it

EricT · 05-12-2005, 08:20 PM

No matter what I do with the default printer settings, it continues to crash out the printing dialogue box instead of letting me choose anything.

In the printer settings boxin the control panel, yes the printer is checked and set as default.

What can I do to check and see what is going on with the spooler files/settings/registry entries?

Eric

Geekgirl · 05-12-2005, 09:02 PM

Try printing from Notepad. This verifies that the printer driver is correct, and confirms that the problem lies with an application. If you cannot print from Notepad, the problem lies with the printer driver.

Also is the print spooler service turned on?
Control panel>Administrative Tools>Services>Print Spooler>Ensure it is started.
Make sure it is set to automatic, not manual

This link will show you how to change the default printer spool directory. Not sure if you want to go there yet but you can check out the registry path

04-20-2005, 10:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
EricT Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 51 OS: XP	USB printer issues Hi all- An old HP, post virus removal, is demonstrating some odd behaviour. If I use the printer utility (its a canon IP 3000 photo whatchamawhozit) I can print out calibration pages. If I print a test page through the win98 printer properties, or print out of any other program, it fails immediatly as if the printer isnt plugged in. Canon utilities- print fine. The operating system seems to nto be able to print. Anyone have any suggestions of where I can look to see what is going on? I removed and refreshed the USB drivers, reinstalled the printer drivers. Something else core to the system with printing is hosed though. Being primarily an XP guy, I dont really know where to look. Any and all thoughts/comments welcome! Eric

04-24-2005, 02:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,190 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Click Start>Run and type in sfc Scan for altered files, you may need your 98 disc If a file is corrupt or missing this should find it __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

05-12-2005, 04:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,190 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Possibly the printer spool is messed up.... Is your printer listed in the control panel under Printers and also is it in the Program Files? __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

05-12-2005, 07:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,190 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Is the printer set as default? There should be a check mark beside it __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

05-12-2005, 09:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
Geekgirl Assistant Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Six-burgh, Pennsylvania Posts: 14,190 OS: XP Home SP3/XP Pro SP3/Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Professional	Try printing from Notepad. This verifies that the printer driver is correct, and confirms that the problem lies with an application. If you cannot print from Notepad, the problem lies with the printer driver. Also is the print spooler service turned on? Control panel>Administrative Tools>Services>Print Spooler>Ensure it is started. Make sure it is set to automatic, not manual This link will show you how to change the default printer spool directory. Not sure if you want to go there yet but you can check out the registry path __________________ Compare NOD32 to your current antivirus and anti-spyware solution, HERE How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista Or Windows 7 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows 98/ ME / NT 4.0 / 2000 I DO NOT ACCEPT EMAILS AND WILL NOT REPLY TO THEM !!!!! TSF DOES NOT SUPPORT ASSISTANCE THROUGH EMAIL OR PRIVATE MESSAGES, PLEASE KEEP ALL QUESTIONS IN THE OPEN FORUM *The Pittsburgh Steelers - 6 X Superbowl Champions !!!!!!!* *The Pittsburgh Penguins - 2009 Stanley Cup Champions !!!!!!!*

05-12-2005, 08:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
EricT Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 51 OS: XP	No matter what I do with the default printer settings, it continues to crash out the printing dialogue box instead of letting me choose anything. In the printer settings boxin the control panel, yes the printer is checked and set as default. What can I do to check and see what is going on with the spooler files/settings/registry entries? Eric