New computer. Help!

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PurplePerson1

PurplePerson1

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Sep 18, 2001
Posts
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Mansfield, Ohio
I got a new computer. It is a Compaq. I have two problems I can't figure out. Lets deal with the fist and worst one in this thread and maybe the other later. I need this one for the Grumble. The printer doesn't work. I never disconnected the cord from the printer itself and the other end fits in the hole in the computer. The computer welcomed the printer to its new home and said it was ready to use. When I tried it, the computer said that no printer is there. I have tried to set it up, as the computer walks me through it, and the computer still says there is no printer there.

Got any ideas?
 
You probably already did this, but...did you try powering down both the computer and printer and then restarting the printer first and then starting the computer?
 
If that doesn't work, try going to the printing manufacturer's web site and downloading the most recent version of the driver that works with your specific model and specific operating system.

example: www.hp.com www.epson.com www.lexmark.com www.brother.com etc

While XP has some basic drivers built in, these are a couple years old. The ones provided by the printer manufacturer will have all the latest updates and features. These are often updated a few times a year as they discover and fix small buglets.

Before installing the new one, be sure to go into the printers folder to remove any other drivers that may have been left over.

Hope this helps!
Mike

PS: Is it a "USB" type printer/cable, or a parallel? There are a lot of known USB issues, especially with some of the HP printers. (1100, 1150, 1200) Computers over 2 years old also have USB 1.0 ports, which are very problemative. I assume yours has the newer 2.x USB ports.

[ 10-09-2003, 11:14 AM: Message edited by: Mike-L@GTP ]
 
Katman, I will try
You probably already did this, but...did you try powering down both the computer and printer and then restarting the printer first and then starting the computer?
Click to expand...
first and then move on to Mike's. I will get back to you both and anyone else with ideas.
 
Mike, I am going to squash that spider.
icon40.gif
If I can get the courage to do that.
 
You may also want to check in the BIOS setup if the parallel, or LPT1, port is enabled and what mode it's in (ECP, EPP, etc.).

With most computers you can hit the "Del" key right after you first power it on and it will bring up your computer hardwares options. With Compaq I'm not sure, since I've been fortunate enough to avoid using them.

Some printers I've seen require the port set to "bi-directional", but that's usually just fixing printing problems after the printer's already been detected by Windows. But if Windows can't see it, its either a bad port (on the motherboard), bad cable, bad printer, or the port's been turned off..

If you have another printer lying around you can probably rule out a couple of those.
 
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