View Full Version : My printer and my PC are not talking to each other


Kazza
08-14-2005, 12:46 PM
Well basically! :D
I'm trying to get my printer to work with my computer but when it tells me to 'install' and I chose an option it just freezes and I have to reboot over and over again. I dunno what the deal is.

TripperFan
08-14-2005, 01:19 PM
When you reboot, try unplugging both the pc and printer for around 3 mins. and then plug back in and try booting up again.

Failing that - better get them into a counsellor! ;)

Kazza
08-14-2005, 01:37 PM
When you reboot, try unplugging both the pc and printer for around 3 mins. and then plug back in and try booting up again.

Failing that - better get them into a counsellor! ;)


Been there done that on both! ;)

robyrob
08-14-2005, 02:23 PM
have you tried to purge the print spool? go into the Printers and Faxes thing in the Control Panel (assuming XP) right click on the printer and select "Purge Print Documents" - this will clear any documents that are "stuck" in the process of being sent to the printer

try that and reboot, then plug in the printer again, if it STILL doesnt work UNINSTALL the printer (right click on, and delete in Printers and Faxes), then go through the install process from the beginning

Kazza
08-14-2005, 02:34 PM
have you tried to purge the print spool? go into the Printers and Faxes thing in the Control Panel (assuming XP) right click on the printer and select "Purge Print Documents" - this will clear any documents that are "stuck" in the process of being sent to the printer

try that and reboot, then plug in the printer again, if it STILL doesnt work UNINSTALL the printer (right click on, and delete in Printers and Faxes), then go through the install process from the beginning


That's what freezing my computer; when I delete 'printers/faxes and try to reinstall :(

robyrob
08-14-2005, 03:37 PM
That's what freezing my computer; when I delete 'printers/faxes and try to reinstall :(
is this a USB printer?

unplug the printer and boot into SAFEMODE (tap on the F8 function key as you are booting up), then purge the print queue and uninstall the printer and reboot back into normal mode

IMakeBurgers
08-14-2005, 03:45 PM
is this a USB printer?

unplug the printer and boot into SAFEMODE (tap on the F8 function key as you are booting up), then purge the print queue and uninstall the printer and reboot back into normal mode

:drool:

*MIBabe03*
08-14-2005, 03:51 PM
Interesting, mine talk to each other but they don't have anything in common. ;)

TripperFan
08-14-2005, 03:52 PM
LOl - that's exactly what I was going to suggest next.


If all else fails, drop printer and cables out the window (at least 2nd floor), get out the credit card and head to Circuit City..... :lol:

IMakeBurgers
08-14-2005, 03:55 PM
LOl - that's exactly what I was going to suggest next.


If all else fails, drop printer and cables out the window (at least 2nd floor), get out the credit card and head to Circuit City..... :lol:

I'd take the damn that back, tell the people the printer was a piece of sh- poo, and get another. HP has always worked well for me.

TripperFan
08-14-2005, 03:57 PM
I'd take the damn that back, tell the people the printer was a piece of sh- poo, and get another. HP has always worked well for me.


There ya go!! I used to think HP printers were good until I tried Lexmark. Way better!

Wouldn't be the first printer they had brought back telling them to do a rectal insertion with it! ;)

IMakeBurgers
08-14-2005, 04:03 PM
There ya go!! I used to think HP printers were good until I tried Lexmark. Way better!

Wouldn't be the first printer they had brought back telling them to do a rectal insertion with it! ;)

:lol: If you tell them to shove it, you'd probably get a worse deal out of it...Lately, I've found that if you make the person feel sorry for you, they're better about helping you out. ;)

I always try to buy my CPU, printers, etc. from the same brand. (I'm not really making sense today..Too damn tired.)

Hollow
08-14-2005, 04:15 PM
My printer and my PC are not talking to each other

TripperFan
08-14-2005, 04:17 PM
:lol: If you tell them to shove it, you'd probably get a worse deal out of it...Lately, I've found that if you make the person feel sorry for you, they're better about helping you out. ;)

I always try to buy my CPU, printers, etc. from the same brand. (I'm not really making sense today..Too damn tired.)


Go in then and turn on the tears! Big time!! Tell them you were printing a letter to your sick grandma who's only got hours to live and you may not get it there in time becaue of this piece of sh*t!! :lol:

Kazza
08-14-2005, 05:41 PM
is this a USB printer?

unplug the printer and boot into SAFEMODE (tap on the F8 function key as you are booting up), then purge the print queue and uninstall the printer and reboot back into normal mode


Yes

When I go into Safe Mode the printer doesn't show as installed. When I put in the CD rom from it, it took me to a page about installation options. Clicked on that, goes to a page that says how do you want to install (only software or all the 411) If I click on any of the options the cursor dissapears and the monitor freezes.

Rene
08-14-2005, 05:44 PM
i say give em some drinks-loosen em up a bit im sure theyll start talkin but dont let them do anything theyll regret tomorrow

Kazza
08-14-2005, 05:50 PM
i say give em some drinks-loosen em up a bit im sure theyll start talkin but dont let them do anything theyll regret tomorrow


:rofl: I should get them some protection too :p

robyrob
08-14-2005, 06:23 PM
Yes

When I go into Safe Mode the printer doesn't show as installed. When I put in the CD rom from it, it took me to a page about installation options. Clicked on that, goes to a page that says how do you want to install (only software or all the 411) If I click on any of the options the cursor dissapears and the monitor freezes.has this printer EVER worked on this computer before?

what printer is it (make and model)? what version of windows are you using? does this printer have both USB and parallel port connections? have you tried to install the printer WITHOUT using the cdrom - just plug the printer in and reboot, and let Windows try to recognize it? does the printer software appear in the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel?

*I know you guys are just having fun with the comments, but someone IS asking for help here 'n all* :grr:

Rene
08-14-2005, 06:26 PM
*I know you guys are just having fun with the comments, but someone IS asking for help here 'n all* :grr:

i sowwy :grady:

Kazza
08-14-2005, 06:49 PM
has this printer EVER worked on this computer before?

what printer is it (make and model)? what version of windows are you using? does this printer have both USB and parallel port connections? have you tried to install the printer WITHOUT using the cdrom - just plug the printer in and reboot, and let Windows try to recognize it? does the printer software appear in the Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel?

*I know you guys are just having fun with the comments, but someone IS asking for help here 'n all* :grr:


YES
All it shows in Control Panel is Inactive HP Printer 'remove only'
It's an HP model deskjet 3320. I'm on Windows XP.
It has a cord that goes from the printer to the computer and another one for the plug.
When I try not using the CD it takes m e to the 'Add a printer wizard'. It asks what kind of port I'm using and shows a picture of how it looks but mine doesn't look that one LPT1...There's a page on queue but it has been like that for the past 4 minutes and haven't printed yet.

robyrob
08-14-2005, 07:05 PM
YES
All it shows in Control Panel is Inactive HP Printer 'remove only'
It's an HP model deskjet 3320. I'm on Windows XP.
It has a cord that goes from the printer to the computer and another one for the plug.
When I try not using the CD it takes m e to the 'Add a printer wizard'. It asks what kind of port I'm using and shows a picture of how it looks but mine doesn't look that one LPT1...There's a page on queue but it has been like that for the past 4 minutes and haven't printed yet.
- clear the document that you are trying to print from the queue
- uninstall the printer in the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs (remove only)
- unplug and plug the usb cable into the computer's USB port with the printer on
- it XP should recognize the printer when you plug it in and ask you to go through the Add Printer Wizard, see if it recognizes it as the deskjet3320, if it can't find it, when it gets to the page with the "Have Disk..." button, put the cdrom in (hold down the CTRL key when you put it in so that it wont Autorun) and tell it to look for the files on the cdrom

if this doesn't work, I would try to see if you can plug it into a different computer, or with a different cable to see if it is a problem with the printer, the cable, or your computer.

IMakeBurgers
08-14-2005, 07:06 PM
YES
All it shows in Control Panel is Inactive HP Printer 'remove only'
It's an HP model deskjet 3320. I'm on Windows XP.
It has a cord that goes from the printer to the computer and another one for the plug.
When I try not using the CD it takes m e to the 'Add a printer wizard'. It asks what kind of port I'm using and shows a picture of how it looks but mine doesn't look that one LPT1...There's a page on queue but it has been like that for the past 4 minutes and haven't printed yet.

I'd get a new printer.

IMakeBurgers
08-14-2005, 07:08 PM
Go in then and turn on the tears! Big time!! Tell them you were printing a letter to your sick grandma who's only got hours to live and you may not get it there in time becaue of this piece of sh*t!! :lol:

:lol: I'd just say that I have a major project due in AP Calculus(hahah, its an important class that i dont have yet) and it counts as 50% of my final grade. If I dont have whatever I need printed out that night, I would not only fail my class, I'd fail my grade. :rotflmao:

Kazza
08-14-2005, 07:27 PM
- clear the document that you are trying to print from the queue
- uninstall the printer in the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs (remove only)
- unplug and plug the usb cable into the computer's USB port with the printer on
- it XP should recognize the printer when you plug it in and ask you to go through the Add Printer Wizard, see if it recognizes it as the deskjet3320, if it can't find it, when it gets to the page with the "Have Disk..." button, put the cdrom in (hold down the CTRL key when you put it in so that it wont Autorun) and tell it to look for the files on the cdrom

if this doesn't work, I would try to see if you can plug it into a different computer, or with a different cable to see if it is a problem with the printer, the cable, or your computer.

I uninstalled the printer and replugged it.
When I go to 'Add printer' I get a msg to insert disk on E, insert disk, after doing that go -ok but doesn't do anything else after that.

robyrob
08-14-2005, 07:49 PM
I uninstalled the printer and replugged it.
When I go to 'Add printer' I get a msg to insert disk on E, insert disk, after doing that go -ok but doesn't do anything else after that.
when you plug in and turn on the printer, do all the lights come on, and go to the "ready" state?

when you plug in the printer, does Windows pop up a "New Hardware Found" balloon?

if you can get XP to install the files automatically, it should work, if not you need to remove the old drivers that are stuck in there and install the new driver manually, if the cd isnt working, download them from hp:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?dlc=en&lc=en&os=228&product=75035&lang=en&cc=us&softwareitem=dj-7057-4

follow the instructions on that page carefully, make sure that you have UNINSTALLED all the old drivers first,

if you are STILL having a problem with it, you are going to need to borrow a USB cable from someone and try that, or try plugging it into a different computer

Penny Lane
08-14-2005, 08:24 PM
When I tried to install my Lexmark printer into my new PC it wouldn't work. So I went to the Lexmark web site and downloaded an updated driver. Then it worked just fine! Maybe you need a new driver? Whatever brand of printer you have, go to their web site and see if there are any new drivers that you need to install.

:2help :lol:

Kazza
08-14-2005, 09:25 PM
when you plug in and turn on the printer, do all the lights come on, and go to the "ready" state?

when you plug in the printer, does Windows pop up a "New Hardware Found" balloon?

if you can get XP to install the files automatically, it should work, if not you need to remove the old drivers that are stuck in there and install the new driver manually, if the cd isnt working, download them from hp:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareDownloadIndex?dlc=en&lc=en&os=228&product=75035&lang=en&cc=us&softwareitem=dj-7057-4

follow the instructions on that page carefully, make sure that you have UNINSTALLED all the old drivers first,

if you are STILL having a problem with it, you are going to need to borrow a USB cable from someone and try that, or try plugging it into a different computer

Thanks for all your help. I'll update in a bit.

Brent88
08-14-2005, 11:10 PM
I'd take the damn that back, tell the people the printer was a piece of sh- poo, and get another. HP has always worked well for me.

HP sucks... I have a piece of crap printer sitting in the same room with me right now. Nothing but problems. Everytime the power even flickers it gets all screwy. :mad:

PZelda
08-14-2005, 11:17 PM
There ya go!! I used to think HP printers were good until I tried Lexmark. Way better!

Wouldn't be the first printer they had brought back telling them to do a rectal insertion with it! ;)
I had a Lexmark from May 2000 - April 2003. That thing was a piece of ****! I DON'T recommend Lexmarks.

PZelda
08-14-2005, 11:21 PM
When I tried to install my Lexmark printer into my new PC it wouldn't work. So I went to the Lexmark web site and downloaded an updated driver. Then it worked just fine! Maybe you need a new driver? Whatever brand of printer you have, go to their web site and see if there are any new drivers that you need to install.

:2help :lol:
Same problem with me a few months ago. My HP PSC 1350 started going wonky on me...Wouldn't scan and if I tried to print a document or picture, the cartridge align page would print out instead. I realized I probably needed to update my drivers, so I went to HP's website, found an updated driver for my model PSC and now all is right with the world again. ;) But it STILL likes to tell me there's a paper jam when there is ABSOLUTELY no paper in it. :cuckoo