Please help! Printer drivers reinstalled every time I print to networked printer

[Spudd]

I have an Epson CX5400. It's hooked up by USB to the computer in the den. That same computer is wirelessly networked. When I print from MY computer to the Epson while the den computer is on, the screen sort of freezes for a second or two. When I opened Event Viewer, I realized that Windows XP Prof. was installing the Epson drivers EVERY time I printed something. Is this normal, or can it be fixed?

 

[Double Trouble]

I don't believe that's normal, I haven't seen that before. I'd try to delete the printer and reinstall it with the latest drivers (on the machine to which the printer is connected by usb). Then, when you try to print from the other machine, it should update the drivers automatically (one time) and take care of it.

Sounds strange though!

 

[Spudd]

Originally posted by: tagej
I don't believe that's normal, I haven't seen that before. I'd try to delete the printer and reinstall it with the latest drivers (on the machine to which the printer is connected by usb). Then, when you try to print from the other machine, it should update the drivers automatically (one time) and take care of it.

Sounds strange though!

Yes, it is very weird. I tried updating the drivers on the den computer where the printer is attached, but it hasn't solved the problem. It's like my computer won't remember the installation of the Epson drivers so every time I print, it looks for and installs the printer drivers. I haven't found anything on google that helps either. Tech support is clueless as usual. Doh.

 

[Spudd]

Contacted Epson but they were no help. Anyone out there experience a similar problem? I haven't found anything on google that works either. Help......please.....................

 

[decrypt]

I would remove the printer from both machines, and reboot. Setup the printer on the host with a generic driver in the Windows OS if possible, and then add it to the other computer. Maybe a generic epson driver will fix the problem. This is a pretty strange problem.

 

[Spudd]

Tried, but to no avail...it still does the same thing. Argh................

 

[Spudd]

Is there no one out there with any ideas? This thing hangs my computer while it tries to print. Argh.............

 

[Allanv]

on the pc that u want to print from add the printer BUT select local port to do so not browseing or \\pc\printer.

use local port the type \\pc\printer <- replce that woth correct details.

then install driver when asked, also do this in a admin account only.

so its add printrer / local printer / manual port / local port


if ya need anything else just ask

 

[Spudd]

Originally posted by: Allanv
on the pc that u want to print from add the printer BUT select local port to do so not browseing or \\pc\printer.

use local port the type \\pc\printer <- replce that woth correct details.

then install driver when asked, also do this in a admin account only.

so its add printrer / local printer / manual port / local port


if ya need anything else just ask

Thanks for the help Allanv. Tried like you said but still have the same problem. Here's what's in Event Viewer every time I print:

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: Print
Event Category: None
Event ID: 20
Date: 3/19/2004
Time: 4:09:13 PM
User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer: THOROUGHBRED
Description:
Printer Driver EPSON Stylus CX5400 for Windows NT x86 Version-3 was added or updated. Files:- E_DMAI16.DLL, E_DU18CE.DLL, E_DM18GA.VIF, E_QI021E.HLP, E_DDSP13.DLL, E_DJB306.DLL, E_DCON02.DLL, E_DMSG00.EXE, EPIBSR30.EXE, E_DI08CA.DLL, E_DD18GA.CFG, EPIPGI10.DLL, E_DPUI03.DLL, E_DPPE03.EXE, E_DI13AE.DOC, EPSET32.DLL, E_DHMM11.DLL, E_DUMWE2.DLL, E_DHT301.DLL, E_DS80GA.DLL, E_H4X2G1.DXT, E_H490G2.DLL, EPUTIX25.DLL, EPUTIX25.EXE, E_H4E0G2.DLL, EBAPI4.DLL, EBPLPT4.DLL, E_DM18GA.DAT, EBPSHRE4.DLL, SAGENT4.EXE, EBPSAGT4.DAT, EPUPDATE.EXE, SETUP32.DLL, E_S10RN1.EXE, E_SKN161.DLL, E_SKN321.DLL, E_S10MT1.EXE, E_S1T0A1.EXE, E_SMSTE3.HLP, E_H27UIA.DLL, E_S490G1.DLL, E_S4I2G1.EXE, E_S4E2G1.DLL, E_SIINS1.EXE, E_A4X2G1.DAT, E_S00RP1.EXE.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

 

[boomerang]

Are both computers running XP?

 

[Spudd]

Yes, both are running Windows XP Pro with all critical updates from windowsupdate.com.

 

[Spudd]

Here's some more detailed info just in case: it's a wireless network using a Microsoft MN-500 wireless router. My machine is using the onboard NIC for an Nvidia Nforce2 board from Epox (the 8rda+), it has an Athlon XP 2200+ and 512 MB of DDR RAM. The den computer is using a DLINK 520+ desktop wireless PCI card and has an Athlon 1.0Ghz cpu with 256MB of ECC DDR RAM. Wirless connection works flawlessly for browsing files and folders and for accessing the internet. Printing from the den computer to its USB attached CX5400 printer is fast. Printing from my computer over the network to that CX5400 results in a Code 20 warning in Event Viewer, and freezing, but the document does print after hanging for about 20 seconds.

 

[boomerang]

I'm wondering if the problem is due to the drivers containing functionality for the scanning, etc. in this all in one printer.

I think I would set it up as Allanv said, but install just the Printer Driver v5.4aA from the Epson site.

Might be a pain, but you could try swapping the printer from the den to your computer temporarily to see if the problem is related to just one computer.

 

[Spudd]

I used only the printer drivers and followed Allanv's suggestion. No cigaro. Could it be related to the printer on the den computer being a USB connected? It's really weird....it's like Windows doesn't remember it already HAS the drivers installed and tries re-loading them all over again everytime I print.

 

[boomerang]

That's why I'd be curious to see what happens if you reverse the scenario. Will the den computer then experience the same problem as your does now? If so, it has to be related to the drivers themselves. I think!?!!?!

 

[Spudd]

Originally posted by: boomerang
That's why I'd be curious to see what happens if you reverse the scenario. Will the den computer then experience the same problem as your does now? If so, it has to be related to the drivers themselves. I think!?!!?!

Will give it a try and report back. Thanks!

 

[Spudd]

Update: No joy on the switch. However, after putting the printer back on the Den computer, I noticed that what AllanV told me to do has allowed Internet Explorer to print just fine. Weird. IE will now print a document in a split second without a hiccup, but other programs like FireFox, Notepad, and Adobe Reader still take a while and get that Not Responding dialog across their top window. ARgh.....

 

[Allanv]

in the printer driver look for (enable bi directional printing ) and remove the tick

see if that helps

 

[Spudd]

Originally posted by: Allanv
in the printer driver look for (enable bi directional printing ) and remove the tick

see if that helps

Hmm. That may have done it, thanks Allanv. I printed this thread after doing what you said and here's what happend: It still took about 30 seconds before anything started printing, FireFox once again had that "Printing Page "Please Help! Printer drivers..." pop-up with a (Not Responding) message, but there was no error reported in Event Viewer nor the driver being re-installed. Thanks man! Really appreciate it. Now if I could just figure out why FireFox hangs when printing. Of course, it is a beta so that's probably the answer right there. :beer:

 

[Allanv]

sorry never used firefox so thats me done..

hope it all pans out for ya

Glad to help

Regards

Allanv