Printer Problem

[GTaudiophile]

I built my dad a new box back in April of this year. After putting it together and installing the OS/software, I naturally added a printer, an HP 870cse. After about a month or so of use, the printer stopped working, so I uninstalled and reinstalled the printer drivers, and everything worked again until late July. For some reason, my dad's computer and the printer can't "talk to each other" through two-way communication. Anyone who has an HP printer knows you can test this in the printer's Toolbox. The HP 870cse is also connected to a Macintosh LCIII, and we were able to print from it.

So, I began troubleshooting the problem, first by buying a new IEEE cable (a non-IEEE cable was used previously). When I was still unable to get two-way communication with the new cable, I decided to connect my printer, an HP 720c, to his computer. I uninstalled the other printer's drivers, then installed those for my own printer, and we were still unable to get the two devices to communicate. Aside from this problem, there is nothing wrong with his computer from my standpoint. Could this be a problem with the motherboard (the LPT1 port)? Am I forced to reinstall Win98SE? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Mitzi]

Have you had a look in the BIOS to see what mode LPT1 is set too? On most mobos you should be able to switch between ECP, EPP and BI-DIR modes.

Try setting the mode to ECP and see what happens.

 

[GTaudiophile]

No, I haven't gone into the BIOS. I didn't know I could mess with the printer port there. Wouldn't it be best to change it to BI-DIR?

 

[Mitzi]

When I changed mine to BI-DIR Windows (98SE) still detected it as a standard printer port, when it was changed to EPP Windows detected it as a EPP Printer Port - the difference? Don't have a clue!

I can only suggest try both and see what happens!