printer problems, could use some assistance...

[Coadman]

We are running Windows XP corp edition, and have two printers hooked up. One printer is an Hp 940c printer which we are using via a usb connection. The other printer is an Epson 5000 (tractor feed) which we using in doing billing for our rural water district. The Epson is on Lpt1. Today, after doing bookwork, my wife tried to print out some billing statements on the Epson, but it would not work. Nothing happens when she tries to print, I had her reboot the computer and try again, but still would not print. I tried the Epson "self test" for printing, and it would not even print. Computer must not be communicating through Lpt1 with the computer. Can anybody tell me how to check all of this?
thanks,
coadman

 

[Bozo Galora]

only one printer can be default
doesnt matter usb/parralel
you make one default, the other you have to pick in flyout window in print dialogue box
and both printers should be showing in control panel
and LP1 should be shown as "this device is working properly" in device manager
in other words drivers loaded for both and lpt and usb functioning and enabled in bios

all this assumes the epson never worked - first attempt

 

[Coadman]

Originally posted by: Bozo Galora
only one printer can be default
doesnt matter usb/parralel
you make one default, the other you have to pick in flyout window in print dialogue box
and both printers should be showing in control panel
and LP1 should be shown as "this device is working properly" in device manager
in other words drivers loaded for both and lpt and usb functioning and enabled in bios

all this assumes the epson never worked - first attempt

This printer has been working until just today. I ran a self print test, using the controls on the printer, and it is ok,,but something must have happened to my lpt1 port, because when I go to device manager and click on "ports(COM & LPT)"..there is no LPT port listed,any ideas???
thanks,
coadman

 

[Matt155]

Well there is certain steps you can take narrow down your problems.

1= cable bad?
2= printer bad?
3=lpt port bad?

We can probably rule out the cable since you say that the port itself don't show up in the device manager. Also lets rule out the printer since you said that you ran a self test using the controls on the printer itself. So lets say for some reason your LPT port is bad now.

Only option for you if the port is bad is to get a paralel port to usb converter, I think they carry this at Radio Shack.

Good luck

 

[CraigRT]

easiest thing to look for is in your device manager.
check the "ports, com and lpt" and make sure LPT1 shows up. If that is not there, the computer does not even realize it has a parallel port.
That is the easiest place to start. If it's not there, into the BIOS to see if it got disabled somehow.

If that all checks out.... onto other things like replacing cable, etc.

 

[Coadman]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
easiest thing to look for is in your device manager.
check the "ports, com and lpt" and make sure LPT1 shows up. If that is not there, the computer does not even realize it has a parallel port.
That is the easiest place to start. If it's not there, into the BIOS to see if it got disabled somehow.

If that all checks out.... onto other things like replacing cable, etc.

Like I said, in the device manager, the LPT1 does "NOT" show up,,it had been in the past,,but now it is not listed,,,so where do I go from here?

 

[wseyller]

Look in the bios and see if the hex address for LPT1 is set to "378"

 

[Coadman]

Originally posted by: wseyller
Look in the bios and see if the hex address for LPT1 is set to "378"

Just went there, and found out the parallel port was disabled, for some odd reason, I changed that, and rebooted computer, and all is well. Thanks for everyone that tried to assist!
coadman