Windows XP Pro - "Random" printing when using IE?

[heldmacm]

Hello,

I've been having this problem for a few months now and finally decided to make a post about it. I'm running Windows XP Professional SP 2 with all the latest Windows updates and such. When I'm browsing the web (using IE 6.0 SP 2), usually at least once a week, my printer (HP Deskjet 812C) will completely randomly start printing out a copy of the web page I'm visiting. HP's web site reports that I am running the most current driver for this printer. At first, I thought maybe I was accidentally hitting the 'print' icon but it's happening frequently enough now that I know that's not the case.

I have checked my printer properties and it is currently set to "Do not share this printer". I suppose it could be someone hijacking my computer but I have not noticed any other unusual behavior with the exception of this. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing such strange behavior? Thanks a lot.

 

[LBmtb]

Check for spyware and virii.

 

[heldmacm]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that. I've run scans for spyware (Ad-Aware, Search & Destroy and MS AntiSpyware) and virii (AVG), all with the latest updates. Nothing found (except tracking cookies, which I removed). Any other ideas?

Originally posted by: LBmtb
Check for spyware and virii.

 

[Tom]

This is probably a built in feature of Windows XP because Microsoft or HP knows what you need even if you don't.

 

[heldmacm]

LOL, so true.

Anyone have any other ideas?

Originally posted by: Tom
This is probably a built in feature of Windows XP because Microsoft or HP knows what you need even if you don't.

 

[Fokks]

My guess would be you're activating the ctl+P print function somehow, do you have special function keys, or mouse buttons? Or if you use the right-click context menu, you could be clicking the print option there.

 

[heldmacm]

I considered that as well - it seems to be happening when I'm moving the mouse (not typing), so that rules out hitting ctrl+P. But I know for a fact it's happened without the right click context menu being activated, so I'm at a loss.

Originally posted by: Fokks
My guess would be you're activating the ctl+P print function somehow, do you have special function keys, or mouse buttons? Or if you use the right-click context menu, you could be clicking the print option there.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Is it possible that you are activating a javascript😛rint(); link by simply hovering over it? Does it happen on any webpage, or just a specific page? Does it print at the exact same time each week?

 

[heldmacm]

I haven't noticed it at a certain time, per se, although I will pay closer attention next time it happens. I don't think it's necessarily ONLY once a week at a certain time; that was just an estimate of the frequency. I can say with certainty that it's happened on many different web pages.

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser
Is it possible that you are activating a javascript😛rint(); link by simply hovering over it? Does it happen on any webpage, or just a specific page? Does it print at the exact same time each week?