"Communication Error" Epson Stylus

[- Bob -]

I have an Epson c88. When printing from and XP-home machine, I get the
Epson Status Monitor popping up with the Epson Status Window and a
"Communication Error" displayed... check your connections, blah, blah,
blah. The printing always completes normally - but it always displays
this error.

The printer is hanging off a win2003 server, LPT1. The client printing
is XP-home with wireless networking. The client hooks up using
\\servername\printerName. Oddly, the printer show up in the control
panel -> properties as being on LPT1 - this seems odd. There is never
any status info displayed (e.g. color levels) in the control panel.
The problem does not occur on my other win2K clients on the network.

The strange thing is that this used to work just fine. (No, no idea
what caused the issue, the client has been rebuilt more than once and
no software tracking is possible). I've deleted the printer from the
client, the server, added it back, etc, no changes.

Ideas ? Any known issues or fixes ?

Thanks

 

[measekite]

I have an Epson c88. When printing from and XP-home machine, I get the
Epson Status Monitor popping up with the Epson Status Window and a
"Communication Error" displayed... check your connections, blah, blah,
blah. The printing always completes normally - but it always displays
this error.

The printer is hanging off a win2003 server, LPT1. The client printing
is XP-home with wireless networking. The client hooks up using
\\servername\printerName. Oddly, the printer show up in the control
panel -> properties as being on LPT1 - this seems odd. There is never
any status info displayed (e.g. color levels) in the control panel.
The problem does not occur on my other win2K clients on the network.

The strange thing is that this used to work just fine. (No, no idea
what caused the issue, the client has been rebuilt more than once and
no software tracking is possible). I've deleted the printer from the
client, the server, added it back, etc, no changes.

When you did that did you also manually clean the registry form any
traces of the printer driver and then reboot? That is for both the
Server and the Client.

 

[Jan Alter]

When you did that did you also manually clean the registry form any traces
of the printer driver and then reboot? That is for both the Server and
the Client.

I've come across this situation with a C84 for two different reasons. The
first was when a cartridge was not placed back in its compartment to allow
all the wires to connect with the cartridge chip correctly and then second
was when one of the wires dangling from the print head compartment got
knackered to the point that I needed to use a thin bladed knife to readjust
it it so it would make contact with the chip on the cartridge.

 

[- Bob -]

When you did that did you also manually clean the registry form any
traces of the printer driver and then reboot? That is for both the
Server and the Client.

No... I will try that.

 

[- Bob -]

I've come across this situation with a C84 for two different reasons. The
first was when a cartridge was not placed back in its compartment to allow
all the wires to connect with the cartridge chip correctly and then second
was when one of the wires dangling from the print head compartment got
knackered to the point that I needed to use a thin bladed knife to readjust
it it so it would make contact with the chip on the cartridge.

The server does not seem to have any issues communicating... just the
client (reliably). Seems like they would both have problems if it was
a mechanical issue.

 

[Brian Watson]

Oh, man. I was soo excited when I read your post. I have the Epson
CX7000F, and like you have had all the same problems. Unlike you,
though, I actually called the "no help" desk and spoke with them for
hours over several days. So, they DID send me a brand new printer, just
like mine. Because my printer was only a few months old and about the
7th or 8th Epson, I've bought. But, it worked for about 2 days, and is
doing the exact same thing. I tried your suggestions and they didn't
help me, UGH!!! I wished they had, now I guess I'll have to call Epson
back. If you find anything else that works, please post and I'll give it
a try. Likewise, if by some one in a million chance, Epson can do
something, I'll pass it along.

I've had this message using an Epson through a USB hub.

At startup, the hub doesn't always initiate so the connection to the printer
is not complete.

 

[Don Phillipson]

I have a C88 printer on my XPproSP2 PC and have not been able to
successfully reinstall the printer driver(s) using any means I've tried. . .. .

I'm inclined to believe they do not have a really clean uninstaller
which wipes the slate clean when removing their drivers and that has
something to do with an inability to reinstall drivers and carry on...

So long as you have only one Epson device (and have downloaded
a suitable driver) it does not take long to run REGEDIT , search
for "Epson" throughout and remove every key thus found, then
reinstal from scratch using the new driver.

 

[Joel]

I've had pretty good luck with Epson printers but their tech support is
pretty near pathetic. One thing that would be a HUGE STEP UP would be
if their corporate people started sending out customer satisfaction
surveys to anyone that used tech support - existing tech support
wouldn't be there long.

I have a C88 printer on my XPproSP2 PC and have not been able to
successfully reinstall the printer driver(s) using any means I've tried.
I've spent HOURS on the net looking for solutions and yes, have found
many others with the same related problem. I contacted Epson and they
sent me a couple of basic "this outta work" scenarios and then stopped
corresponding with me telling me that it likely would be a quick fix but
I'd have to call their banker hours tech support line (even though I
indicated that I'd like to continue the email correpondence because of
the hours I work - never heard from them again.

I'm inclined to believe they do not have a really clean uninstaller
which wipes the slate clean when removing their drivers and that has
something to do with an inability to reinstall drivers and carry on...
My 3rd Epson printer and I've had pretty good luck with their printers
but they really need to overhaul a worthless tech support group because
it's really caused me to re-think whether I'll buy another Epson
printer.

And are you looking for help or place to bash Epson?

 

[MD34]

And are you looking for help or place to bash Epson?

I have a C84 and it's the biggest pile of dung I've ever owned.

They band like a gypsy and tech support says "That's normal"

They drink ink like a drunk with a newly found credit card.

They are THE WORST printer you can buy. I had several HP's followed by 2 Epsons.
Epson suck major penis and support was a joke.

I now have 2 HP color laserjet printers and couldn't be happier.

I get more than 150 pages per cart and the image is pretty damn good.

HP is years ahead of Epson. You may have to dig a little for English speaking
tech support, but after a while you tolerate it.