Communication Not Available - Dell V305 All In One Printer

[socks]

I bought my printer last April and haven't had any problems until now. When
I go to print I get the error message, "Communication Not Available". I
unplugged the USB port and all connections & still get the error. I called
Dell & the tech checked my system & said nothing wrong with the printer &
transfrerd me to software support who said its likely a software issue &
wants to charge $79 to fix it. I haven't added any new software lately. Any
suggestions? Would uninstalling & reinstalling the printer work? How about
the printer driver?

 

[Lem]

I bought my printer last April and haven't had any problems until now. When
I go to print I get the error message, "Communication Not Available". I
unplugged the USB port and all connections & still get the error. I called
Dell & the tech checked my system & said nothing wrong with the printer &
transfrerd me to software support who said its likely a software issue &
wants to charge $79 to fix it. I haven't added any new software lately. Any
suggestions? Would uninstalling & reinstalling the printer work? How about
the printer driver?

What version of Windows are you using?
Have you re-booted the computer?

Exactly how did the tech "check your system" and determine that there
was nothing wrong with the printer if you can't print?

Have you tried using another USB port?
Have you tried another USB device in the port to which the printer
usually is attached?
If you have another USB printer cable, try using it.

Yes, try uninstalling and reinstalling the printer. See directions here:
http://www.coribright.com/windows/Article_One.htm

Get the driver here, after selecting the proper version of Windows:
http://support.dell.com/support/dow...RN_INKJET_V305&hidos=WLH&hidlang=en&TabIndex=

There is a Dell troubleshooting guide for this issue at:
http://support.dell.com/support/top...s=dhs&treeid=405C64376D7840CA936897580C8427C2

 

[john]

I'm using Windows XP. Yes, I rebooted the computer. The tech ascessed my
computer remotely and checked several settings. He had me copy a document
and it copied fine. He had me unplug the USB port from the back of the
printer
& from Control Panel>Printers, the printer icn read off line. But when I
plugged it back in ithe icon read ready.

 

[Lem]

I'm using Windows XP. Yes, I rebooted the computer. The tech ascessed my
computer remotely and checked several settings. He had me copy a document
and it copied fine. He had me unplug the USB port from the back of the
printer
& from Control Panel>Printers, the printer icn read off line. But when I
plugged it back in ithe icon read ready.

This sounds as if he was following the steps in the troubleshooting
guide at the link I gave in my previous post
(http://tinyurl.com/y9rhu2s). You can try them yourself. There are a
couple of points where the troubleshooter suggests restarting your
computer. Following the procedure will thus be easier if you have
another computer connected to the Internet; otherwise, bookmark the
troubleshooter so you can return to it after you reboot.

If you get to the point where the guide suggests doing a System Restore
or a "PC Restore," you can try using System Restore to a date before the
problem started, but

- do NOT use System Restore if you've installed any software since the
date of the restore point you want to use
- do NOT use System Restore to go back more than a week or so.

If System Restore doesn't work, do NOT do what Dell describes as a "PC
Restore." Instead, uninstall and reinstall the printer driver and other
software as I earlier described
(http://www.coribright.com/windows/Article_One.htm).

Note: if you get to the "Clear the print queue" step and "Cancel all
documents" does not work (there appear to be some documents stuck in the
queue), then

Open a Command Prompt window and type

net stop spooler [Enter]
cd C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\PRINTERS
[delete any files in that folder]
net start spooler [Enter]
Exit

 

[john]

I don't have another USB cable. I am going to uninstall the printer from
programs>dell printers>uninstall. I have a cd that came with the printer
that I will use to reinstall. Should I download the latest driver first or
will the cd take care of that since its called, "Drivers and Utilities"?

 

[Lem]

I don't have another USB cable. I am going to uninstall the printer from
programs>dell printers>uninstall. I have a cd that came with the printer
that I will use to reinstall. Should I download the latest driver first or
will the cd take care of that since its called, "Drivers and Utilities"?

You can use programs>dell printers>uninstall, but after you do, go to
Printers and Faxes and make sure that the icon for this printer has been
deleted. If not, right click on it and choose delete. Then, still in
Printers and Faxes, click on File > Server Properties and click on the
"Drivers" tab. Ensure that there are no remaining drivers that relate to
your V305.

Normally, I would suggest that you download the latest driver from the
Dell site (http://tinyurl.com/yd3gaqd), but because you have an
All-in-One printer, and it's not clear if the "driver" available for
download is just the printer driver or if it also includes software to
enable the scanner/copier features of your device. Likewise, it's not
clear if the uninstall routine uninstalls only the printer or everything
associated with the device. Thus, you may be better off if you reinstall
using your original CD. It appears that the main thing that was added in
this most recent driver was Win 7 support, and because you have XP,
that's not relevant.

 

[john]

Thanks, Lem. I'll try your suggestions & let you know of the outcome.

 

[socks]

Lem,

Good news. The printer works now. When I checke Files>Server Properties &
clicke the driver tab, the V305 driver is listed. However, there were two
other drivers there previous. One I think said fax & the other I can't
remember. I used the cd to install the printer. What about those two other
drivers?

 

[Lem]

Lem,

Good news. The printer works now. When I checke Files>Server Properties &
clicke the driver tab, the V305 driver is listed. However, there were two
other drivers there previous. One I think said fax & the other I can't
remember. I used the cd to install the printer. What about those two other
drivers?

If things are working OK, leave that list of drivers alone.

Files > Server Properties > Drivers lists *all* the drivers that are
currently installed. You shouldn't normally see an entry for "fax"
there, but extra drivers shouldn't hurt anything.

 

[socks]

What I meant is that when I uninstalled the printer & went to Server
Properties & clicked Drivers, I deleted the 3 printer drivers there. When I
reinstalled the printer, & checked Server Properties, under Drivers only one
was listed: Dell V305. Could there be a problem here since there is the
one driver listed only?

 

[Lem]

What I meant is that when I uninstalled the printer & went to Server
Properties & clicked Drivers, I deleted the 3 printer drivers there. When I
reinstalled the printer, & checked Server Properties, under Drivers only one
was listed: Dell V305. Could there be a problem here since there is the
one driver listed only?

You'll know if there's a problem ... some printer won't print. If you
don't have any printers installed now other than the V305, don't worry
about it.

If you do have another printer(s), you'll have to reinstall the
driver(s) in order for them to print.

 

[socks]

Lem,

Thank you very much for all of your help. I'm irritated at the Dell tech
who kept saying it was a software problem & had to pay $79. I suggested we
uninstall the printer but he said no that wouldn't help. Ahain thank you.