How do I create a USB printer port manually

[Lawrence]

I have installed a new Canon USB iP4200 printer on my Dell Inspiron 700
laptop which is running XP Home + SP2. I have repeated this process a
number of times ensuring all anti-virus and similar software is
disabled. I followed the process to the letter, installing the software
with the printer powered off, then powering it on, and I get the same
result each time - the system cannot locate the printer. The
installation appears to have succeeded and it attempts to align the
heads, that is when the "printer not responding" message appears.

I am not using a hub and the USB cable is the standard one. I have
repeated this "by the book" a number of times.

In the device manager there is a new, yellow question mark, item
labeled "Other devices." Under this is another yellow question mark
identifying the printer, iP4200. The properties on this device tell me
"This device is not configured correctly. (Code 1)."

The Canon iP4200 appears as the default printer in the "Printers and
Faxes." Under properties for the printer everything appears fine EXCEPT
under the Ports tab where no USB port is identified for the new
printer. An old port for my defunct Lexmark is present, but no other,
and no new port for the Canon. It seems that the USB port creation
process is failing.

When I powered the printer on during the installation process a message
pops up in XP saying it found new hardware and identifying it, but the
installation program never finds the port or printer. XP can see new
hardware, it seems to install, but no port is made.

Any suggestions would be very gratefully recevied - I am sorely
vexed!!!

Thanks - Lawrence

 

[Bruce Sanderson \(MVP Printing\)]

You mentioned you had a Lexmark printer before. The Lexmark printer drivers
are known to do some strange things, so I suggest "cleaning" your print
spooler environment, then doing the installation from scratch.

Instructions for "cleaning" the print spooler are at
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm. Pay particular
attention to the "special information about Lexmark printer drivers" part.

Before doing the "cleaning", power off the printer and disconnect the USB
cable.

I happen to have a Canon IP 8500 which installed without a hitch on my XP
SP2 desktop following the instructions from Canon.

Unless otherwise specifically instructed, it might be useful to leave the
printer not connected to the computer until instructed to power on the
printer.

I'm not familiar with the Dell computers specifically, but we had some
computers at work where things like mice would only work properly when
connected directly to the laptop as opposed to through a "port replicator"
or "docking cradle".

See if the information at
http://alpha02u.c-wss.com/inc/ApplS...WUCA103&LA=1145049149367&SV=WWUCA104&TRF=MAIN
helps - despite the strange URL, this appears to be a legitimate Canon web
page and is pointed at by the Canon web site.

--
Bruce Sanderson MVP Printing
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.