LaserJet 4 79 SERVICE(01AE) error?

[Gregg E.]

79 SERVICE(01AE)

That's what my LaserJet 4 with 26 megs RAM, PostScript 2 SIMM and
J2550B JetDirect in the MIO slot has on its display once in a
while.

It prints the self test page just fine but will not print anything
from the networked PC running Windows 2000 Pro.

The light on the printer just blinks as it should when receiving
a job, but it doesn't do anything else.

Page count is 206970.

I uninstalled the LaserJet then reinstalled it using the HP
Network Printer Install Wizard 3.04, letting it find the printer
and do all the settings. Same thing, no printing. It worked
fine yesterday.

So now I've done a cold reset with the JetDirect removed (because
I didn't want to have to redo all its settings) and uninstalled
the LaserJet IIID with PostScript 1 cartridge (which is on a
JetDirect EX Plus) then deleted the JetDirect TCP/IP ports in
printer properties.

I'm downloading version 3.05 of the printer install wizard now
and will try it.

Hmmm, HP Download Manager says the J2550B firmware A.05.05 can
be upgraded to A.08.49 Cool, I figured they'd dropped support
on the old thing. And the J2591A external can be updated from
E.08.40 to E.08.49 Nifty. I'll have to hook up the JetDirect
EX Plus 3 and see if there's another update for it. I upgraded
the firmware on all these when I picked them up last year
and there hadn't been any updates in years.

 

[Bob Eager]

79 SERVICE(01AE)

Can be caused by an intermittent memory problem. Try reseating the
memory modules, or remove each in turn for a few days to see if the
problem goes away (one can usually survive on less than 18MB of memory).

 

[Gregg E.]

Can be caused by an intermittent memory problem. Try reseating the
memory modules, or remove each in turn for a few days to see if the
problem goes away (one can usually survive on less than 18MB of memory).

My printers are working again. I updated firmware in all three JetDirects,
updated Netework Printer Install Wizard from 3.04 to 3.05 and used the
LaserJet 4M driver instead of the 4/4M PS driver that had previously worked
fine. *shrug*

Wow. Lots of updates and fixes from A.05.05 to A.08.49 firmware for the
J2550B.

<http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?
objectID=bpj07475>

Looks like the firmware update to the J2550B JetDirect in the LJ4
may have cured it. LOTS of updates from A.05.05, which was the
latest available for that one when I updated the two external ones
to .08.40.

So the rule of thumb now will be "When any JetDirect connected
printer packs up, try updating the JetDirect firmware FIRST."

 

[Bob Eager]

My printers are working again. I updated firmware in all three JetDirects,
updated Netework Printer Install Wizard from 3.04 to 3.05 and used the
LaserJet 4M driver instead of the 4/4M PS driver that had previously worked
fine. *shrug*

I don't believe messing with drivers will have any effect; or, probably,
firmware. It's a hardware problem... You wait!

 

[Gregg E.]

I don't believe messing with drivers will have any effect; or,
probably, firmware. It's a hardware problem... You wait!

The latest firmware update for the JetDirect in the LJ4 said
something about fixes to RAW printing mode, which is the default
for the driver. If it quits again, then I'll worry about it!

P.S. I have 26 megs in it. 2meg built in and three 8meg parity
SIMMs. If I wanted to give up PostScript (and printing from the
Macintosh!) I could swap the PostScript SIMM for another 8meg and
have 34megs.

 

[Bob Eager]

The latest firmware update for the JetDirect in the LJ4 said
something about fixes to RAW printing mode, which is the default
for the driver. If it quits again, then I'll worry about it!

The message 79 SERVICE is completely unconnected to the JetDirect...it
is a board or memory failure.

P.S. I have 26 megs in it. 2meg built in and three 8meg parity
SIMMs. If I wanted to give up PostScript (and printing from the
Macintosh!) I could swap the PostScript SIMM for another 8meg and
have 34megs.

I am aware of that (I have eight of these printers). However, only the
most complex jobs require more than about 14MB, except perhaps if you
have a duplexer. I run complex PostScript jobs with 26MB, and I *do*
have a duplexer. So there is probably scope for removing a module3 and
you will probably not notice it...