lpt1 gone can't print

[Guest]

I recently installed Windows XP on my pc. I had Window 98 but did not use the
upgrade. I reformatted my hard drive and installed XP clean. I then installed
SP2 and all other security patches available. I installed a HP deskjet 850C.
When installataion was complete I asked that a test page be printed. After 90
sec the printer faulted out with an error. No more descriptive than that. I
checked and noticed that LPT1 does not exist in system hardware. The printer
was installed on LPT1. There isn't any LPT2 or 3 either. The printer was not
connected to the computer during the installation of Windows XP. The print
drivers appear to be the latest. The HP website claims the most current
drivers are already included with XP. I installed another printer port from
the control panel add hardware. I added it as LPT3. I deleted the printer. I
then reinstalled it on LPT3. The printer faulted this time after 90 sec with
a no paper fault. The printer has paper and does not indicate that it is out
of paper. I can print the self test page from the printer. The printer worked
fine on Windows 98 and was installed on LPT1. My BIOS setting is EPP for the
parallel port. It is using interupt 7. Any suggestions on how to resolve
this problem?

 

[Earl F. Parrish]

I recently installed Windows XP on my pc. I had Window 98 but did
not use the
upgrade. I reformatted my hard drive and installed XP clean. I
then installed
SP2 and all other security patches available. I installed a HP
deskjet 850C.
When installataion was complete I asked that a test page be
printed. After 90
sec the printer faulted out with an error. No more descriptive
than that. I
checked and noticed that LPT1 does not exist in system hardware.
The printer
was installed on LPT1. There isn't any LPT2 or 3 either. The
printer was not
connected to the computer during the installation of Windows XP.
The print
drivers appear to be the latest. The HP website claims the most
current
drivers are already included with XP. I installed another printer
port from
the control panel add hardware. I added it as LPT3. I deleted the
printer. I
then reinstalled it on LPT3. The printer faulted this time after
90 sec with
a no paper fault. The printer has paper and does not indicate that
it is out
of paper. I can print the self test page from the printer. The
printer worked
fine on Windows 98 and was installed on LPT1. My BIOS setting is
EPP for the
parallel port. It is using interupt 7. Any suggestions on how to
resolve
this problem?

EPP is usually used for non-printer peripherals such as optical
drives or Zip drives. The DeskJet requires either SPP or ECP. You
have to enable ECP in BIOS.

 

[Guest]

I enabled ECP in the BIOS and I still get the printer out of paper error
after 90 sec. The printer still doesn't show an out of paper error. I tried
turning the printer off for 10sec and back on to see if this would work. No
luck. What should I try next?

 

[Guest]

Hi Mike,

I have the exact problem you have. I have two HP printers one an Deskjet 400 an the other a deskjet 880c, both worked fine until I installed sp2. I ahve searched the net all over trying to find a solution. Have you been successful in getting you printer to work? If so how?

Thanks

Chris

 

[Chuck]

As a last resort.
Set the port in bios to spp.
You may need to uninstall the existing printer drivers.
Poweroff & reboot.
Install XP compatable drivers.
Another possibility is to go to the HP web site and look for a cleanup
utility for the printer drivers.
Sometimes the installs/uninstalls fail to set and clear the proper registry
entries.
Make sure that you follow any instructions with the printer drivers
concerning the order of events.
I.E install the driver first, or connect the printer first.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Chuck for taking the time to write, however I've still had no luck.
Both Systems work fine with SP1, guess i'll have to leave it there.

Thankyou again

 

[Chuck]

A last thought as a temporary troubleshooting aid is to unplug from any
network connection, defeat/turn off any firewall, such as the windows one
added with SP2 and see if that helps. If so, there is a way (that escapes me
at the moment) to set the firewall up and allow printing to take place.