printer not recognized (sometimes)

[carl43m]

I have an old Xerox laser printer that has always worked well with my old
desktop (XP), even though the printer did not have an xp driver. I just
hooked it to the desktop and it always worked. I then got a laptop with XP
SP2 and hooked up to it. Sometimes the printer works and other times I get
an error message. At times if I do a complete shut down of the laptop and
turn off the printer--then reboot pc and then turn on printer, then the
printer works. What is driving me insane is why the printer may work for
hours and then all of a sudden the printer no longer shows as ready (offline)
and if I click for it to be online then error message appears when I try to
print.
Anyone have any ideas as to what the issue might be? Thanks.
Carl

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Perhaps a change of printer cable might help.

 

[carl43m]

Thanks. I did just check and the printer shows as "ready" but I get a
message that "document failed to print" -- no specific error code. And
then I am directed to do trouble shooting which never gives any specific
error code.

I am using an adapter cable as the old printer cable that comes out of the
printer is a serial cable. Possibly I should look into an adapter that plugs
right into a USB port rather than the adapter cable .
Carl

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Adapter cables can be very picky. I've seen folks that have had good
results with the Belkin brand, but to be totally honest, if you have a
motherboard without an LPT port, it's better to connect the printer via a
network or print server, or even to change to a USB printer.