Printer problem

[Ruth]

I am trying to solve a problem with my daughter's computer. She has a
Lexmark x6170 printer installed but when you try to print it says that there
is no printer installed. I have downloaded the latest drivers from Lexmark
but am unable to install because of a "printer spooler issue". She did NOT
have system restore turned on because I wanted to try that. The other part
of this is when you go into Control Panel and click on printers, the computer
restarts itself. I have gone through Add/Remove Programs to see if there was
anything that was installed recently and there wasn't. She has Trend Micro
PC-cillin current and running so I don't THINK it would be a virus or
malware. Anything to help would be much appreciated. Thanks

 

[Tony Meloche]

I am trying to solve a problem with my daughter's computer. She has a
Lexmark x6170 printer installed but when you try to print it says that there
is no printer installed. I have downloaded the latest drivers from Lexmark
but am unable to install because of a "printer spooler issue". She did NOT
have system restore turned on because I wanted to try that. The other part
of this is when you go into Control Panel and click on printers, the computer
restarts itself. I have gone through Add/Remove Programs to see if there was
anything that was installed recently and there wasn't. She has Trend Micro
PC-cillin current and running so I don't THINK it would be a virus or
malware. Anything to help would be much appreciated. Thanks

Well, this is the prosaic "fix", but I am leery of recommending it, as
your statement "when I go into control panel and click on printers, the
computer restarts itself", but you can try it:

First, I would ignore the new Lexmark files you downloaded for now, and
have the original Lexmark install CD handy - newly downloaded "updated"
printer drivers frequently clash with other, updated Windows components
(suspect IE 7, if she has that). If she doesn't have the Lexmark
install CD, you'll have to use the new drivers.

Anyhow:

Open control panel.

Open the printers folder. *Right-click once* on the printer icon, and
slide down to "Delete" (don't double-click on it). Delete it, if it
lets you. UNPLUG THE PRINTER FROM THE COMPUTER, and reboot.

Ideally, she still has Lexmark's setup instructions handy. If so,
follow those from this point on. If not, then after the reboot, plug
the printer back in, turn it on, and see if Windows tries to install it.
If not, just reboot.

Windows will almost surely find it after the reboot, and ask for the
Lexmark CD to install it. Do that. Stick with the original files, if
she has that CD - forget the "updated" files for now.

If the computer doesn't allow you to uninstall the printer, or if any
type of click on the printer icon causes the computer to reboot, I'm
sorry I couldn't have been of more help.

If you are able to uninstall/reinstall, and the problem persists, THEN
try the hew drivers you downloaded (you may have to uninstall/reinstall
over again).

Tony

 

[Ruth]

Well, this is the prosaic "fix", but I am leery of recommending it, as
your statement "when I go into control panel and click on printers, the
computer restarts itself", but you can try it:

First, I would ignore the new Lexmark files you downloaded for now, and
have the original Lexmark install CD handy - newly downloaded "updated"
printer drivers frequently clash with other, updated Windows components
(suspect IE 7, if she has that). If she doesn't have the Lexmark
install CD, you'll have to use the new drivers.

Anyhow:

Open control panel.

Open the printers folder. *Right-click once* on the printer icon, and
slide down to "Delete" (don't double-click on it). Delete it, if it
lets you. UNPLUG THE PRINTER FROM THE COMPUTER, and reboot.

Ideally, she still has Lexmark's setup instructions handy. If so,
follow those from this point on. If not, then after the reboot, plug
the printer back in, turn it on, and see if Windows tries to install it.
If not, just reboot.

Windows will almost surely find it after the reboot, and ask for the
Lexmark CD to install it. Do that. Stick with the original files, if
she has that CD - forget the "updated" files for now.

If the computer doesn't allow you to uninstall the printer, or if any
type of click on the printer icon causes the computer to reboot, I'm
sorry I couldn't have been of more help.

If you are able to uninstall/reinstall, and the problem persists, THEN
try the hew drivers you downloaded (you may have to uninstall/reinstall
over again).

Tony


I have tried to uninstall and reinstall but can only do that through Add/Remove Programs. I only have to try and open the Printer folder in Control Panel and it restarts. I thank you so much for your help, I will try again to uninstall and reinstall and NO she doesn't have the original CD! (kids!!! lol)