Problem with Canon Pixma ip4950

[Brian]

I have had a Canon Pixma ip4950 inkjet printer for some time, but it has
recently been acting up. When I send the first print instruction on a
particular day the printer clunks and rattles as it starts up, but then
fails to print, and shows "printer busy", even when it isn't.

To get it to work I have to unplug the USB lead from the printer and
then plug it back in. It then works OK for the rest of the day.

Please note that I shut down my PC at night, but I always make sure that
the printer is turned off via the front corner switch with the green
pilot light off, before I turn the mains power off.

This odd behaviour didn't occur when I first got it - has something
failed or is it something I have done?

Brian

 

[Brian]

And that PC is, what ?

Windows 7 x64 self built, although the problem started when I was still
using Windows 7 x32.