Unable to install Printer

[Guest]

Unable to connect an Epson Stylus CX5200 printer/scanner combination to the USB port. When asked to switch on the printer during the installation process the installation software appears to be unable to detect USB port printer is connect to. At this stage, Windows detects and correctly identifies the printer and displays the "Found new hardware" wizard. However, it subsequently displays an error message "Problem installing this hardware".
The Printer/Fax folder contains no icons and when you click on "Add a Printer" nothing happens. The print spooler is set to automatic. I have stopped and restarted it several times, but still the Add printer Wizard fails to work.
Tried different leads and USB ports and checked out all known conflicts. The printer is connected directly to the port. I have removed the USB ROOT HUB and forced windows to successfully redetect after reboot. Printer appears to be OK, but Epson installation software unable to detect the USB port printer is connected to. I have cleaned out all the old printer drivers from my PC as suggested by B Sanders. I have tried uninstalling and installing the Epson Stylus software, but each time the process fails at the same point. When it prompts you to switch on the printer nothing happens when you do so – the same dialog box remains displayed. Windows, on the other hand, detects the new hardware each time but fails to install the driver.
My PC is a Dell Dimension 8200 using Windows XP Home Edition.
Both Dell and Epson support were unable to help. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Robert Orleth [MSFT]]

There could be more than one problem, but let's take it one at a time: if
nothing happens if you click on Add Printer, that usually means that some
installer putzed around with printui.dll, which hosts the Add Printer Wizard
and is also used to instantiate a print queue in the plug-and-play case.
Check out Brian Boston's FAQ:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
7) When I click "Add Printer", nothing happens at all or I receive an
"Operation could not be completed" error message.

In case you have LanTastic installed, navigate to the %windir%\system32
folder and replace printui.dll with mprintui.dll (mprintui.dll is the
original version that the LanTastic installer replaces with its own
version). printui.dll is the system component hosting the Add Printer
Wizard.

If you receive this error and do not have LanTastic installed, one of the
system DLLs that are needed for the Add Printer Wizard to work may be
missing or have been replaced by another file. You will need to restore the
old file:

1. Open the command line
2. Click on Start, then Run and type "cmd" and press enter or click "OK".
3. At the "C:\>" prompt, type "sfc /scannow" to run the system file
protection scanner. This may prompt you for the Windows CD to restore the
original file versions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

--
This information is provided AS-IS and confers no rights.

Unable to connect an Epson Stylus CX5200 printer/scanner combination to

the USB port. When asked to switch on the printer during the installation
process the installation software appears to be unable to detect USB port
printer is connect to. At this stage, Windows detects and correctly
identifies the printer and displays the "Found new hardware" wizard.
However, it subsequently displays an error message "Problem installing this
hardware".

The Printer/Fax folder contains no icons and when you click on "Add a

Printer" nothing happens. The print spooler is set to automatic. I have
stopped and restarted it several times, but still the Add printer Wizard
fails to work.

Tried different leads and USB ports and checked out all known conflicts.

The printer is connected directly to the port. I have removed the USB ROOT
HUB and forced windows to successfully redetect after reboot. Printer
appears to be OK, but Epson installation software unable to detect the USB
port printer is connected to. I have cleaned out all the old printer drivers
from my PC as suggested by B Sanders. I have tried uninstalling and
installing the Epson Stylus software, but each time the process fails at the
same point. When it prompts you to switch on the printer nothing happens
when you do so - the same dialog box remains displayed. Windows, on the
other hand, detects the new hardware each time but fails to install the
driver.

 

[Jerry_S]

Hi Robert,
Thank you for your help.
I did a big clean out of old printer files that still
existed in the windows folder, and then did all you
suggested in your reply - Guess what? my Add Printer
Wizard was restored and my new Epson installed at the
first time of asking. It had been sitting idly on my desk
for the last month and I had almost given up hope of ever
using it. I am absolutely delighted with the new printer
and I thank you and all your colleagues in the newsgroup
for all your invaluable help.
Have a great Christmas -mine has come early, thanks to
you!

-----Original Message-----
There could be more than one problem, but let's take it one at a time: if
nothing happens if you click on Add Printer, that usually means that some
installer putzed around with printui.dll, which hosts the Add Printer Wizard
and is also used to instantiate a print queue in the plug- and-play case.
Check out Brian Boston's FAQ:
---------------------------------------------------------- ------------
7) When I click "Add Printer", nothing happens at all or I receive an
"Operation could not be completed" error message.

In case you have LanTastic installed, navigate to the % windir%\system32
folder and replace printui.dll with mprintui.dll (mprintui.dll is the
original version that the LanTastic installer replaces with its own
version). printui.dll is the system component hosting the Add Printer
Wizard.

If you receive this error and do not have LanTastic installed, one of the
system DLLs that are needed for the Add Printer Wizard to work may be
missing or have been replaced by another file. You will need to restore the
old file:

1. Open the command line
2. Click on Start, then Run and type "cmd" and press enter or click "OK".
3. At the "C:\>" prompt, type "sfc /scannow" to run the system file
protection scanner. This may prompt you for the Windows CD to restore the
original file versions.
---------------------------------------------------------- --------------

--
This information is provided AS-IS and confers no rights.

printer/scanner combination to
the USB port. When asked to switch on the printer during the installation
process the installation software appears to be unable to detect USB port
printer is connect to. At this stage, Windows detects and correctly
identifies the printer and displays the "Found new hardware" wizard.
However, it subsequently displays an error

message "Problem installing this