USB port bad on Epson Stylus Photo 890?

[TomYoung]

Hi:

The Epson Stylus Photo 890 has both USB and parallel interfaces, so
instead of networking the printer between the two computers in our
home I've had my wife's computer connected to the printer using a
parallel printer cable and my computer connected via a USB cable.

Went to print today off my computer and it didn't work. Tried a
different USB port on my computer and it still didn't work. Connected
the printer to the wife's computer via the USB cable but the computer
didn't "see" the printer. Broke out a new USB cable and tried
connecting the printer to each of the computers in turn but still no
glimmer of recognition. (I'm running Vista, her computer is running
XP.) Printing via parallel cable still works fine. Conclusion: USB
port on Epson printer has gone bad. :-(

For some reason this seems odd enough to me that I'd thought I'd ask:
does this seem like the right conclusion here or is there something
else I should try?

TIA

Tom Young

 

[Arthur Entlich]

Hmmm....

Interesting.

There are a few possibilities I can think of. I'm assuming this used to
work as you had it set up, with both computers, is that correct? If it
never worked it may be confounded drivers or a software issue.

If it worked fine previously and now the USB doesn't work it may be a
failed component in the printer, but it may also be that the USB socket
on the printer has been damaged or has separated from the circuitboard.
I find they aren't anchored very well on some devices and can tear off
the board. Also, if the socket has become distorted, it may not be
grounding properly. Some Epson devices require specialized USB cables
to work. If one was included in the box when you bought the printer,
this may be the case.

However, if I understand your posting, you setup the XP machine on
parallel and the Vista on USB. You then tried to run the printer on USB
from the XP machine to test the port. This may not be a proper test.
You may have to install the drivers again on the XP machine for USB use
to have it function that way. Note that most USB peripherals need to be
disconnected from the computer when the drivers are loaded and then
plugged in afterward, or after a reboot.

My concern is that the problem may be driver related on the Vista
machine, and the conclusion that the printer isn't working on either
machine with the USB port could be a potential false assumption when the
USB port is used on the XP machine.

Your wife's XP machine is looking for the printer on the parallel port,
and the hot switch ability on the USB port may not be recognizing the
printer there because the drivers may not be set up for it.

Art

 

[Tony]

Hi:

The Epson Stylus Photo 890 has both USB and parallel interfaces, so
instead of networking the printer between the two computers in our
home I've had my wife's computer connected to the printer using a
parallel printer cable and my computer connected via a USB cable.

Went to print today off my computer and it didn't work. Tried a
different USB port on my computer and it still didn't work. Connected
the printer to the wife's computer via the USB cable but the computer
didn't "see" the printer. Broke out a new USB cable and tried
connecting the printer to each of the computers in turn but still no
glimmer of recognition. (I'm running Vista, her computer is running
XP.) Printing via parallel cable still works fine. Conclusion: USB
port on Epson printer has gone bad. :-(

For some reason this seems odd enough to me that I'd thought I'd ask:
does this seem like the right conclusion here or is there something
else I should try?

TIA

Tom Young

Tom
See Arthur Entlich's advice. He may well be on to something here.
The only reliable way to prove the USB channel in the printer is to fully
reinstall it, because there are still some issues with some printer drivers
with Vista I would be inclined to uninstall the printer on the XP machine,
disconnect the printer from both PC's. On the XP PC, go to the printers applet,
select File, Server Properties and Drivers; select any and all driver entries
that mention this printer and click on Remove. Now reinstall the printer on the
XP machine (USB) and don't connect the USB cable until the installer asks you
to or the installation is complete. If this fails you can be pretty sure that
the USB channel in the printer has failed if you use a known good cable (or as
Art mentioned a damaged connector in the printer, many printers USB connectors
are directly soldered to a circuit board and can develop poor/broken tracks on
the board).
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[TomYoung]

Tom
See Arthur Entlich's advice. He may well be on to something here.
The only reliable way to prove the USB channel in the printer is to fully
reinstall it, because there are still some issues with some printer drivers
with Vista I would be inclined to uninstall the printer on the XP machine,
disconnect the printer from both PC's. On the XP PC, go to the printers applet,
select File, Server Properties and Drivers; select any and all driver entries
that mention this printer and click on Remove. Now reinstall the printer on the
XP machine (USB) and don't connect the USB cable until the installer asks you
to or the installation is complete. If this fails you can be pretty sure that
the USB channel in the printer has failed if you use a known good cable (or as
Art mentioned a damaged connector in the printer, many printers USB connectors
are directly soldered to a circuit board and can develop poor/broken tracks on
the board).
Tony
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

Thanks for both replies. I could have been clearer in that the
described computer/printer setup (Vista machine---USB cable---printer
and XP machine---parallel cable---printer) has worked fine for both
machines until today. I believe I more-or-less did what you suggested
Tony but I'll give it one more try next weekend; for the moment I'm
sharing the printer off the XP machine.

Thank again.

Tom Young

 

[Burt]

Thanks for both replies. I could have been clearer in that the
described computer/printer setup (Vista machine---USB cable---printer
and XP machine---parallel cable---printer) has worked fine for both
machines until today. I believe I more-or-less did what you suggested
Tony but I'll give it one more try next weekend; for the moment I'm
sharing the printer off the XP machine.

Thank again.

Tom Young

Tom - I had a printer - as I recall, it was my Epson Stylus Color 900 - that
had a USB socket go bad. Parallel connection operated just fine. I tried
all the diagnostic efforts - change USB ports in my computer, use a known
port and cable taht another printer functioned on, tried it on another
computer with same operating system, etc. Conclusion was a bad USB port on
the printer.