USB Printer Port Problem

[Richard In Va.]

I have a PC that was moved from one room to another. After re-connecting and
re-starting the USB printer fails to print.

Device Manager list's all devices as working properly and the printer driver
(via printer properties) claims that all is well. However the printer will
not print, not even a "print test page" from the print driver properties
dialog. A new USB cable was bought and installed with no success. Then a
new printer was bought, still no success.

The PC has (4) USB ports, the mouse works fine on all the ports. (there are
only 2 USB devices on the PC).

I considered un-installing the port that the printer is using from within
Device Manager, but really wasn't sure how to go about that, or what results
I might expect.

Is there by chance a small utility that could be downloaded and run that
will analyze and repair whatever is causing the problem?

Windows XP-Home SP2, P4 cpu.

Thanks for any ideas...

Best regards,

Richard in VA.
++++++++++++++++++

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Richard

General USB troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310575/en-us


--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Richard In Va.]

Gerry,

Good read, thanks for the link!

However towards the end of the article under...

"Remove and reinstall all USB controllers"

It suggest to un-install the USB controllers then re-install. When
re-installing, doesn't Windows XP "find new hardware" and install the
controllers on it's own, or do I need to find the driver disk that came with
the PC. This is a friend's PC I helped him buy 3-4 years ago.

And how does this compare to un-installing the Ports that the printer uses?

Thanks again!

Richard in VA.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Richard

Some drivers come from Microsoft and some from third parties. You
should always go for the third party in preference to that available
from Microsoft if the same driver is on offer from both sources.

An original CD for third party drivers provided with hardware is
frequently already out of date when given to you at the time of
purchase.

Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties. Hardware,
Device Manager. If yes what is the Device Error code?

Try Start, Run, type "sigverif.exe" without quotes and hit OK. What
drivers are listed as unsigned? Disregard those which are not checked.

Does your Windows XP CD incorporate the SP2 update. If yes I can
suggest another way to check drivers. If no the procedure becomes more
complicated.

What is the make and model of your printer.

This freeware programme is excellent for getting information about
your computer:
Everest Home Edition (freeware)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Tip: To copy select Report, Quick Report, Plain Text, highlight
required text, right click and select copy. However, whilst this is
fine for posting small amounts of information into newsgroup messages
longer reports will irritate other newsgroup subscribers.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Richard in Va.]

Hello again Gerry,

Thanks again for the additional information.

I suppose what I was asking is that because the USB controller is a hardware device on the
main board, if the PC, WinXP SP2 would re-install and configure them upon next boot via
"New Hardware Found" if I we're to un-install them using Device Manager. The article
states that sometimes USB printers and fax machines have this type of problem. That it is
not all that uncommon.

The problem started when the PC was moved from one room to another. The new printer, was
installed using it's setup CD so the printer drivers should be ok.

There are no yellow question marks listed in Device Manager. Fact is, everything
indicates that everything is working fine. This is what leads me to think that there is a
port problem or that there is a corrupted configuration with the USB hub/ports or
otherwise. The mouse works fine on any of the USB ports. hmmm...

The Everest Home Addition looks interesting and I might run that to see what it finds,
thanks for the link!

For now, I'm being called out of town for several days and it might be a little time
before I can get to the PC having the problem.

Thanks for the help, I'll check this post tomorrow before I leave town, but it will be a
week or so before I know anything else.

Thanks again!

Richard in VA.
++++++++++++++++++

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Richard

You should not assume this "The new printer, was installed using it's
setup CD so the printer drivers should be ok.". From personal
experience I know it is just not true. Changes take time to filter
through the distribition chain!

Post details of the printer make and model.

This check also does not take a lot of time. Try Start, Run, type
"sigverif.exe" without quotes and hit OK. What
drivers are listed as unsigned? Disregard those which are not checked.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Richard in Va.]

I'm sorry Gerry, I really don't have daily access to the PC having the problem. It
belongs to a friend of mine in the next town over.

I un-installed the printer the last time I was over there and re-installed with the Disc
that came with the new printer. Maybe not the latest drivers, but they where what came
with the new printer.

Keep in mind also that the problem started when the PC was moved from one room to another.
Before the new printer was bought.

However, the next I'm at the PC, I'll try your ideas. When I get back to town and have
the chance to go look at it again I'll try your ideas and may start a new post as needed.
(but I'll reply back to this one to see if your still listening in)

Thanks for your help... and most of all... your effort!

Richard in VA.
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