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Unable to print - any printer

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paulr1949

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Posted November 5, 2011 at 2:56PM

Hi I've just taken delivery of a new windows 7 PC, with i5-2500k/8gb/SSD/1TB HDD, Asus p8z68-v lx motherboard. Everything was going fine with setting up until it came to printers. I have 3 printers connected - Brother HL2030 laser, HP Photosmart D6160 and Epson Stylus photo R2400 - and NONE of them will work. All three came up with "your device is installed correctly etc etc" message. I can't print documents or even a test page. I've downloaded and installed Brother's W7 driver - zilch. HP site says you lose most of the functionality of toollbox etc but "the windows 7 default driver should work" - it doesn't. Likewise the Epson. I've tried 3 or 4 times to reinstall them all, deleting each first from the control panel, and absolutely no joy. I'm sure I must be doing something wrong but can't figure out what - can anybody help please? Paul

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difarn

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Posted November 21, 2011 at 6:59PM

Hi

Don't know if you got your brother printer working but there has been a new release to-day to fix the "bug" with this printer and windows 7

fix for bug

Fingers crossed

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difarn

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Posted November 21, 2011 at 7:01PM

Hi again,

Fix for bug out to-day for Brother printer

fix for bug

Fingers crossed.

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difarn

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Posted November 21, 2011 at 7:03PM

Sorry double posted again - my internet connection dropped so I sent it again but obviously didn't need to. You did say that you got your printer working but just in case I thought you would like to know about this fix.

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paulr1949

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Posted November 21, 2011 at 8:19PM

Hi

Thanks for the link - I will download the fix and keep it in reserve. The Brother printer has been working, although occasionally iy has hiccups and stops. Last time I selected the settings to print out and that woke it up again. The status monitor doesn't work all of the time, but if the printer's working that doesn't matter :)

Paul

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difarn

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Posted November 21, 2011 at 10:00PM

Hi

Never a dull moment with a PC is there? Glad you are still printing.

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paulr1949

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Posted December 4, 2011 at 5:32PM

Well problems again! The HP D6160 has stopped working, and the Epson R2400 doesn't work - I hadn't tried that up to now as I hadn't needed it. (1) HP - it stopped because there is an ink cartridge error message and in Win7 it is not possible to use the HP status monitor software to see what the error is. I have managed to install the software on my laptop (running vista HP 32) and, by connecting the printer directly to the laptop sorted out the error message, but now, when reconnected to the Win7 machine, it won't print at all again (2) Epson - I have installed the Epson drivers for W7 from their site, having previously removed the printer, but it will not print, neither will the status monitor communicate with the printer

I have to say I am getting a bit fed up with this - Windows 7 is touted as quick, easy, secure and everything else - but they don't tell you about all the side effects.

Paul

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difarn

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Posted December 4, 2011 at 7:10PM

How frustrating for you - this is a repeat of what happened earlier isn't it? Before trying the fix given by "pcologist" can you just check that the settings for the printer haven't changed, particularly in relation to the port - is usually DOT4 or a USB name.

If you feel like a bit more reading, have a look at this about multiple printers on one windows 7 PC

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paulr1949

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Posted December 4, 2011 at 9:09PM

Hmm - but I've only got one network to worry about... :)

I think I've tried the HPSDU (well actually the HPPDU because the S is for scanner) but I may try it again after I've tried reinstalling yet again.

If all else fails, I shall have to clear some space and set it up so that the two printers I can't use in windows 7 I connect to my laptop when I need to use them, which is a pain to say the least. Mind you, sharing printers between a windows 7 and a windows vista machine may be tricky...

Paul

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difarn

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Posted December 4, 2011 at 10:13PM

There is another option - have the printers installed via your router using an ethernet 3 port print server such as this.

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paulr1949

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Posted December 4, 2011 at 11:06PM

That is a possibility. Anyway, I've run the HP utility and the HP printer has come back to life - at least until it next comes up with a cartridge problem. From the comment on the HP website, they can't be bothered to provide a proper windows 7 driver, so users can no longer check the ink levels and see which cartridge needs replacing when the printer stops working! Helpful, eh?

Paul

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