Printing problems.......... - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Medmech · #16 02-20-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Did you use it with a parallel interface or with a USB interface on the computer?

Yes. to my trusty HP Laserjet 4l, the W126 of printers.

Medmech · #17 02-20-2009, 12:43 PM

I'm not sure if you are running a network or not but you may want to try a network parallel adaptor.

Brian Carlton · #18 02-20-2009, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

Yes. to my trusty HP Laserjet 4l, the W126 of printers.

Does the computer have a parallel interface connection..........or a USB interface connection?

If it was a USB connection, did you use the software with the USB to parallel cable to get it to print from windows?

Brian Carlton · #19 02-20-2009, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

I'm not sure if you are running a network or not but you may want to try a network parallel adaptor.

How does this differ from a parallel interface card..........which I have?

Medmech · #20 02-20-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

How does this differ from a parallel interface card..........which I have?

You go from network (cat5) to the printer.

iwrock · #21 02-20-2009, 12:57 PM

So, in Windows the parallel card is not able to print?

What card are you using?

Medmech · #22 02-20-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Does the computer have a parallel interface connection..........or a USB interface connection?

If it was a USB connection, did you use the software with the USB to parallel cable to get it to print from windows?

No USB, just like your set up.

You are printing from windows but not DOS, correct?

DOS2USB will fix this, don't over engineer

Brian Carlton · #23 02-20-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwrock

So, in Windows the parallel card is not able to print?

What card are you using?

Correct.

It's a Parallel PCI Card from StarTech. Their techs have confirmed that it's properly installed.

link · #24 02-20-2009, 01:00 PM

Real briefly, there are a number of things that might be getting in the way, or misconfigured.

First order is to set the lpt port at what would be the defaults for the port PRN and lpt1

Irq=7
IO=378-37f

Many printer ports permit configuring for a type of communication. These include SPP, PS2, epp and ecp. Try using SPP first

Second, check in the computer’s bios to be sure that IRQ7 is not being otherwise use

Next use notepad to make a small file on the root of the c drive. Call it brian.txt or whatever you want. Put a line of text in it and save the file.

After having done this, boot Windows in safe mode command prompt only and do a test print. From the command prompt type the following

Copy brian.txt prn
-or-
Copy brian.txt lpt1

It should work. If it does not, change only the printer type from spp to ps2 and repeat the test.

Once it works without windows running, repeat the test with windows. You may need to add the device as new hardware.

Here’s a great reference for print port config guide http://www.lvr.com/files/ppc1.pdf

And one for general i/o stuff: http://www.gadgroup.com/pdf/Desktop%20and%20Network%20Terminology.pdf

Brian Carlton · #25 02-20-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howitzer

No USB, just like your set up.

You are printing from windows but not DOS, correct?

DOS2USB will fix this, don't over engineer

If I cannot get the parallel card to work..........I'll do it.

Brian Carlton · #26 02-20-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by link

Real briefly, there are a number of things that might be getting in the way, or misconfigured.

First order is to set the lpt port at what would be the defaults for the port PRN and lpt1

Irq=7
IO=378-37f

Can you provide some details on how to do this? From what I understand, XP randomly assigns the Irq.........you cannot specify it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by link

Many printer ports permit configuring for a type of communication. These include SPP, PS2, epp and ecp. Try using SPP first
Second, check in the computer’s bios to be sure that IRQ7 is not being otherwise use

Again, I'd need more details on how to do this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by link

Next use notepad to make a small file on the root of the c drive. Call it brian.txt or whatever you want. Put a line of text in it and save the file.

After having done this, boot Windows in safe mode command prompt only and do a test print. From the command prompt type the following

Copy brian.txt prn
-or-
Copy brian.txt lpt1

It should work. If it does not, change only the printer type from spp to ps2 and repeat the test.

How to get to windows safe mode command prompt?

Where to change printer type?

link · #27 02-20-2009, 01:17 PM

The type will be configured by the software for or jumpers on the card.
To get to safe mode reboot the computer and watch the lights on the keyboard, right after the reboot, the lights will all blink one time, at the same time. Once you see this tap the F8 key about 1.5x per second and windows will offer you a variety of options

Medmech · #28 02-20-2009, 01:20 PM

^^^^Yip what link said, now I remember how i did it.

Brian Carlton · #29 02-20-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by link

The type will be configured by the software for or jumpers on the card.
To get to safe mode reboot the computer and watch the lights on the keyboard, right after the reboot, the lights will all blink one time, at the same time. Once you see this tap the F8 key about 1.5x per second and windows will offer you a variety of options

I tried to print in safe mode from the stored notepad file.

I only get "The system cannot find the file specified"

However, the system opens up the file perfectly fine when I type "brian.txt" at the command prompt.

Medmech · #30 02-20-2009, 02:30 PM

Did you check the PBCAKB? Its almost always the problem.