Question

USB Printer Stops Working & Not Recognized

Asked by: CaptainJackOC

I have a client with an issue that the USB ports seemed to quit working.  There are 2 USB printers hooked up, and he uses an iPod via USB connection.  One printer HP Laser, one printer HP OfficeJet.  Both are fairly new.

All of a sudden, the Office Jet stopped printing, and the iPod won't be recognized.  2 front ports, 2 rear ports.  All ports have been tried.  The LaserJet printer still works from any USB port.  The software has been reinstalled with no change.  I would think it was the printer, but the iPod stopped connecting at the same time.

I thought it may be an IRQ conflict, but in Device Mgr all looks normal, no red X's or Yellow ? marks.  Any clues?

Windows XP SP2
HP Desktop

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Asked On
2009-09-06 at 13:46:38ID24711344
Tags

USB

,

Windows XP

,

Printer

,

IRQ Conflict

Topics

Printers by HP

,

Windows XP Operating System

,

Drivers

Participating Experts
3
Points
500
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: mspieglerPosted on 2009-09-06 at 15:34:13ID: 25271859

I would, if possible, test the devices on another machine and make sure you can isolate the PC as the cause of the issue.  Then, it has to be software or hardware on the PC.  You could try buying a PCI USB card and see if that corrects the issue.  Or maybe there is not enough power on the board to support all the devices.  Or it could be OS related (like mentioned above, IRQ/etc).  I could be completely wrong but it sounds more hardware then software related and most likely on the PC and not the devices.

 

by: CaptainJackOCPosted on 2009-09-06 at 17:26:40ID: 25272138

When I visit the client, I will be installing the printer on my laptop for the elimination process.  I also thought it might be the Power Management option in Device Manager.  I"ll check that too. I doubt it's the printer itself.

Both printers and iPod have been working fine together for as least 6 months on the same pc, then all of a sudden (according to the user) the inkjet stops working and is not recognized.  Also already tried a different USB cable and reinstalled the printer software.

I saw somewhere else to possibly uninstall the s/w and remove all registry entries for the printer.  Could be a corrupt registry key.

 

by: orangutangPosted on 2009-09-06 at 23:20:49ID: 25273012

Also, try removing all USB drivers with:
http://www.ee-stuff.com/Expert/Upload/getFile.php?fid=6853
and run:
rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 C:\WINDOWS\inf\usbstor.inf

 

by: CaptainJackOCPosted on 2009-09-07 at 08:59:39ID: 25275890

I just reviewed another request for help with almost the same exact problem.  

http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/XP/Q_23176322.html

Also, when you say "run" rundll32.exe, am I doing that at the CMD prompt with the rest of the line typed out?

 

by: orangutangPosted on 2009-09-07 at 10:59:28ID: 25276469

No, just put that in the run box. Open your start menu, click "Run...", paste it there, and run it. Hopefully http://www.ee-stuff.com/Expert/Upload/getFile.php?fid=6853 works though.

 

by: pln1146Posted on 2009-09-07 at 11:15:20ID: 25276543

I have just been through a serious issue with BSOD and a USB card.  Computer not recognizing it.  I removed the card and switched pci slots but before that I uninstalled the usb hardware in Device Manager before shutting down the pc.  When booting up (it took seveal boots), I had the USB drivers cd ready to install drivers when the New Hardware Recognition appeared.  I attached hardware to the card, one device at a time and had to reboot a number of times before all the printers, mice, wireless adapters etc etc were recognized. I went into the BIOS several times to make sure the USB settings were enabled.  Tedious, but it was all worth it in the end.  If the computers motherboard usb ports recognize the printers, then you definitely have a problem with the card.  

 

by: CaptainJackOCPosted on 2009-09-15 at 15:05:07ID: 31625507

The customer finally called me to say he rebooted his pc several times and all of a sudden the other printer started working on its own.  Might be an intermittent issue.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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