jmeisel
asked on
Can't print, get error messages
Using dell inspiron 6000 laptop with XP Pro SP 2 as a desktop replacement.
Internet is via home LAN.
Directly attached printer is an HP deskjet 5650 connected via USB 1 to the laptop. This has always worked in the past.
Am now unable to print. The computer recognizes the printer (i.e., the Print dialogue box shows "HP Deskjet 5600 series" as the default printer and it prints a test page from the laptop). If I click Print, though, the "Windows cannot print becuase of a problem with the current printer setup. Try one or more of the following..." error message pops up. If I click "Find Printer" button, then a "the directory service is currently unavailable" error message pops up.
The printer's "ink low" warning light was originally on. But ,again , it prints a beautifully colored test page, and now the low ink light is off.
I've reinstalled the printer's driver. I've tried changing the USB cord, and tried plugging it into different USB plugs on the laptop, all to no avail.
Help! Any ideas???
Internet is via home LAN.
Directly attached printer is an HP deskjet 5650 connected via USB 1 to the laptop. This has always worked in the past.
Am now unable to print. The computer recognizes the printer (i.e., the Print dialogue box shows "HP Deskjet 5600 series" as the default printer and it prints a test page from the laptop). If I click Print, though, the "Windows cannot print becuase of a problem with the current printer setup. Try one or more of the following..." error message pops up. If I click "Find Printer" button, then a "the directory service is currently unavailable" error message pops up.
The printer's "ink low" warning light was originally on. But ,again , it prints a beautifully colored test page, and now the low ink light is off.
I've reinstalled the printer's driver. I've tried changing the USB cord, and tried plugging it into different USB plugs on the laptop, all to no avail.
Help! Any ideas???
Some programs don't look at what windoze is set to and require that you specify which printer to use WITHIN the program.
Open the program
up top left click 'file' then 'page setup'
in the pop-up at bottom right click 'printer'
verfiy the printer shown is the one you are trying to use
if it's not then change it to the correct printer
.
Open the program
up top left click 'file' then 'page setup'
in the pop-up at bottom right click 'printer'
verfiy the printer shown is the one you are trying to use
if it's not then change it to the correct printer
.
ASKER
PCBONEZ-- I see the printer choice selections in the "Print" dialogue box (it is set to the correct printer) but I don't see them in the Page Setup box.
Rid-
"Have you tried the printer off another computer?" Yes, just did. At first it wouldn't install the driver, giving an error message related to the port. But after restarting the other computer it loaded the software and the printer worked.
"Check the printer setup. One of the error messages suggests a network printer (" the directory service...."), so you should verify that it is trying to print to USB and not to a TCP/IP port or something." I don't know how to do this.
Thanks.
Rid-
"Have you tried the printer off another computer?" Yes, just did. At first it wouldn't install the driver, giving an error message related to the port. But after restarting the other computer it loaded the software and the printer worked.
"Check the printer setup. One of the error messages suggests a network printer (" the directory service...."), so you should verify that it is trying to print to USB and not to a TCP/IP port or something." I don't know how to do this.
Thanks.
Open the printer icon, from the "File" menu (I think) choose "properties". In the box that opens, choose the "ports" tag. Verify that it is set to "USB".
/RID
/RID
ASKER
It's set to USB.
When I clicked the Print icon this error message came up (attached file).
Any other thoughts?
Thank you
Doc1.doc
When I clicked the Print icon this error message came up (attached file).
Any other thoughts?
Thank you
Doc1.doc
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ASKER
Thanks very much! (After installing SP3) I again uninstalled and then again reinstalled the printer driver... it works! If it'd been a "windows" problem, I would not have been sure what to do. Thanks again for your help.
Check the printer setup. One of the error messages suggests a network printer (" the directory service...."), so you should verify that it is trying to print to USB and not to a TCP/IP port or something.
/RID