local printer problem....

[jimmyz66]

this is on a dell insprion laptop...the "user" comes to me and says his local printer dosen't work any more after changeing cables,printers,drivers I still get the message "there was an error found when printing the document "test page" to lpt1:. the device is not connected. I deleted the printer port and reinstalled it but that dosent work either any idea's?

 

[Accessdabbler]

Does Device Manager show an error with the Printer Port?

 

[jimmyz66]

no it shows that it is working correctly...

 

[lifto]

I have a Compaq E-500 in a Dock doing the same thing today.

So far we have checked cable connections and deleted and re-installed the printer. This laptop has a networked printer that is attached to a server and that printer works fine.

My last instructions to them was to un-dock and attach the cable directly to the laptop.

 

[Accessdabbler]

Try going to Start > Run > CMD.

Type: Edit Test.TXT
Enter the word: Hello
Save the file.

Now: Copy Test.TXT lpt1

See what error is reported (if any)...

 

[jimmyz66]

I tried undocking and that didn't work and the printer dosen't print from dos either.

 

[Accessdabbler]

I'm assuming that the LPT port has not been disabled in the CMOS (if it were, I'd think there wouldn't be an LPT port in Device Manager).

You've tried different cables. Have you checked the connectors themselves for any bent pins, etc? Do you have another printer you can connect up to the cable?

I'm fairly new to Win2K but I don't see a Service (Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services) that would affect the printer port. There is a Print Spooler service but that shouldn't be the problem...

 

[jimmyz66]

I tried just about everything, I just got off the phone with Dell their recommendation is to reinstall the OS. i'm installing sp3 to see if that helps. thanks for your help.