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General discussion

annoying printer startup.

by maggotman Oct 8, 2007 6:18PM PDT

my problem is my printer keeps starting up and switching off on its own about every 10 mins. i was wondering why and what the remedy is please. it is a new lexmark aio printer. well about 3mnths old,
all suggestions appreciated.
ps. my comp is a dell dimensions E520 with windows media centre.

Discussion is locked

7 Posts
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More details please.
by Kees Bakker Oct 8, 2007 6:35PM PDT

- Does this happen with the printer powered off?
- Printer connected to one PC only?
- Does this happen with the PC powered off?
- Does this happen with the PC powered on, but nobody logged in?
- Does this happen after booting into Safe mode, logging in and doing absolutely nothing but looking at your desktop?
- If you turn off the printer, does anything appear in the printqueue every 10 minutes or do you get a message about the printer being offline?

Kees

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more datails please
by maggotman Oct 8, 2007 9:34PM PDT

it happens when i am on my pc but not with the printer switched on, it doesnt happen when i arn't logged in.

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That answers ...
by Kees Bakker Oct 8, 2007 9:56PM PDT

the first 4 questions. Now the last 2 ones (which are the most difficult) please. It seems that 'something' that runs or happens when you're logged in activates the printer. It might take time to find out what it is. Seeing if it runs in Safe Mode is a start. Seeing if it does if you only log on and don't start anything else is a second step. The third step: logon as another user and see if it happens then also.

Additional questions:
- Does the printer have a power-on/off switch. Or is it always 'sleeping' so to say.
- Would it harm to really disconnect it from the power by an additional external power switch (Canon printers, for example, say they need power even when turned off with the on/off-switch).

I don't think this is an MS Office problem. It's something in Windows.

Kees

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that answers
by maggotman Oct 9, 2007 12:09AM PDT

i started the pc in safe mode with my sons name and the printer never started up. as for the the on off switch it does have one but i never switch the printer on until i need it.what about uninstalling then reinstall.
ps. when i first installed the printer i installed it for all users.

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Try...
by Papa Echo Oct 9, 2007 12:58AM PDT

Startup and logon normally. When the printer automatically comes on, immediately press Alt+Ctrl+Delete to bring up the task manager. What programs are running (in addition to the printer) ?

Also look in Control Panel >Schedulled Tasks. What is/are schedulled to run every ten minutes ?

BTW, did the problem came recently or happened since the printer was installed ?

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try
by maggotman Oct 10, 2007 4:32AM PDT

i did what you suggested and programmes at startup are the same as always. as for programmes that start every 10 mins there is zero.and it has only just started doing it, not since the printer was installed.

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Just started....
by Papa Echo Oct 10, 2007 3:36PM PDT

...use System Restore to roll back to when it was OK.

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