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Question

Computer thinks my printer is a DVD drive

by Jan 10, 2013 9:41AM PST

I'm having a problem with a Lenovo laptop running Win7 and an HP P1102w Laserjet. I took the laptop to work and then when I brought it back home and reconnected the laptop to the printer via the USB cable the printer doesn't work. In the Control Panel there are now two icons for a P1102w printer, one that seems correct but non-functional and one that, when I click on Properties, says that the device is a DVD/CD removable USB device.

The printer is a wireless-capable printer. I'm wondering if there is some duplication/interference between the hard connection and the wireless connection, which may be automatic but I don't know how to access and adjust it. If I simply disconnect the USB cord the printer still doesn't work.

Any suggestions?

NTG

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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Answer
I'd uninstall both entries, then reinstall printer
by Jan 10, 2013 10:06AM PST

Obviously something's gotten fouled up with the printer, so I'd uninstall both of the entries you described, then reinstall that printer. I'd also boot to Safe Mode and check to be sure you don't have a virus or some form of malware.

Good luck.

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Answer
More odd stuff
by Jan 20, 2013 1:19AM PST

After some sporadic messing around, I have this additional information to report:

1) Since the laptop keeps thinking the installed printer is a mass storage device, I treated it like one. I went to Computer, identified drive e: as the printer, opened it, and found some files. One was an install file, so I clicked on it. A printer installation process started, culminating in four automatic steps. The first three worked, but the fourth step (install printer) failed. I don't know why, because I hooked the printer up to my other laptop (an ASUS, also running Win 7), did the exact same thing, and every step was successful and the printer worked fine. But the Lenovo hung on step four every time.

2) Trying to think of random tricks to try, I decided to remove the account password on the main user account on the Lenovo. (The ASUS laptop has no password on the main account). When I clicked on "remove password" an error box popped up saying that the password could not be removed because of settings on the account. I can change it, but I can't remove it. This baffles me; I have no idea why I shouldn't be able to remove the password, and I couldn't find anything that indicated what any such settings were, let alone how to change them.

3) Still looking for random tricks, I clicked on "manage other accounts" for no particular reason. I was shown three accounts: the main one, the guest account, and a third account named "ASP.NET Machine Account". I've never seen an account like that before, and my desktop doesn't have it. What is it? When I opened "Computer" externally and opened the C drive and opened the Users folder, I saw the main account folder and the public (guest) folder, but nothing labeled ASP.NET. Would that be a hidden file? And would it perhaps hold the key to why I can't install the printer properly?

4) Just a reminder that the printer worked before, but now it won't. I'm trying to figure out what could have changed.

NTG

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ASP.NET
by pgc3 Jan 20, 2013 1:33AM PST

ASP.NET is to do with web design applications, I guess my question would be, how did the system get set up this way? Is this a new computer? Did someone else have access to it? It does seem very odd indeed.

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Maybe at work?
by N.T.Gray Jan 20, 2013 5:33AM PST

I work on staff at a church. The computer is mine, not a work-issue, but when I took it there it was to get Adobe Acrobat installed to use for work-related projects. The laptop was probably plugged into the church network during that installation, and the network has reasonably tight security. Maybe there's a connection? I can ask on Tuesday.

*

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Network etc.
by pgc3 Jan 20, 2013 5:56AM PST

If this problem arose after hooking up to a network, as you said, your church, I might be inclined to agree with what a prior poster mentioned about malware. Without knowing how or who did the Adobe download, which is typically a very simple thing to do, I may lean toward a problem with the network and /or hook up. Again it is strange, especially the issue with the DVDRW/printer.

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