How do you clear the error message from the printer

Has to be a better solution. I have written batch files and can write programs in visual basic, so I am not a complete amateur and probably could apply this suggestion, but that is just not practical. I have better things to do with my life.

This problem has existed in every PC operating system since 1984 (when I got my 1st PC), DOS to Windows 8. There are few million users who encounter this problem on a regular basis, and they can't be expected to start using machine language, batch programs, or "debug" commands to clear the printer every time its runs out of paper or ink (or comparable mis-function) in the middle of a print order. There has to be an easier way, one I can tell my grandmother how to use without having to drive over to her house and spend the afternoon..

There have been times when I started to consider formatting the hard drive to get rid of the print command that was blocking the printer. I could also buy a new printer each time, but that gets a bit pricey when this happens on the average about once a week.

One would think that Microsoft would have come up with a solution by now but, if it has, I have not found it.

I agree but if folk can't do this sort of small work maybe the Microsoft way is best? That is, reload the OS?
Bob

Issues such as you mentioned in a prior post could very well be software related, printer/OS...driver compatibility, spooler issues/errors, it could go on. An issue arose yesterday with a friend's HP all-in one unit, the problem was a simple fix, visited HP's support site and downloaded the 64 bit software germane to his OS, which is Win-7 and bingo, all is well. Not to say that this is necessarily the panacea to your problem but in a lot of cases it is that simple. You didn't mention anything specific, printer manufacturer, OS or computer hardware so it is difficult to say what might be relevant to your particular situation.

I can't believe that no one else is experiencing this problem.

It happens on ALL brands. I first ran into it 15 years ago with an EPSON. I was often called by friends and associates for help with this on their printers. Now, I find it on my own HP's, my daugher's two HPs and my wife"s LexMark. I have not seen it happen on my Macs. My computers are using VISTA and Windows 7, but it also happened on XP and '98.

I might be able to find a fix on the HP site, or pay HP tech support a fee that costs more than the printer (but not more than an ink cartridge, prices have which have just tripled).

But it is not practical to have to down load a fix every time this happens.

It seems no matter what was offered to you, you dispose of its potential fix or time involved. Sorry, but that's the nature of all this sooner or later it pop's up. You already noticed it runs across various printers and windows OS types. So, it this regard you got what you paid for. I offer that when you consider the cost of Windows, the printer and general s/w involved is CHEAP! when compared to dedicated systems of yrs. past. The time when a printer was worth easily $5-50K and a system not a PC was worth $500K-2M and the s/w was worth roughly 1/2 to 2x the h/w value. Then, you had to buy into a "service contract" which anything you agreeded upon. Add it all up, its definitively worth more a typical home PC now or many businesses, even. The s/w was 100% made to work with all the items attached and probable jobs/tasks required. But, all that got tossed aside once the cheap PC came and grew to replace it. Not only that but the varied s/w and what have you to do all the tasks required of it to include networks. On top of that you have to be "self-supportive" to fic your problems as they arise. Which is why this forum and others gotten fat over the yrs.

As for your problem, you really didn't provide the direct error or problem you face. if you're piling on printing tasks, reduce them in order for the que to be less. if you're doing that much of printing then get a printer more in line to handle the tasks at hand. Complain about ink costs, forget ink get laser. Get a robust and heavy duty one if you can and yeah it costs but over the long haul its less expensive and you certainly aren't going to be buying another one. If as you say, its better to buy yet another printer because of whatever, that is cheaper but also a cheap approach to the problem. Don't expect a PC printer to be a "line printer" doing 50K pages in a week or similar. Get what it takes and overall it should settle down.

I hope this all makes sense, but a $80 printer is bargain when 20yrs. ago a similar tasked printer costed $1K. The OS costs now roughly $250 or less and does so much and maybe minor pgm. install are free or under $100, boy that's so different from yrs. ago.

adios ------Willy