Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Printer installation problems

by dennisl May 3, 2007 7:30PM PDT

I am having great difficulty in getting a printer to work.I have tried numerous procedures fixes,driver updates,bios changes etc, without any success.

The computer in question is a Dell Optiplex that used to be used as a network printer at work & was upgraded from W98 to XP SP2 a few years ago.I tried to install my 940C printer using the latest software from HP on the Parallel port & it printed a test page but after a restart that was it -no way would it print.I tried different bios settings per HP recommendations but still nothing.

I removed the LPT1 port in the Device Manager & things went from bad to worse.The LPT1 port would not reinstall & I am unable to get it back.It shows as an "Other Item" with a yellow question mark.If I show hidden devices & open Parallel Port Properties it tells me "This device is not present,is not working properly or does not have all it's drivers installed (Code 24)Startup is shown as Demand.If I try to start I get "The service cannot be started either because it is disabled or because it has no enabled devices associated with it"

The port is enabled in Bios btw.

I then thought I'd try USB.It just won't seem to hook up with the driver even if I navigate manually to the driver folder.I tried an Epson printer as well which was the same.I also tried another cable.
All other USB devices are fine -it's only printers that seem to be the problem.

One thing I did notice is that in the New Printer Wizard the part with preinstalled printers is blank -nothing is listed.I navigated to ntprint.inf in update print driver & the list displays,but it still won't come up automatically in print wizard.This may not be a related issue though.

Any help on this would be appreciated.

Thanks
Dennis

Discussion is locked

27 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Which optiplex?
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 3, 2007 9:22PM PDT

This small detail stopped me from telling you the link to the Intel web site with the motherboard driver package. But go get that, install and see if that helps. All you need to know to find it is the motherboard chipset such as i845 or other. Without the details I can't look for you.

Bob

- Collapse -
Computer details
by dennisl May 3, 2007 9:40PM PDT

Thanks for your reply Bob.

Here's the spec from my original order
OptiPlex GX150
Intel 815E Chipset

Dennis

- Collapse -
Intel site
by dennisl May 3, 2007 11:50PM PDT

I had a look on the Intel site, but I'm unsure what to select.
A link to the correct download would be very much appreciated.

Dennis

- Collapse -
Here's the i815e INF driver package.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 3, 2007 11:58PM PDT
- Collapse -
More problems
by dennisl May 7, 2007 4:28AM PDT

I'm afraid this didn't make any difference to the printer issues Bob, but I now how an added "unknown device" -ie the 3Com 920C Integrated Fast Ethernet Controller.Im assuming this was hooked up to the driver I replaced?
The drivers don't seem to be available on the 3Com site.
Any ideas on how to rectify this + any other suggestions on the printer problems?

- Collapse -
Try this one.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 7, 2007 4:34AM PDT

3Com 3C910 Integrated Fast Ethernet Controller (3CSOHO100B-TX Compatible) Windows driver

Manufacturer: 3Com Corp
Filesize: 0.1 MiB
Filename: 3csohob.exe

System requirements:
Win 2K, Win XP, Win Server 2K3

Download driver from 3Com Corp:
http://support.3com.com/infodeli/tools/nic/3csoho100-tx/3csohob.exe

Support devices:
Win 2K 3Com 3C910 Integrated Fast Ethernet Controller (3CSOHO100B-TX Compatible)
Win 2K 3Com OfficeConnect 10/100 Network Interface Card (3CSOHO100B-TX)

The printer port is a stumper. Try this. Boot up DOS then tap printe screen about 3 to 5 times to see if the printer spits out paper. If not, it's not drivers but bad port, cable or printer.

Bob

- Collapse -
Just noticed something else
by dennisl May 7, 2007 4:47AM PDT

The 3Com920 is showing as working in it's own entry in the Device Manager & I can enable & disable it ok, although when I go into system information it says this is the offending item.
The entry on the "Unknown device" says location is on Intel(R) 82801BA LPC Interface Controller.
Shall I still try the above download or does this change the situation.

Will try the dos test & report back

Thanks Dennis

- Collapse -
The Intel(R) Chipset Software Installation Utility should...
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 7, 2007 5:09AM PDT

Have included that item. See if removing that item clears it up.

ftp://download.intel.com/design/chipsets/datashts/29068702.pdf is only slightly advanced reading but it does have the decode for the LPT port and might be why you are seeing it.

Be sure you are not doing anything I won't write about here. i.e. you have changed any BIOS setting from stock.

Bob

- Collapse -
Still no further
by dennisl May 7, 2007 6:22AM PDT

Bob sorry the reference to the 3Com wasn't relevant -it was just a disabled item.
The bios is back to default PS/2 setting.
I removed the 2 offending items ie the LPT1 & the new "other device" on Intel(R) 82801BA LPC Interface Controller - 2440, but they just returned when I started up again.
Btw those 2 Intel downloads I ran earlier - I just installed by double clicking on the files.Should I have done something else as well?
The dos check didn't print anything, but I know the printer is ok as is the cable, but why the LP1 doesn't return is beyond me, & also why it is not installing on USB is just as baffling.
I'll read the PDF but any more help would be appreciaited

Dennis

- Collapse -
Decode
by dennisl May 7, 2007 6:32AM PDT

It's set at 378h which looks correct.

- Collapse -
(NT) Does the DOS print screen test work?
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 7, 2007 6:36AM PDT
- Collapse -
Dos screen
by dennisl May 7, 2007 6:43AM PDT

I assume you mean bring up a command prompt, take it back to C:\ & tap print screen.
Nothing happens.

- Collapse -
It must be a REAL DOS boot.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 7, 2007 6:47AM PDT

A> for most. For laser printers you have to hit print screen 3 times (shades from the Wizard of Oz) to get the laser to spit out a page.

Bob

- Collapse -
Re print screen
by dennisl May 7, 2007 6:52AM PDT

Its a deskjet.
Sorry I don't understand "A> for most"

- Collapse -
How to boot DOS? From diskette?
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 7, 2007 6:54AM PDT
- Collapse -
Dos
by dennisl May 7, 2007 8:34AM PDT

Ok sorry I understand what you meant now.
Will try tommorow & advise.

Thanks
Dennis

- Collapse -
Dos test result
by dennisl May 8, 2007 4:26AM PDT

Bob it printed in dos with the print screen test.
Any ideas where we go from here?

Also any thoughts re that new error ("other device" on Intel(R) 82801BA LPC etc),that started after I installed the Intel 815 drivers?
Do you think it's related to the LPT1 problem & is it any cause for concern?

Dennis

- Collapse -
That's good. (dos test)
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 8, 2007 4:41AM PDT

At least we know it's functional. As to the LPC item I'd remove it and see if that clears it up. I've installed motherboard drivers too many times to clear such up.

Bob

- Collapse -
Just to recap
by dennisl May 8, 2007 5:31AM PDT

Bob,

Just to recap
I still have no LPT1 in Device Manager

I have 2 unknown devices
One says "other device on Intel(R) 82815 Graphics Controller -The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)"
The second says "other device on Intel(R) 82801BA LPC Interface Controller -The drivers for this device are not installed. (Code 28)"
If I expand to show hidden devices a third query item is shown
Parallel Port Driver "This device is not present, is not working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed. (Code 24)"

If I delete the first 2 items they just reappear,but I have not touched the parallel port item yet.

Do you now want me to uninstall the Intel(R) 82801BA LPC Interface Controller from System Devices? I hesitate because it says it is working correctly & the track record in removing items in this Device Manager hasn't been too good so far.

If you definitely want me to remove from here do you suggest a restart or scan for hardware changes afterwards?

Thanks
Dennis

- Collapse -
In the links above
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 8, 2007 5:59AM PDT

The graphics driver is there. And I'd reinstall the chipset driver if this was mine.

Bob

- Collapse -
Thought I'd done that
by dennisl May 8, 2007 6:24AM PDT

Thought that's what I did yesterday & got the second query in Device Manager.
Have I missed something in the procedure here?

Dennis

- Collapse -
Wish I was there.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 8, 2007 7:00AM PDT

Sorry, but there is something amiss here. I can't tell where it is yet.

I'll look over the discussion again to see if there was something missing.

Bob

- Collapse -
Log file
by dennisl May 8, 2007 7:12AM PDT

Thanks Bob

I've saved a setupapi.log file in case there is anything in there that might help.

Dennis

- Collapse -
"yellow question mark" Sorry I missed it.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 8, 2007 7:29AM PDT

"Exclamation Mark - When a device has a yellow exclamation mark, this is an indication that the device is conflicting with another hardware device."
http://www.computerhope.com/win95er.htm (and other sites.)

Try moving the LPT1 address and IRQ in the BIOS, try SPP instead of EPP.

Bob

- Collapse -
Progress
by dennisl May 9, 2007 4:57AM PDT

Bob,

I'd tried all that before so decided to have another go at the USB option after all the changes made.
I plugged into USB & selected 940c in Add new harware.Then I navigated to Windows\inf folder where it loaded up the virtual usb port.Then i went back & repeated the excercise & took a gamble from the list of 940c driver options presented from the inf folder & bingo it installed it.
I have now disabled the parallel port in bios to get rid of the query in Device Manager.

The only outstanding anomoly is the Unknown Device on the Intel 82815 graphic controller. In details it says DISPLAY\WADV11NT followed by a string of numbers.I booted into Safe Mode & it dissapeared so seems to be more likely a software issue created when I updated the chipset drivers.
I'm tempted to forget about it unless you have any ideas on a fix.

Thanks
Dennis

- Collapse -
I usually don't fix unless
by r. proffitt Forum moderator May 9, 2007 5:02AM PDT

It causes a problem.

- Collapse -
I agree
by dennisl May 9, 2007 5:08AM PDT

The computer's working fine now so I'll leave it alone.Thanks for all the assistance.
It's been quite a challenge this one.

Cheers
Dennis

Back to Peripherals forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info