Printer Problems..ARGGHH!

[freak]

Hi everyone. I have a printer problem. I have a HP Photosmart D7160 printer and am having problems with the damn thing. It seems that the USB port is unrecognized and has malfunctioned. I tried unplugging it and plugging it back in and still the same thing pops up. Also I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the printer itself but that didn't work either. I think the USB port is malfunctioning. Anyone have any useful suggestions? I've tried troubleshooting but that doesn't help. I also have Windows XP and the printer is compatible with it. It's just the damn thing doesn't print. It's really maddening! Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Freak

 

[RevdKathy]

Got a different USB port you could try first off? Even if you have to unplug something else temporarily. That would be a quick test whether the problem is the printer/software or the port.

 

[Noname Given]

Got a different USB port you could try first off? Even if you have to unplug something else temporarily. That would be a quick test whether the problem is the printer/software or the port.

Has the printer ever worked on that PC before? I ask because it may require a USB 2.0 port; and the USB port you're using might be only a 1.0 or 1.1 port. Also, is it a port directly on the motherboard itself or is it a port attached via a ribbon or other cable? The issue you describe often happens when USB 2.0 required devices are pliugged into a version 1.0 or 1.1 USB port.

 

[freak]

Yes, this has worked before! I just used it the other day and it was fine. And I've tried other ports as well..it says it found new hardware and then it says that same thing that it's not recognized. This is really frustrating.

 

[Rÿcher]

Threaten to take it out to the middle of a field with a baseball bat. It'll start behaving real quick.

WHY does it say paper jam when there IS no paper jam?

'PC load letter'? What the fuck does that mean?

 

[Jadzia]

Yes, this has worked before! I just used it the other day and it was fine. And I've tried other ports as well..it says it found new hardware and then it says that same thing that it's not recognized. This is really frustrating.

Sounds like your printer is having a personality crisis. Ahhh, the joys of technology.

Step 0: Power off the computer and the printer at the wall, and reboot. Try again. If it works now, it was probably an operating system glitch. If it doesn't work now, goto step 1.

Step 1: Do full virus scan. If that detects nothing nasty, goto step 2.

Step 2: Do other USB devices work correctly? eg, flash memory sticks, digi camera, etc. If so then your USB works and goto test 3 because that isn't the problem part. If some of these devices don't work either, it maybe the USB that's gone wrong, goto step 4.

Step 3: Now I would suspect a corrupt printer driver. I would remove/delete the driver dll, and reinstall new. If that doesn't solve the problem goto step 5.

Step 4: If USB has gone wrong it could be lots of things. BIOS fault; USB expansion card has bad connection; USB expansion card is faulty; USB driver fault.

Step 5: Printer may be faulty. If you can try your printer on a different computer, then do that. If printer works on another computer, then you're computer is probably haunted by the ghost of christmas past, and you just have to see the nightmare through.

 

[Rÿcher]

then give it the baseball bat while listening to angry gangta rap.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

then give it the baseball bat while listening to angry gangta rap.

Especially since a basic printer is pretty much dirt-cheap these days. You can get an entire printer for about $50. It's the INK that's expensive..

 

[freak]

Yeah, I've felt like taking it with a baseball bat. I'm seriously thinking it's the USB cord that's gone bad. The printer itself works fine printing out test pages..it's just from the printer to the comp that doesn't work. I talked to a former coworker last night who is a printer genius and she said it's probably the USB cord going bad. She said those damn HP printers sometimes have really bad glitches in them and are sometimes incompatible with Windows. She said if worse comes to worse, I may have to buy a new printer which I don't wanna do at all. This is a nice printer dammit! It's just having an identity crisis! But I'll tell you what I've never been so upset or frustrated about something in all my life! I just don't want Dad to come in here expecting to print something and having the printer going caput on him. I think I'm gonna try the reboot thing to see if that works. I know the USB ports all work on the computer so it's probably some crazy glitch somewhere. Thanks.

 

[Jadzia]

I was thinking last night after I switched off, it might be the lead gone bad. If it's a normal USB A-B lead, ask to borrow one from your friend to try out.

The leads are rated too, so make sure it's a USB 2.0 lead. (Usually shielded with metallic braid)

 

[freak]

Yeah I think you're right. I don't have anyone to borrow from so I'll have to buy one. And it is a 2.0 I think cause it worked the other day just fine! I just don't get it.

 

[freak]

Actually, I think it's the problem with ALL of the USB ports on my computer itself. I tried plugging my ipod nano into the thing last night, and it didn't recognize it either. I wonder what the problem is?

 

[freak]

To all who posted: Thanks so much for your generosity. My computer problem has been solved!!!!!!! Turns out it was indeed the USB port on the comp itself that was the problem. There is sometimes a glitch with Windows XP and sometimes the USB ports are not recognized by Windows. This has become somewhat of a problem with Win XP users so I'm not alone in the matter. But I did figure out the problem by going online to a blog. All I had to do was to turn off the computer and unplug it for about 15 seconds or so. When I did that, the problem resolved itself. So thanks to all who posted! I actually feel like a computer genius!

 

[Jadzia]

I actually feel like a computer genius!

Well done! Now get printing like you've never printed before.