Computer crash when printing

[ChristPat]

Three year old Dell desktop running XP with one year old Brother laser as local printer. Computer is networked and printer also accessible over network. Suddenly every command to print to the local printer, from web pages & several software programs (Word 97 and three specialty applications)turns off the computer. The print job does print. The computer must be restarted by the on/off switch.
I'm having a hard time with it being a software glitch and am thinking power supply. Print jobs from a network computer will also usually turn off the same computer and jobs do not print until it is rebooted.

 

[r_manic]

I agree with you. That desktop is plugged into a voltage regulator, right? I would suggest trying another PSU with the PC if possible.

 

[ChristPat]

I am now certain the solution is death of the 5-6 year old battery backup unit. I swapped everything over to a power bar and there is no longer a printing problem.

 

[zendowski]

I have 5 different APC 350 UPS systems that all do the exact same thing. They cause the PC to turn off the instant a print job is sent to the printer. The job prints but the PC must be turned back on. It does not shut down nicely, it simply turns off.