HP 645C

[Bankboy]

I need major help. I've been working on this problem now for two weeks with no results and it's driving me crazy! Problem started using Win 98SE with the HP645c (USB) and it wouldn't print anything. The printer was working and then all the sudden it stops working. I tried using the printer, with the same cables, on another computer and had no problems with it. I tried installing/re-installing the printer on the original computer, but it would never work. I then reformatted the drive and put Win 2K on it. It printed things fine for a week or so, and then it stopped printing things. After some more troubleshooting, I realized that it would print small documents, but nothing with a substantial amount of data. For example a few lines of text would print, but a full page text document would not print. The print cue shows that it spools some data to the printer and then it stops. I don't know what else to try. Please help!

Thanks in advance.

 

[M39shadow]

Sounds like it may have something to do with the USB ports on the PC. Since it had Win98 on it I asume this was an older PC. Some of the older MB had some issues with USB. You may wanna check for a new BIOS version. Might also check out the info at usbman.com

May be an issue with your USB chipset. If you can borrow a powered USB hub (without buying it), you can try that too. It is also possible its interference from another peripheral (what other devices do you have connected USB BTW?) but I'd be putting money on a chipset or motherboard issue. What model is the USB Universal Host controller listed as in the Device Manager? It still could be a marginal cable as well.

And one last thing would be what service pack are you running in Win 2K?

 

[Bankboy]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that earlier. I thought it was a problem with the USB ports too, so I bought a PCI card w/ 4 USB ports while it was still on Win 98. I could never get the printer to work again while it was on 98, so that's when I changed over to Win 2k. The only other device on the card are some USB powered speakers. The board is an older Matsonic (P III board), and I'm tempted to tell my customer that he needs to get a newer machine.

 

[M39shadow]

If everything works on another machine and changing OS's doesn't solve the problem, its gotta be the MB and/or BIOS. Early USB support was questionable at best. I would definately give updating the BIOS a try before recomending a new machine. If the machine is more than 4 years old its probably time to upgrade though. It'll cost them a whole lot less this time around. Reasonable systems cost as little as $500 anymore. I'd spend more though cause your entry level machine of today will be out of date far sooner than a more advanced machine. Depends on what they do with it though. I gather this person isn't exactly a power user.