Need to always re-install printer software after power turned off.

[JayDubbleyah]

Hi, every time I turn the power off at the wall, and then switch on sometime later, my computer will not print to the printer. The computer is running Win XP and the printer is connected to it via USB cable. it is not wire-less. It does not give me any error messages - it just will not print. Why does it do this and what can I do about it ?
Thansk so much, JW

 

[manofchalk]

So are you turning the printer or the computer off?

The computer I cant imagine turning it off doing anything, and if it is, then it should do it every restart rather than just on a cold boot.

If its the printer, I imagine it's RAM is where its end of the software needed to communicate with the PC is kept. When you power off for any significant time, it runs out of power (would have a capacitor to keep the RAM alive for a short time) and loses it since RAM needs to be powered to keep data. Its possible this could be because of a small electrical short inside the printer (Doing the equivalent of clearing the BIOS on a PC), or the CMOS itself is out of juice, which if its an old printer (or the above short is true) is pretty likely.

 

[JayDubbleyah]

So are you turning the printer or the computer off?

The computer I cant imagine turning it off doing anything, and if it is, then it should do it every restart rather than just on a cold boot.

If its the printer, I imagine it's RAM is where its end of the software needed to communicate with the PC is kept. When you power off for any significant time, it runs out of power (would have a capacitor to keep the RAM alive for a short time) and loses it since RAM needs to be powered to keep data. Its possible this could be because of a small electrical short inside the printer (Doing the equivalent of clearing the BIOS on a PC), or the CMOS itself is out of juice, which if its an old printer (or the above short is true) is pretty likely.

Thanks ManofChalk, I should have clarified: it happens when I turn the power off to the printer. I don't think I've ever tried only turning off the power to the computer and not the printer. I only do this when we are going away for quite a while or for example, if there is an electrical storm about. Sorry, I also meant to say that I have to re-install the software to the computer to get it printing again, and then it goes fine until until I need to switch off the power - which I now do as little as possible !. Really appreciate your time and help. JW

 

[orlbuckeye]

Hi, every time I turn the power off at the wall, and then switch on sometime later, my computer will not print to the printer. The computer is running Win XP and the printer is connected to it via USB cable. it is not wire-less. It does not give me any error messages - it just will not print. Why does it do this and what can I do about it ?
Thansk so much, JW

Thats weird but when you print does the print que pop up? That should tell you the status it should says printing, Error or out of paper. You printers drivers are installed on the PC not the printer