Forum Home
Press F1
 
Thread ID: 53253 2005-01-12 01:30:00 Printer problems JJJJJ (528) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
313171 2005-01-12 01:30:00 My printer is a Panasonic KX-P7100 Laser.
Yesterday it was working. Today it's not.
It will not even print a test page

So far I have:
Removed and replaced Lpt 1 port.
Removed and replaced printer software.
Checked printer cable for bent pin or anything obvious.
Worked my way through the MS Trouble shooter about a dozen times.

When I turn the printer on it lights up and does it's little warm up growl and then the lights say it's ready.
I send a "print test page" and it reports it's gone. But nothing happens at the printer end.

It seems to me that there is no communication being received by the printer.
And yes I have checked for blocked paper etc.

The only thing I can think of is a faulty printer cable but can't understand why anything should go wrong there. It hasn't been touched since I last used printer.

Can anybody think of anything else I can try?

Jack.
JJJJJ (528)
313172 2005-01-12 01:38:00 Look in the manual, there should be an option to print a test page (usually by holding down a button on the thing) direct from the printer.

This'll tell you if the printers poked or if the PC isn't conjugating with it.
ninja (1671)
313173 2005-01-12 01:51:00 The printer driver will probably need the pinter port to be set to EPP or ECP mode (the bidirectional ones). That's a BIOS setting. Graham L (2)
313174 2005-01-12 02:08:00 Graham L you hit the nail right on the head.
I had it set to "Normal" (which seemed right to me). Changed the setting to EPP + ECP and it's working again.
You don't want about 20 test pages do you ?
Thanks very much.
Jack
JJJJJ (528)
313175 2005-01-12 02:29:00 Modern printers have become very talkative. I'm surprised the driver didn't complain ... it's an obvious thing (and far more likely than a suddenly faulty cable).
"When you have a hammer, everything is a nail"
Graham L (2)
313176 2005-01-12 04:39:00 The printer driver will probably need the pinter port to be set to EPP or ECP mode (the bidirectional ones). That's a BIOS setting.
It is a BIOS thing, that much is true, however that doesn't explain:

Yesterday it was working. Today it's not.As I'm sure the BIOS didn't arbitrarily change it's setting.
ninja (1671)
313177 2005-01-12 07:38:00 No Ninja, they didn't just change themselves. In my ignorance I changed it.
Jack
JJJJJ (528)
313178 2005-01-12 08:00:00 No Ninja, they didn't just change themselves. In my ignorance I changed it.
Jack
Ah that explains it all! :D As always, things don't break itself. Good to hear it's all fixed. ;)
~sy~ (95)
1