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| Thread ID: 37161 | 2003-08-30 09:04:00 | Argh whats my printer up to? | Bobble (3142) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 171733 | 2003-08-30 09:04:00 | Hi all I have an Epson stylus color 480 printer throwing tantrums. When I go to print I get a message that says 'communication error', it tells me to check all cables and try again. I've not only checked the cables, also uninstalled and reinstalled, installed on my sons computer, tried other cables, and threatened to kill it... still no luck. It's definitely getting power as it makes all the right noises when I turn it on. Any ideas? |
Bobble (3142) | ||
| 171734 | 2003-08-30 09:22:00 | It really would help to know how this printer connects, and the version of Windows or Apple Macintosh software you are running ... [looks into crystal ball ... ] This printer *probably* connects via the parallel port (LPT1:)? This needs to be set to "bidirectional, ECP or EPP mode" in the BIOS. This printer needs an IEEE 1284 compliant printer cable. [/looks into crystal ball ... ] How many of the above requirements are true and being met? Did this just start happening? Is it a recent purchase thats never worked? |
godfather (25) | ||
| 171735 | 2003-08-30 09:36:00 | It connects to LPT1 Worked fine until about 2 weeks ago . As far as I know no changes were made to the computer at that time - though that probably has nothing to do with it since it's doing all the same stuff on the other computer . Worked ONCE since then - and that was when I reinstalled it (again) today . Wasn't easy to install as it didn't find the printer when I started up, but did after a few reboots today . Both computers are on Win98 at the moment . Doesn't matter which program its printing from or which direction I hold my head in :D As far as I can see it's in the printer itself - I don't think I can blame the cable, the drivers, or the parallel port . . . never too sure tho :) |
Bobble (3142) | ||
| 171736 | 2003-08-30 09:53:00 | OK, more info helps . You are not alone with these troubles, and if you have used Google you will already know that . Apparently there is a "LPT1 reset program for the 480" available . Not sure how it works . The following from a quick Google search . Re: Epson 480 Reset program . You can get the reset for the epson 480 parallel port at this link ( . guterpast . com . br/downloads/programadeservicioStylusCOLOR480 . zip" target="_blank">www . guterpast . com . br) Its 2 MB, possibly not in English?? and I am not prepared to run it to see, but you may end up desperate enough eventually? As you have isolated the problem to the printer (that wasn't immediately obvious in your original post) can we assume you have tried replacing the ink cartridge(s) . Don't assume the error messages will always be meaningful . :) |
godfather (25) | ||
| 171737 | 2003-08-31 04:21:00 | I've liked Epson printers . I embarrassed myself by recommending Epson a year or so ago to friends, who bought a 480 . :_| Apart from its excessive use of ink on Epson tasks, not printing pages, it needed to have its drivers reinstalled fairly regularly . I hope you kept the books, and the CD . :D Apart from unplugging and replugging both ends of the cable (which I assume you have done :D), and making sure that is getting power --- does it still make busy sounds while it squirts a few dollars worth of ink into the absorber pad? --- a reinstall would be the immediate action . |
Graham L (2) | ||
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