clean install Vista 64 print error

F

Frank Grimace

Member
Hi everyone.

I have a packard bell laptop, vista 64 home premium is installed.

No matter what i try vista is not printing, I am blaming Vista as we have installed 3 different Printers on this machine, and not one will print,the drivers all install properly, printer is listed as default, printer recognised by vista, port settings show its set to USB as it should be, and no conflicts in irq.

I have used drivers from supplied CD with printer, and newest from manufacturers site in all cases.

When i press print, the job gets sent to printer, but then at the last moment errors.

I have last night reinstalled windows thinking this will cure it, but no, even a fresh install hasn't cured it.

I am totaly flumoxed now, especialy as Its a clean install, using the restore to factory settings type reinstall, and trying HP Epson And Canon printers with no luck

I have also tried msconfig to disable all startup progs, and services, nothing shows in event logs.
Would Group policy be a problem? I dont think GP is used on oem home premium?

Thank you in advance

Frank, qualified PC Technician
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

Welcome
I will try to help, which may be difficult since you seemed to have tried everything.

Did this printer ever work with Vista?
If yes, why do you have to reinstall?

If the answer to the above question is no. There are a few tricks.
First, most printers have a print test, try that. See if the printer does indeed work.
If it does work
Go to printers and devices and make sure that the printer is properly installed.
If it is properly installed and does not work, uninstall driver

Now
Remove the printer cable from the computer. Do not just turn off the printer
Go to the website and follow instructions, do not connect printer until told to turn it on.

Finally, If the CD has a current and correct driver that may be the best method to install.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Find-and-install-printer-drivers
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Thank you for the reply,

My customer has never had a printer on this machine, and we reinstalled to try to clear this problem as a last resort as i have exhausted my skills.

The printers previously worked on other machines so we know the printers are ok, as I mentioned earlier, print test failed on all printers, all printers show and are set to their respective default + usb settings, all printers are recognized by vista when plugged in, so this in my mind rules out driver issues.

so basicaly I'm ruling out printer problem as this purely a Vista issue, even more since this a factory reset install.

there is no AV installed, firewalls are off, UAC is active but i will try without, I will also try with group policy service turned off.


Frank
 

My Computer

System One

'tis a very difficult problem. Do you have any of Vista computers to test with?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 420
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz
    Motherboard
    Stock Dell 0TP406
    Memory
    4 gb (DDR2 800) 400MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3870 (512 MBytes)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 x Dell 2007FP and 1 x (old) Sonic flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 1200 and 1280 x 1204
    Hard Drives
    1 x 640Gb (SATA 300)
    Western Digital: WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0

    1 x 1Tb (SATA 600)
    Western Digital: Caviar Black, SATA 6GB/S, 64Mb cache, 8ms
    Western Digital: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 ATA Device
    PSU
    Stock PSU - 375W
    Case
    Dell XPS 420
    Cooling
    Stock Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell Bluetooth
    Mouse
    Advent Optical ADE-WG01 (colour change light up)
    Internet Speed
    120 kb/s
    Other Info
    ASUS USB 3.0 5Gbps/SATA 6Gbps - PCI-Express Combo Controller Card (U3S6)
Two of the printers we used are from Vista installed pc's.

I was 100% sure the re-install would cure this, the only other option is for the customer to buy a version of vista, and install that, rather than use the bloated OEM install, but realistically I doubt it, as its still only a try and see fix,& that is expensive
 

My Computer

System One

It could be the driver, try an xp driver in compatiblity mode.
It has happend to me with an HP printer. It works with Vista driver and I have Windows 7
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
It is very, very odd. I used to have massive problems with an old printer on Vista. The actual Vista drivers simply did not work. Eventually, after several months of fiddling, I discovered that the Vista and XP drivers did not work, but the older still "2000/XP" driver did. All I can really suggest is if you still have the Vista computers where it worked on, going into Device Manager > Printer > Properties > Driver Details, looking up the files, and seeing what version they are.

Try and find older version of the drivers to match, and see if that makes any difference. However, as it is a customers PC, that may not be feasible. Not an easy one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 420
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz
    Motherboard
    Stock Dell 0TP406
    Memory
    4 gb (DDR2 800) 400MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3870 (512 MBytes)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 x Dell 2007FP and 1 x (old) Sonic flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 1200 and 1280 x 1204
    Hard Drives
    1 x 640Gb (SATA 300)
    Western Digital: WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0

    1 x 1Tb (SATA 600)
    Western Digital: Caviar Black, SATA 6GB/S, 64Mb cache, 8ms
    Western Digital: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 ATA Device
    PSU
    Stock PSU - 375W
    Case
    Dell XPS 420
    Cooling
    Stock Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell Bluetooth
    Mouse
    Advent Optical ADE-WG01 (colour change light up)
    Internet Speed
    120 kb/s
    Other Info
    ASUS USB 3.0 5Gbps/SATA 6Gbps - PCI-Express Combo Controller Card (U3S6)

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Ok, I've tried the SFC, and UAC off, GP service off, XP compatibility, and unfortunately this has changed nothing.

I think 'Clutching at straws' is the appropriate phrase to use now, I'm going to have to return this as a no fix no fee... Bummer not had one of these all year till now.

Thanks for all your ideas everyone, ideas are still welcome though till tomorrow morning when I'll return it minus my forty quid. :(

Frank
 

My Computer

System One

Resolved...(sort of)

found that a Network printer will work, so there is something fundamentally wrong somewhere with USB or something else.

Customer is happy to return the printer to the shop and swap for network one. I still may get a bit of cash for my troubles too.

not the answer I'd have liked, but a workaround has made us all happy.

Kev
 

My Computer

System One

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