Solved HP psc 1200 printer scans but won't print on windows 7

[Printer]

I have had my windows 7 machine for several years and have never once been able to figure out how to print using my HP 1200 series printer (yea I know, it's a very old printer). I scan all the time with no problems. What the heck. I click print on a document and all that ever happens is the spooler takes up half my cpu and I end up having to end spooler process via task manager. No printing ever occurs. I'm lost and stuck with this problem.

 

[fireberd]

Did you install the HP driver software? If not that is the first step. If you did, download and install the software again.

Here is the HP, Windows 7 64 bit software
Software & driver downloads HP PSC 1200 All-in-One Printer | HP® Support

 

[Printer]

Did you install the HP driver software? If not that is the first step. If you did, download and install the software again.

Here is the HP, Windows 7 64 bit software
Software & driver downloads HP PSC 1200 All-in-One Printer | HP® Support

I mentioned that I can scan and scanning wouldn't work without the driver. I checked in device manager and it says the printer is working properly and the driver is up to date.

 

[Berton]

It's my belief the scan function uses different hardware from the print function and usually uses a TWAIN driver. The physical connection would be the same. Scanning and Copying use the same hardware in the unit while Copying also uses the print function of the machine. Can you Copy and get the printout? Does the printer give you its diagnostic printout?

Also, since this post is in the Networking forum instead of Hardware, how is the printer connected to the computer?

 

[Slartybart]

Berton makes good points and asks a few valid questions.

You might find the answers here:
HP LaserJet - Driver support included in Windows 7

Try this method first: Download and install the driver on your computer now

If you still have printer issues, try this method: Download the driver for later use or use on another computer

Both methods are on the same page so you can scroll either one if you find that easier.

You might have to uninstall the scanner and printer for the HP 1200 series printer if your machine continues to have issues with the printer.

 

[Printer]

It's my belief the scan function uses different hardware from the print function and usually uses a TWAIN driver. The physical connection would be the same. Scanning and Copying use the same hardware in the unit while Copying also uses the print function of the machine. Can you Copy and get the printout? Does the printer give you its diagnostic printout?

Also, since this post is in the Networking forum instead of Hardware, how is the printer connected to the computer?

It's connected by a physical cable. The copy function operates separate from the computer anyway and there are buttons on the printer to do copying, so that doesn't help me. If I connect the printer to the windows 8 machine, it prints fine. It's just the windows 7 machine that it won't print from.

What I need people to understand is that when I click print on a document, the spooler (spoolsv.exe) process takes up 50% of my cpu in an unending way. That process just sits there taking up half my cpu but the printer doesn't print. It's like it can't get the document to the printer for some reason.

 

[OvenMaster]

A friend of mine "upgraded" from XP to 7 and had an HP 1200 all in one. HP supplied the Win 7 driver but basic functions like scan controls, ink level check and printer head alignment were no longer available, and the printer put so much ink on the paper that it soaked through. He had no trouble at all with XP. He reluctantly retired it and bought a Brother.

 

[Printer]

Berton makes good points and asks a few valid questions.

You might find the answers here:
HP LaserJet - Driver support included in Windows 7

Try this method first: Download and install the driver on your computer now

If you still have printer issues, try this method: Download the driver for later use or use on another computer

Both methods are on the same page so you can scroll either one if you find that easier.

You might have to uninstall the scanner and printer for the HP 1200 series printer if your machine continues to have issues with the printer.

As I said, I already have the most current driver according to the device manager.

 

[Slartybart]

As I said, I already have the most current driver according to the device manager.

and you also said:

I have had my windows 7 machine for several years and have never once been able to figure out how to print using my HP 1200 series printer​

There aren't too many reasons why a device won't function

1) not plugged in
-- it scans so it's plugged in

2) not connected
-- it scans so it's connected

3) no driver
-- you say the driver is in device manager - please post a screen shot of the general tab

4) wrong driver
-- you say the correct driver is in device manager - please post a screen shot of the driver tab

5) misconfigured driver
-- you haven't said anything about the configuration or if you looked in Devices and Printers
- please post a screen shot of Control Panel -> Devices and Printers

Right click on the printer
- select properties post a screen shot of the ports tab
- select see what's printing and cancel any pending print jobs

6) busted device
?????​

Try the Control Panel Trouble shooter -> Hardware and Sound -> Use a printer

Post error msgs, codes and screen shots.

 

[Printer]

EDIT AND UPDATE: I changed the port to the usb port (from LPT 1) and it printed (yay). Any guesses as to why my machine couldn't automatically pick the correct port all these years?

THANK YOU ALL!

As I said, I already have the most current driver according to the device manager.

and you also said:

I have had my windows 7 machine for several years and have never once been able to figure out how to print using my HP 1200 series printer​

There aren't too many reasons why a device won't function

1) not plugged in
-- it scans so it's plugged in

2) not connected
-- it scans so it's connected

3) no driver
-- you say the driver is in device manager - please post a screen shot of the general tab

4) wrong driver
-- you say the correct driver is in device manager - please post a screen shot of the driver tab

5) misconfigured driver
-- you haven't said anything about the configuration or if you looked in Devices and Printers
- please post a screen shot of Control Panel -> Devices and Printers

Right click on the printer
- select properties post a screen shot of the ports tab
- select see what's printing and cancel any pending print jobs

6) busted device
?????​

Try the Control Panel Trouble shooter -> Hardware and Sound -> Use a printer

Post error msgs, codes and screen shots.

In "devices and printers" it says it needs troubleshooting (yellow triangle with exclamation point). When I run the troubleshooter, it says it couldn't find the problem.

The device can't be busted because it prints from my windows 8 machine.

 

[fireberd]

My guess is that the driver software was not installed properly. If the drivers were not installed FIRST, before physically connecting the device, problems can develop as Windows may arbitrarily assign it to an improper port.

 

[Slartybart]

I would uninstall the printer and reinstall per the instructions I previously posted (HP instructions)

The port shows LPT1, but the printer is connected via USB (right?)

It's far simpler to do it right than to try and untangle a botched install. I mean ... I already suggested this and the response was "but it's installed..."

No offense intended - lots of people do it because it is oft times difficult to figure out. I had a similar printer issue with and old device - took me a few attempts to get the correct settings that allowed it to work.

Uninstall the printer and the scanner
disconnect the USB cable
restart your machine
follow the HP install directions
ask if you get stuck
if there is still an issue afterwards, post the same device and printer property port screen again - thanks