Can print from 3rd-party "exe" print utility; not from LibreOffice etc

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  1. Posts : 61
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #1

    Can print from 3rd-party "exe" print utility; not from LibreOffice etc


    Hi,

    I don't know why, but nothing I send to my printer, will print. Not even show up in "document(s) in queue".

    It's an ancient printer - an Epson Stylus Color 680/777 - but it hasn't given me any problems in all these years and it has worked properly until recently.

    No document or email (from Outlook.com) will print, except for calibration sheets and alignment sheets, which I can send via a separate, third-party utility called "SSC Service Utility".

    It seems that I can still send commands from the service utility down the printer cable, but I can't print from the programs I regularly use - Libre Office, Adobe Acrobat Reader and Notepad. They've all been updated to check if that is the problem, but it hasn't solved it.

    I've made sure the printer is switched on and everything still appears to be in good working order when I print from the service utility. No error messages anywhere.

    When the problem arose, everything I sent to be printed did briefly flash up in "document(s) in queue", in "Devices and Printers" in the Control Panel, but the printer remained idle. Now they don't appear in the queue at all, even though I haven't fiddled with anything.

    I assume it's something on the laptop, maybe the registry, but I'd need to be guided around there before I started to mess with that. I'd really appreciate some help.

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 21,004
    Desk1 7 Home Prem / Desk2 10 Pro / Main lap Asus ROG 10 Pro 2 laptop Toshiba 7 Pro Asus P2520 7 & 10
       #2

    Ok mate obviously I am going to ask if you have updated the driver for the printer?? I would do that first but to be honest printers are not that expensive so I would personally be looking at a new one and save yourself the grief.

    However that depends on your budget of course but if you go down that track then remember cheap printer high cost inks higher cost printer usually much easier/efficient on the inks.

    Myself I have an HP Officejet 8600 Pro and it does everything and prints beautifully besides scanning copying etc but as I sad the choice and budget is your of course.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 61
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hi,

    Thanks, but I'd prefer to fix this printer, rather than ditch it. It is incredibly cheap to use and suits my needs.

    I've checked the driver in previous years, but it has always been up to date and it's still 'ticked' in "Devices and printers". Plus, I can still print pages, albeit only from the service utility.

      My Computer


  4. Posts : 3,371
    W10 Pro desktop, W11 laptop, W11 Pro tablet (all 64-bit)
       #4

    Have you verified that the Printer Spooler Service is running?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,784
    Linux Mint 18.2 xfce 64-bit (VMWare host) / Windows 8.1 Pro 32-bit (VMWare guest)
       #5

    If you log into Windows as 'Administrator', or perhaps as a different user, can you print to it?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 61
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    I'm logged-in as the Administrator by default, but the problem arose, in-spite of this.

    And I've just created a new account, but the problem is identical to that on my main account.

    Sorry, I haven't heard of a "printer spooler", but I've looked it up and am not sure where to start. The printer doesn't seem to crash or give any error messages, though that could be because it is very basic.

    How do I confirm the printer spooler functions normally?

      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,784
    Linux Mint 18.2 xfce 64-bit (VMWare host) / Windows 8.1 Pro 32-bit (VMWare guest)
       #7

    Itundic said:
    I'm logged-in as the Administrator by default, but the problem arose, in-spite of this.
    It could be that the problem arose because of this. Whenever you are logged in as Administrator, you have full power on the computer. Not only does that mean that you can accomplish any task, but also that you can do all sorts of damage. It is possible therefore that you inadvertently did something which caused the problem, or that some malware was able to cause some damage because it came in while you were logged in as Administrator.

    This is probably not the case here. But I wanted to point out that it is not advisable to do your daily normal work while logged in as Administrator.

    Here is a tutorial about clearing and resetting the print spooler. Perhaps it will be helpful.

    Print Spooler Queue - Clear and Reset
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 61
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    You're probably right about not being logged-in as an admin. Too lazy to type the password each time, I'm afraid.

    I've cleared the Print Spooler Queue, using "Option 2", where I found eight files, not thinking there would be any. No joy though.

    I sent a test LibreOffice doc and the printer icon appeared in the systray for a while, but nothing appeared in the "document(s) in queue". I sent it a second time and got the same. Similarly with a PDF.

    Strangely the "PRINTERS" folder is empty after these print attempts.
    C:\Windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 259
    Win7 sp1 Pro 64bit / XP sp2 Pro (games only)
       #9

    I have had the same mysteries with my Epson 850. Cured either by finding out that some how the program,Libre Office or Adobe had strangely and unknowing defaulted to the XPS printer. If this was not evident, I have a small stand alone program to remove all unused USB drivers. Doing this and reconnecting the printer fixed it. Also works for unrecognized thumb drives. I don't remember where I found it, probably Major Geeks or gHacks But if you want to PM your email address I can probably send a copy.
    Art.
    PS If you do send PM tell me here as I don't usually log in, just to read.
    Last edited by Wandering one; 07 Feb 2018 at 17:41. Reason: PS added
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 61
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Neither of the progs have changed the printer assigned to them, unfortunately. I wish it was that simple.

    I've PMed you my email. Thanks in advance for the prog. I'll give it a go.
      My Computer


 
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