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

[Itundic]

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.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

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.

 

[Itundic]

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.

 

[strollin]

Have you verified that the Printer Spooler Service is running?

 

[mrjimphelps]

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

 

[Itundic]

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?

 

[mrjimphelps]

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

 

[Itundic]

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

 

[Wandering one]

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.

 

[Itundic]

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.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry late reply mate biut do you have access to a print test page on that printer?? if so try it and if it not going to do that then I would be looking at checking the connecting cable if you are hard wiring it instead of wifi. It could be if you are using a cable that just needs reseating sometimes things are simpler than you like to realise.

 

[strollin]

You can check on the Print Spooler by going here: Control Panel->System and Security->Administrative Tools->Services. Check to make sure the Printer Spooler service is running.

 

[Itundic]

I'm sorry, too, for the late reply. You think you've found the time to devote to something, then suddenly everything else crops up. Excuses, I know.

Thanks for the DriveCleanup prog. I've researched it a bit and it definitely looks like I need some help with it. It's a command-line tool and I'm not sure what to do - don't want to erase something vital. I also downloaded what I think is the GUI version, but it's called DeviceCleanup and gives a massive list of things for erasure. Is this the same prog, or have I looked at the wrong thing?

I've checked the Print Spooler again and there doesn't seem to be any problem there. I've repeated the process - cleared everything waiting to be printed, restarted the service and sent new docs - but nothing has changed.

I still can't print anything from LibreOffice, Adobe Reader, etc; only calibration sheets from my 3rd-party printer utility.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

I have not got an answer as such my friend but please be VERY careful using that software as most of them are really not what they make out they are.

If you have got it then I would be looking at using CCleaner Download CCleaner - Free, powerful PC cleaner and optimizer if not then try it first and please do the chkldsk and sfc again (use the /f and /r switch in the chkdsk)
SFC /SCANNOW : Run in Command Prompt at Boot - Windows 7 Help Forums
&
Disk Check - Windows 7 Help Forums
&
Disk Cleanup - Open and Use - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[Wandering one]

Simple to use. Change the file ext on DriveCleanUp.txt to DriveCleanUp.exe (had to change for email)
Unplug all USB items EXCEPT mouse and keyboard.
Right click on renamed file and select Run as Administrator
All unused USB drivers will be cleared and will reinstall as you connect each item.
I have had and used over the past four years and never a problem.
Art.

 

[Itundic]

Here's what I got from CleanDrive.

Firstly, I disconnected my mains-powered hub from my laptop and the cable from each used USB socket on the hub, plus the flashdrive on one of the laptop USBs, then ran the program. I ran both the "exe" that Wandering one gave me and a fresh download.

Fresh download (45 KB) - I ran this purely in the 'test' mode.

It stated:
11 USB devices to remove
7 USB hubs to remove
11 Disk devices to remove
0 CDROM devices to remove
0 Floppy devices to remove
178 Storage volumes to remove
7 WPD devices to remove
795 Items to remove from registry



The one Wandering one sent to me (28 KB) - I forgot to right-click "Run as Admin", but it immediately cleaned some items.

It stated:

Removed 11 USB devices [I count 18 in the screengrab]
Removed 7 USB hubs
Removed 11 Disk devices
Removed 0 CDROM devices
Removed 0 Floppy devices
Removed 10 Storage volumes
Removed 7 WPD devices
Removed 12 Keys from registry
.
.
.
11 USB devices not removed
7 USB hubs not removed
11 Disk devices not removed
10 Storage volumes not removed
7 WPD devices not removed



Re-ran with Admin privileges

Removed 11 USB devices
Removed 4 USB hubs
Removed 11 Disk devices
Removed 0 CDROM devices
Removed 0 Floppy devices
Removed 10 Storage volumes
Removed 7 WPD devices
Removed 6 Keys from registry



I reconnected the hub and cables for the printer, 2 portable drives, the mouse and flashdrive and everything installed successfully. The only notification of a driver re-installation I didn't get was for the printer, though I can still send commands to the printer down the cable, from the 3rd-party utility. All seem to interface with the laptop perfectly and work as they're supposed to - aside from the printer still not printing anything from my main programs.

I've re-sent Libre office, PDF and Notepad docs, but no avail. The "PRINTERS" folder remains empty. Nothing from these programs reaches the spooler.

I've tried the printer cable in the 5th and 6th ports of the USB hub, but no joy, and confirmed the ports work, by connecting the mouse to them.

I connected the printer cable directly to the laptop, but with no change. Tried all the progs again and checked the Print Spooler Queue, but the "PRINTERS" folder was still empty.

If I've done everything correctly above, what should I try next?

Sorry, I haven't had the time for SFC/SCANNOW or chkdsk and I don't have an installation disk, unfortunately. With my limited knowledge, I'm not sure if these will help, even though they are valuable checks, as I've used them with XP, many moons ago.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Sorry, I haven't had the time for SFC/SCANNOW or chkdsk and I don't have an installation disk, unfortunately. With my limited knowledge, I'm not sure if these will help, even though they are valuable checks, as I've used them with XP, many moons ago.

Yep well I would have done those first up but anyway do go ahead with them and for an installation disk just get and ISO you will find a site in this if it doesn't work reply to the thread the authour is probably the most brilliant person on the forum.
Clean Install Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

I take it you still have the key for the install??