USB Printer Problem - spooler empties but no print

[printer problem]

I have a USB printer on my Windows 7 Pro 64 bit desk top. It has worked fine for almost three years. Last the first two print jobs after boot up printed fine. The third, fourth etc. hung up in the queue which I manually emptied. Today the queue no longer stalls - rather it appears to empty normally - but I the files do not print. The printer is activated - the print head moves but no printing occurs
I have uninstalled / reinstalled 4 times.

How do I proceed from here ?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

printer problem,

Welcome to SevenForums. I would unplug printer and let sit for 1 minute. Plug it back in and then check the ink cartridges for being seated and with ink. You can also try putting the printer though a print head maintenance cycle. If this doesn't work then un-install printer driver and re-install per the manufactures direction with the most up to date driver off the mfg'rs website.

Good luck and report back.

 

[printer problem]

linnemeyerhere,

Thanks for your reply.

Partial success - the spooler sends output to the printer the first time I send a file after a reboot.

Subsequent print jobs hang in the spooler. I have to stop and start the spooler manually to print a document.

I am open to additional suggestions !

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Uninstall driver and printer cables from the system then re-install printer and driver per mfg'r. manual.

 

[printer problem]

Reinstalling did not work.

Prints sometimes - not others - cannot predict

I did see an error message> error 0x00000057 - unable to find printer

When I go into control Panel / Admin Tools / print management - it shows that USB002 is a virtual Lexmark printer while it also lists another port as being assigned to my Lexmark printer. Is it normal to have a virtual port assigned to the USB and another assigned to the printer ?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I used to manage two USB printers via a couple of switches to give access to two computers all solved now having replaced with a wireless single all in one. I had the same virtual USB port issues. With just one printer unless its a all in one it seems odd it would need or set up virtual port. At this point let's not focus on it. Try plugging the printer cable into another USB port and while at it check the cable for damage or better yet replace with another cable if a spare is handy.

 

[printer problem]

linnemeyerhere,

My machine is an all in one Lexmark Prevail 705.

I will try another port and cable and respond back.

 

[matts6887]

printer problem,

Welcome to SevenForums. I would unplug printer and let sit for 1 minute. Plug it back in and then check the ink cartridges for being seated and with ink. You can also try putting the printer though a print head maintenance cycle. If this doesn't work then un-install printer driver and re-install per the manufactures direction with the most up to date driver off the mfg'rs website.

Good luck and report back.

I agree especially with the driver part. The driver is what sends "instructions" to the printer to tell it what and how to print etc; so if something is amiss with the driver then yes best bet is to uninstall windows driver/device and let it re-detect the device and reinstall the driver for it.

 

[printer problem]

something weird is going on

After uninstalling the Lexmark printer. I rebooted then plugged in the USB cable for the printer.

Windows was not able to download the driver package - it located the software on the internet but the download / install was not successful.

Conversly - I plugged in a HP 9600 all in one - and had no problem letting windows manage the download and install.

I wonder if this is a Lexmark specific issue ?

 

[matts6887]

Try restarting the printer by completely unplugging
The power cord from from the unit then if there is a power button; after you unplug it; hold the power button for about 10 seconds or so to release the extra juice in the printers power supply. Then plug it back in and hopefully windows should
Re detect it. If it does not work then it sounds like
There could be some sort of hardware glitch inside the printer preventing communication between the computer and printer

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I would go to the website and download directly the proper driver for your printer and for W7. It will download, then after reading the quick start or other manual for how the install process should be done then follow it to a T and when it tells you to load the driver then load the driver.

 

[printer problem]

the driver package for Windows 7 is 74MB. I downloaded - uninstalled and downloaded a second time.

Same problem.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Is this the printer? Have you considered doing the firmware updates as well?

http://support.lexmark.com/index?pa...MARK_PREVAIL_PRO705&locale=en&userlocale=EN#2

Did you print and read page 23 and perform the actions in the quick reference guide?

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Or page 128 in the user guide?
Try cleaning the printer head !
If push comes to shove then maybe call Lexmark for support?