can't print test page

isup · October 31st, 2002, 07:07 AM

can't print test page from HP deskjet 820Cse printer. i select start/settings/control panel/ add-remove hardware. printer is not found when system searches for new plug & play device to install. the printer is not in the list of devices already installed. i select 'Add New Device'. no new device is found. next i select printers from a list of hardware types. then LPTI port, printer manufacturer and model. i choose "keep existing drivers" then "test page". i get an error that says "the printer is out of paper." there is paper in the printer. my os is win 2000 pro and i don't have a scanner. mob is gigabyte ga-7dx+. HP site says printer drivers are already in win 2000 os. there is a small black circle with a white tick above the printer icon in control panel. printer does not appear among hardware devices when i go to Computer Management in control panel.
thanks for your help.

muno · October 31st, 2002, 07:17 AM

Are you sure you have connected the printer and turned it on?
W2k should automatically detect it when it notices something on the lpt port.

Umm.. And, is your lpt1 port enabled from bios and w2k?
-M

strangerstill · October 31st, 2002, 08:14 AM

You may need EPP, ECP, etc turned on in the BIOS - look at your printer port settings.

Can you print from DOS? (e.g. dir > lpt1 should print out a directory listing)

Can you carry out any maintenance tasks from the printer settings box?

Note: the black circle with white tick means that this is the default printer - it doesn't reflect its functionality or state.

isup · October 31st, 2002, 09:08 AM

yes the printer is turned on. c:\dir lpt1 in dos shows nothing. i don't see lpt1 port listed when i do c:\dir. i am in pc dos. will check the bios. could the printer cable be bad?

Xeroid · October 31st, 2002, 01:02 PM

I'm not sure about Win2K, but have you tried to go into printers and double click "add new printer" to config it manually? Win98 its start/settings/printers/add printer. WinXP its start/control panel/printers & faxes/add printer.

Mike

isup · October 31st, 2002, 01:22 PM

i did not try that method Xeroid. yes it is possible in win 2k. that's another approach. i'm wondering it this printer has plug and play.

strangerstill · October 31st, 2002, 02:31 PM

No, that's "dir > lpt1"
The '>' is the 'pipe' symbol.

isup · October 31st, 2002, 02:42 PM

"dir > lpt1" shows no result.

FunkyM · October 31st, 2002, 07:50 PM

Time to start from scratch.

First of all can your printer print a test page on it's own without the PC your manual should tell you how to do this. If yes move on.

Go to www.hp.com and download the latest driver for your printer HP may tell you to use the driver on the WIN 2000 disk if so use that if not download the driver.

Now unplug your printer, switch of it's power.

Go to printers under control panel and remove any printers you have installed there.

Now go to System, Hardware, Device Manager and click on the PLUS next to Ports (Com & Lpt), now right click on printer port lpt1 and delete it.

unzip your driver download into a folder on the desktop, shutdown your machine connectup your printer and switch it on.

Start ya PC up windows should recognise it and ask if you want it to automatically find best driver or do it manually or something like that.

Do it manually browse to the folder on your desktop and the INF file should be displayed in the left part of the window. Click open then next and it should install it.

Once your machine is started go back to control panel, printers right click on your printer Icon and choose properties and click the print test page button.

If it doesen't print make sure you clear the print job then go back into device manager then ports and open Printer Port LPT1, click on port settings and make sure USE ANY INTERUPT ASSIGNED TO THE PORT is selected and the check box next to ENABLE LEGACEY PLUG & PLAY DETECTION is checked. Choose OK.

Try to print a test page. If it doesen't print make sure you clear the print job then go back to control panel, printers right click on your printer Icon and choose the PORTS tab and make sure ENABLE BI-DIRECTIONAL SUPPORT is not checked.

Try to print a test page. If it doesen't print make sure you clear the print job then go back to control panel, printers right click on your printer Icon and choose the PORTS tab and make sure ENABLE BI-DIRECTIONAL SUPPORT is re-checked.

If none of this works you can go into BIOS and change you Parallel port setting to ECP, save and re-boot and give that a go.

Other than that I don't know what else you can try as this is the limit of my knowledge.

P.S. Don't forget the usual things like possibility of a faulty cable either. It just depends on your problem. Also try the printer an another machine with a different operating sys if you can to make surer the printer is OK.

isup · November 1st, 2002, 05:44 AM

thanks FunkyM thats a lot of tech support. the printer cannot print a test page without the pc according to HP. in device manager i can either disable or uninstall printer port LPT1 and i chose disable. when i reconnect the printer and power up the pc it doesn't recognize the printer or ask about choosing a driver. also there is no printer icon in the control-printers- icons box. i go to the device manager, open port lpt1 and select settings. here only "Never Use An Interrupt" is checked. i uncheck it and check "Use Any Interrupt......" and "Enable Legacy Plug & Play.......". i still can't print a test page. next, control panel and click on printer icon and port tab. the "ENABLE BI-DIRECTIONAL SUPPORT" option is disabled. that is the check area is greyed out. i try to enable it but can't. the BIOS is factory-set to ECP, and EPP option is disabled until a later upgrade. the win 2k troubleshooter determined that my printer cable may be at fault. i will obtain a cable and do a change. thanks again to all.