Troubleshooting printing difficulties in Windows 

*** Karl's notes = ***

*** Following From Gateway for ***Karl's*** 10/2001 printer problem ***
*** It turned out Bad printer circut on Mother Bd.= warranty ***

*** NOTE ! *** Never ! *** insert any PLUGs ! with PC tunered ON !! ***

====================

Run GoBack if available.

Verify that the parallel port is configured properly 
in the BIOS Setup Utility  ***[ See Bios section in End *** ].

Turn off the printer and then turn it back on to reset it.

Run a printer self test if one is available.

Check printer cables for bent or broken pins and 
that the cables are correctly connected.

Remove any printer extension cables, switch boxes, 
or any other optional equipment, and connect the printer 
directly to the computer.

Remove the LPT port(s) from the 
Device Manager 
by selecting them one at a time, and then click Remove. 
After they are removed, restart the computer.

Confirm that the printer cable is no longer than six feet 
and try another printer cable if one is available.

In Control Panel, double-click the Printers icon. 
Double-click the appropriate printer option. 
Click Printer, and then click Properties. 
In the printer's properties, verify that Work Offline 
is not selected and Set As Default is selected.

Create a text document in Notepad and try printing to 
verify that the problem exist in more than one application.

Verify that the correct port is selected on the Details 
tab located in the printer properties.

Try clearing the check from Check Port State Before 
Printing by going to the printer properties, select the Details tab, 
and then click Port Settings.

Try disabling Print Spooling in the printer properties 
by selecting the Details tab, click Print Spooling, 
and then click Print Direct to Printer.

Check the BIOS Setup Utility and compare to Device Manager 
for IRQ and address conflicts.

Remove all printers from the printer folder,and then run 
Scandisk and Defrag. Now reinstall the printer driver.

Disable all programs running in the background. 

Remove all newly added hardware and software. 

In Windows 98, run Backtrack, if applicable. 
If Backtrack does not resolve the issue, run System File 
Checker and Scanreg. 

Fdisk and reformat the computer. 
If you suspect a virus may be causing the problem, 
GWScan an IDE drive, or Low Level Format a SCSI drive, 
before Fdisk and format. 


The Faxable document number for this page is: 2182. 
More information on how to use the Faxable service 
is available through the Gateway Web site. 


	*** Final 2 Checks Printer is OK and Board is Bad ***

1.***	Test Printer is ok on another PC or use a Known Good Printer !
2.***	delete all printers in My Computer Printers folder.
2a.***	Now add-a-printer [ no frills and something Should Happen!]
	= Select = Generic / [Generic / text only ]
2b.***	Test out on Your printer = nothing? = 
	It's probably Your parellel Bd usually mother Bd. is Bad
	"hope You still have a PC warranty.


	*** AAAAaaae !!! ***


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	*** How to check Bios settings for a printer ***

On your screen, locate and click the Start button.
From the Start menu, click Shut Down. 

In the Shut Down Windows dialog box, 
click Restart or Restart the computer, and then click OK or Yes.
 
To enter the BIOS Setup Utility, 
press the F1 
or F2 key on portable computers while the computer is starting up. 


	In the BIOS Setup Utility, 


use the RIGHT ARROW key to locate the page containing the 
peripheral configuration information. 

Using the DOWN ARROW key, select Peripherals, 
which may be I/O Device Configuration in some 
BIOS Setup Utilities, and press the ENTER key. 

Using the DOWN ARROW key, select Parallel Port Mode, 

and then press ENTER. 
Using the UP or DOWN ARROW key, 
select the desired setting. 
Acceptable settings are AT, 
Standard, Bi-directional, 
EPP, SPP, PS/2 or Fast mode. 

EPP 1.9 is generally the best possible setting if it is available.

Under the Peripheral Configuration, in the BIOS Setup Utility, 
the Parallel Port Address should be set to LPT1 378 IRQ7, 
and the Parallel Port Mode should be 
set to either Normal or Bi-directional.

Verify that the COM port or parallel port is enabled 
in the BIOS Setup Utility.

Change the parallel port mode 
in the BIOS Setup Utility

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