Dadgum All in one

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Ok computer gurus.
I had a Dell A920 AOI and a couple months ago it quick working.
Yea I know, but it came with the system.
I replaced it with a Lexmark 1200 AIO.
Worked fine.
3 days ago it quit.
In quiting, I mean no print out of any kind.
You can send something to it and it will act like it is printing and nothing comes out.
Ink levels were fine but I went ahead and changed the black one since that is what I use all the time anyway and it printed out 8 pages of tax forms.
Went to use it today and same thing, nothing.
Daughter brought over her new Dell 920 and I turned everything off and unplugged.
Set the new Dell up and turned everything back on and the machine found it and all but sent something to it to print and it went but came out blank also.
These are USB AIOs.
Something wrong with the USB port?
I switched ports with it and did the restart thing but same results, blank page comes out after going through the printing process.
Any ideas?

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Dadgum All in one

If the USB port was the problem it wouldn't be communicating with the printer at all. You can try to print a test page by going to the printer properties under the control panel, see what it does then. Are you hooking it straight to the computer or are you hooking it to a USB hub.

It might be

* the driver for the printer wasn't installed, or completely installed.
* printer settings (on the computer, sometimes setting will allow black only or color only settings)
* faulty printer
* (loose cartridge, (cartridge isn't seated in the cradle or snapped into place)
* Printer needs cleaning
* cartridge is misplaced, not sitting in the right cradle (Example Color is in the Black cartridge cradle)
* Another thing (don't know if this will cause your problem or not), if you installed a new black cartridge, some printer programs have a cartridge level alert page see if the black cartridge is showing full.
* Some printers have a setting to install new cartridge through the computer, which once the new cartridge is installed it will aline the printer head and go through its own calibration.
* Did you remove the plastic strip on the bottom of the new cartridge?
* Depending on what program you are trying to print from it may be printing the wrong page, click print preview (if you have the option) to see if the selection that you are wanting to print is in the preview.
* Have you tried to copy anything to see what it does then?

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dadgum All in one

If the USB port was the problem it wouldn't be communicating with the printer at all. You can try to print a test page<<<did that and print page was blank by going to the printer properties under the control panel, see what it does then. Are you hooking it straight to the computer or are you hooking it to a USB hub.<<<straight to usb port on puter

It might be

the driver for the printer wasn't installed, or completely installed.
printer settings (on the computer, sometimes setting will allow black only or color only settings)<<<have tried both ways
faulty printer<<<new and was working on other puter
loose cartridge, (cartridge isn't seated in the cradle)
Printer needs cleaning
cartridge is misplaced, not sitting in the right cradle (Example Color is in the Black cartridge cradle)
Another thing (don't know if this will cause your problem or not), if you installed a new black cartridge, some printer programs have a cartridge leve alert page see if the black cartridge is showing full.
Did you remove the plastic strip on the bottom of the new cartridge?
Depending on what program you are trying to print from it may be printing the wrong page, click print preview (if you have the option) to see if the selection that you are wanting to print is in the preview.
Have you tried to copy anything to see what it does then?

When I copy something, same thing.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Dadgum All in one

Did you try a new usb cable, just for the halibut

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Dadgum All in one

Well there are only a few other possibilities, unfortunately I may not of thought of all of them, but I'm still thinking.

There are lemons out there .

Maybe you are only supposed to use it on a certain day lol .

If you have a chance check the rest of the possibilities that I listed. I have a bad feeling about this one though.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dadgum All in one

Did you try a new usb cable, just for the halibut

Not yet but will.

 

[i386]

Re: Dadgum All in one

If I understand correctly...

He tried to copy something and that didn't work either. That takes the computer (and the usb ports) out of the equation.

It sounds like a problem with the printer itself. Read the docs and try to make it print a self-test page. You shouldn't have to have the computer connected at all to do this. If it will not, contact the manufacturer for tech/warranty support.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dadgum All in one

If I understand correctly...

He tried to copy something and that didn't work either. That takes the computer (and the usb ports) out of the equation.

It sounds like a problem with the printer itself. Read the docs and try to make it print a self-test page. You shouldn't have to have the computer connected at all to do this. If it will not, contact the manufacturer for tech/warranty support.

That is correct.
But 2 new printers doing the same thing?

 

[MikDee]

Re: Dadgum All in one

Thats what happens when you buy a USB cable at the 99cent store,,,
ask me how I know

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dadgum All in one

Thats what happens when you buy a USB cable at the 99cent store,,,
ask me how I know

Naa, just using the one that was hooked to the other computer.
I have a new one, just have not used it.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Dadgum All in one

Naa, just using the one that was hooked to the other computer.
I have a new one, just have not used it.

Sooo, you're saving it then Thats my problem, I save everything, a regular packrat just ask my wife she'll tell ya, and it won't be pretty,,,lol

 

[i386]

Re: Dadgum All in one

That is correct.
But 2 new printers doing the same thing?

Yea that IS strange. Substituting a part you're troubleshooting with a "known good" part is a good test. However this technique can sometimes lead you down the wrong path. I've solved many problems through the years like that but I've also been burned by it a few times too.

Through the controls on the printer itself, there should be a way to make it print a test page. Most printers have this feature and you should be able to do it with the printer not connected to the computer at all. This is a very useful troubleshooting feature as it takes your computer completely out of the equation. Tech support can't blame your computer/usb/cable/driver/operating system, etc... if this test fails.

This is usually the first test I perform once I take a look in the printers folder and rule out all the obvious stuff. I ask myself, "well, does the d___ printer even work?". That test answers that question and I can go from there. It's sort of like the fuel/fire/compression thing when troubleshooting an outboard engine.


If you can't get it to pass that test it's not a problem with your computer. It may be something you can figure out or it may be broken and require warranty support.

If it will print the test page then start with the cable and work your way backward.

I don't disagree with any of wildmanimal's suggestions. I would just start with the printer itself first.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dadgum All in one

i386, you can do 2 things when not hooked to the computer.
Make a black copy or a color copy.
I have tried both and nothing.
Used a new usb cable and nothing.
Changed usb ports and nothing.
Just prints blank pages.

 

[jimr]

Re: Dadgum All in one

I have a lexmark x5150 and it will print a page and you have to reset(turn it off and back on) if you want to print anything else. the only reason I keep it around is for the copier feature.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Dadgum All in one

I've reset, set, unplugged, plugged till I'm blue in the face.
Still blank pages.
I am going to uninstall and re install to see if that helps.
If not, I have a new CX7400 in the box I will hook up.

 

[muskyone]

Re: Dadgum All in one

my printer will not print if i'm on line dont know why dont care it just wont do it. just a idea for ya

 

[MikDee]

Re: Dadgum All in one

Them thar printers must be them new fangled "invisble ink" printers

Either that or it don't like your cheap paper, it wants Premium paper, ya know like premium fuel





Sorry SBN, I just thought maybe some levity here would lighten things up, you must be totally frustrated, I know I'd be!

Did you say it won't print anything you copy, without being attached to the computer?

 

[MikDee]

Re: Dadgum All in one

Ok, just a couple more suggestions, then I'm plum outta idea's,,,
First, does it print out a good test page, with it's self diagnostic mode?

Also, One thing wildmaninal mentioned, If you goto "print preview" does it show the page you want to print?

2yrs ago, I picked up a cheap AIO Lexmark (black friday special) that gives me fits if it considers the ink cartridges are not full to it's liking?

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Dadgum All in one

If you uninstalled and re-installed the driver and it's not fixed then the problem is most likely the print head. When you don't use your ink carts for a while, when you get new ink carts that have been stored in warehouses for a number of months, or when you have refilled a slightly too dry ink cart, the print head nozzles on the bottom of the ink carts get clogged inside with dried ink. The printer head cleaner menu will NOT dissolve the dried ink inside of the nozzles. Water will. Try this. Soak the bottom of the clogged ink cart in 1/2 inch of hot water for 15 minutes. Blot dry with clean paper towel. Also wipe the electrical contacts on the back of the ink cart. Retry.

 

[i386]

Re: Dadgum All in one

i386, you can do 2 things when not hooked to the computer.
Make a black copy or a color copy.
I have tried both and nothing.
Used a new usb cable and nothing.
Changed usb ports and nothing.
Just prints blank pages.

Barring some comical oversight error between the chair and keyboard, I think you may have a bad printer.

If you have:

Good cartridges
Properly installed cartridges
Removed the plastic strip from the cartridges
Not flipped any levers in there the wrong way
Paper
Power

It should at least copy (assuming the scanner function works). The self test page would be a better test since it doesn't rely on the aforementioned assumption but if it doesn't have that feature there's not much you can do.