Having Printer Problems?

Have you checked the following: (assuming you are using Win95/98)
    1. Look in the Device Mangaer (right click on My Computer, select properties, then the device Mangaer Tab, look under ports) to see if your parallel port exists and doesn't have a red x or a yellow exclamation point next to the LPT port. If there is not a port at all, this is your problem.
    2. Make sure that your cable is firmly connected at both ends. Also, open the computer and make sure that the ribbon cable for the printer port is firmly plugged into the motherboard. (If this applies)
    3. Also, this port should be set to EPP, not ECP. My brother and I both have a Canon BJ printer and ECP doesn't work right, EPP does. (I know this sounds odd, but never pay someone for technical support. The big companies have many solutions but often misdiagnose the problem.)
    4. Try deleting all your printer icons from your printers folder, then reboot your computer, if you are getting good communication, Win95/98 will automatically detect your printer and install the driver. If not, click on add printer and give it the correct driver from the driver disk.
    5. Also, those annoying ink cartridge messages can be suppressed by opening you printers folder, then right click your printer icon, and select properties, then the setting tab, then click to disable Cartridge detection, then click apply. You will have to restart the program you are printing from before the changes will be recognized. The other way to supress the messages is in the same properties window, would be to click on the Graphics tab and change the color model setting to the type of cartridge you have (monochrome or color). The second suggestion (Graphics) is better because it corrects the problem of not using the correct model for cartridge. The first one just eliminates the warning.