Printer Issue?

No_Style · Jan 17, 2005, 10:42 PM

Ok here's a problem that I was working on and off amongst other things while I was at my co-op workplace.

A user was reporting issues with her printer after another service person installed a "Smart Label Printer". The issue was that on the top of every page, there would be garbage ASCII characters displayed.

Specifications:

P4 1.4 GHz
256 RDRAM
Win2K
HP LaserJet 2100
HP LaserJet 4100

So these are the things I tried to do to fix it.

- Tried various different drivers from PCL5e, PCL6, Default and PS drivers with no luck.
- Removed the Smart Label Printer Software.
- Things to consider checking from the HP Support Site
- Replaced the LaserJet 2100 with a new LaserJet 4100 and the problem was still there.
- Re-imaged a brand new PC and replaced hers with the new one
- Replaced parallel cable
- Replaced Power Bar
- Brought the printer down to a known working source and tested and it worked.
- Installed latest chipset drivers
- Considered environmental strong interference and thus moved the user's PC and printer down to the service area to "avoid" environmental interference.

About half way down my own troubleshooting process, I asked for help from another fellow employee and he offered some of the solutions above. We did resolve the issue, but it was just by luck and we overlooked it completely at first. Let's see if any of the guys here at DH can get it on the first try

Answer will be revealed later this week!

Vampyromaniac · Jan 18, 2005, 04:01 AM

I dunno . . . a faulty parallel port?

Judas · Jan 18, 2005, 06:26 AM

try this, Fire the printer up, the load up windows. Now in windows, if the printer icon is in the bottom and it asks if you wish to complete a job that was started but had been shutdown, click yes. The printer will start up and start printing crap out again. Don't touch the printer, just use one peice of papper over and over again, while you delete the printing quere. Next, see if you have a Purge options, if not, while keeping windows running, hold the power button on the printer (usually most printers have a forced restart of some sort, hold it a good 30 seconds).... let it sit, and unplug it completely (computer and power) and let it sit for a good minute. Remove all drivers and everything related to that printer on the computer, restart, make sure, restart again. Plug everything in, and don't install anything, don't even go through the windows installation. Now there should be a onboard printer test button, it may be tied into the power button, maybe not, look at you printer manual there. Run of 2 or 3, then go through the installation like normal.

md5 · Jan 18, 2005, 10:45 AM

He could just wipe the queue.... why waste ink on garbage pages?

Callandor · Jan 18, 2005, 11:43 AM

Uh uh, it's a driver related issue. If a printer isn't using the correct driver, the rig won't be able to send the right info to it, for that model of printer, and then it'll end up printing ASCII characters or "garbage" as it is commonly called as it won't be able to decipher and process the signals sent to it.

We learned about this stuff in A+ guys, don't any of you remember? I think this is why No_Style and his collegue over-looked this - it's too simple a solution for most people to think of.

Judas · Jan 18, 2005, 08:27 PM

erm, i've had the correct drivers install on many printers that have done this, usually it's caused by pulling the plug or shutting of the printer while it's quering up or printing a job. Lots of experience with this at school as plenty of students would screw up the printers this way just to waist time and play games waiting for the teachers to pull the hair out over it... Course, everyone would get mad at me when i fix the problem quickly.

swimtech · Jan 18, 2005, 10:38 PM

Notice though guys that the drivers were the first thing he tried - even subbed out the entire computer with a new one!

Too long a cable length altogether?

No_Style · Jan 18, 2005, 11:50 PM

You guys aren't even close... Well Judas brushed over a lead that could have eventually lead to the solution, but so far nobody has got it yet.

And Sun_Walka is right. It's something we completely overlooked. Let the troubleshooting continue! Tell me when you give up

Judas · Jan 19, 2005, 12:20 AM

could be as simple a a loose cable, or even a bent pin

Perhaps a specific spooling setting?

frankly i haven't a clue what it could be enless i was fooling with it right now...

Callandor · Jan 19, 2005, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sun_walka

Uh uh, it's a driver related issue. If a printer isn't using the correct driver, the rig won't be able to send the right info to it, for that model of printer, and then it'll end up printing ASCII characters or "garbage" as it is commonly called as it won't be able to decipher and process the signals sent to it.

We learned about this stuff in A+ guys, don't any of you remember? I think this is why No_Style and his collegue over-looked this - it's too simple a solution for most people to think of.

Um, sorry, I kinda missed the fact he'd tried different drivers.

Ok, then the female port on the rig was bust, right?

swimtech · Jan 19, 2005, 03:40 PM

Yeah, like Judas, my next guess would be maybe Spool Data format settings? (Raw, EMF, etc...). Might have been changed by the Smart Label Printer software - gotta think back to that being the point where the problem happened. The software can be removed but the system settings stick...

Edit: Logically, throw the printer out of the trouble loop - it checked good on another machine. Also, throw the computer (hardware only) out of the loop too - it was swapped out. What does that leave?

PangingJr · Jan 19, 2005, 04:32 PM

try changing the symbol set that the printer uses.

goku21 · Jan 20, 2005, 12:44 AM

I know I know!!! But he told me so I can't say =)

No_Style · Jan 20, 2005, 03:30 AM

Yeah, I checked out those spooler settings and left them at default since that's the most compatible. Answer will come tomorrow.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jan 20, 2005, 05:12 AM

well the 1st place i'd myself look for any port /cable damage then
go is the bios and check what the printer port mode is set to / try others

try replaceing the printer cable with a known good one,,,

in windows check the device manager check how the LPT looks
remove and reinstall the printer drivers, test print

check for any updates to thier program, test print...
if all else fails a loop back test on the printer port....

Judas · Jan 20, 2005, 05:43 AM

lol.... thought came to me while trying to get my new sempron CPU to work in the bios, ECP, EPP, Bi Directional.... some of those settings, including IRQ or conflict of sorts.... Perhaps a Lagacy mode switch or port speeditself..

swimtech · Jan 20, 2005, 01:34 PM

It's tomorrow!

Are we even close? Gotta be a setting somewhere - the hardware is good (right?).

goku21 · Jan 20, 2005, 03:12 PM

*laughs* This amuses me. Something like this came across at my job a few months back and what he checked last was what I checked first.

Just didn't think it would happen to Mr. No Style =)

swimtech · Jan 20, 2005, 05:04 PM

We will probably laugh and point at one another after the solution is revealed...

goku21 · Jan 20, 2005, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swimtech

We will probably laugh and point at one another after the solution is revealed...

Yes, you all will =)

Judas · Jan 20, 2005, 09:02 PM

the thing is, i'd probably have checked it if i was working on it. Frankly, it's hard to diagnose something that's been solved with very little to work, not to mention, having to worry about it at all

it won't make me laugh reguardless of the solution. If i knew about it, i'm nutral, if i didn't, well i'll stash in my head somewhere as another problem to solution method...

swimtech · Jan 20, 2005, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Judas

...If i knew about it, i'm nutral, if i didn't, well i'll stash in my head somewhere as another problem to solution method...

Amen...

It's always good to have the quick and simple solutions at the ready - and appreciate in advance No_Style making this one available.

No_Style · Jan 20, 2005, 10:52 PM

Well, everybody here is very tech savvy and it's very obvious that we're all capable of sorting out the "tougher" things with our wealth of knowledge, but sometimes we should all think back to our noob days and check what we knew how to check.

Keeping in mind that the printers being fixed is not a desktop printer, but one of those smaller LaserJet printers.

From my journal:

Quote:

The solution for the printer issue was to use new paper. Apparently, every single page of paper used had garbage already printed on and the user did not notice it. We completely overlooked the printer tray and didn't even bother to check it. Self Ownage. Funny thing is, that nobody would have checked the paper as well. I posted it at DH and they're all over the place with possible solutions.

Of course it had to be the last place we checked after my colleague and I exhausted all our "expert" solutions.

This kind of issue would have been easily recognized if it was your standard Desktop printer, but with the paper facing down and everything, nobody checked the paper.

P.S - Mr. Goku, I mentioned this printer issue in a previous entry yet you replied with the printer being garbage.

And how do you like the lady on the avatar?

SEXY! (A better quality of the avatar will arrive sooner or later)

swimtech · Jan 20, 2005, 10:57 PM

Ha! Knock on wood, I say, wailing upon my very own noggin!

No_Style · Jan 20, 2005, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swimtech

wailing upon my very own noggin!

My mind did a complete shutdown when I saw that paper.. LOL Good experience though!

swimtech · Jan 20, 2005, 11:07 PM

Awesome thread sir - with a great surprise ending. Sure pays to keep us all humble...

goku21 · Jan 21, 2005, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by No_Style

P.S - Mr. Goku, I mentioned this printer issue in a previous entry yet you replied with the printer being garbage.

And how do you like the lady on the avatar?

SEXY! (A better quality of the avatar will arrive sooner or later)

Yes you did, but I would've figured you would have taken the paper out when working on the printer and would have noticed it and thus I didn't believe that it would be such an issue. Besides, you should've known better =)

And yes, the lady is t3h hawtn3$$

No_Style · Jan 21, 2005, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goku21

Yes you did, but I would've figured you would have taken the paper out when working on the printer and would have noticed it and thus I didn't believe that it would be such an issue. Besides, you should've known better =)

And yes, the lady is t3h hawtn3$$

Keyword was "figured". I didn't think to remove the paper because there was no paper jam of sorts and it was printing fine the very first time I installed the printer for the user.. Oh well.. tis all over and now.

Judas · Jan 21, 2005, 02:37 AM

Quote:

just use one peice of papper over and over again

erm.. ..cough..... i would have to say VERY much on the bleeding edge of the solution..... if i EVER have a printer start screwing up, i always grab ONE clean sheet of paper to diagnose on....

PangingJr · Jan 21, 2005, 03:59 AM

all i'll see is if it's enough papers then keep looking at something else. lol.
i'd probably lost for sometime. lol.
how many papers was in the tray, all that's been used, how many printed test..
i believe Judas would have found it if he was there. give him a cookie or somethin'..

Jan 17, 2005, 10:42 PM	#1
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	Printer Issue? Ok here's a problem that I was working on and off amongst other things while I was at my co-op workplace. A user was reporting issues with her printer after another service person installed a "Smart Label Printer". The issue was that on the top of every page, there would be garbage ASCII characters displayed. Specifications: P4 1.4 GHz 256 RDRAM Win2K HP LaserJet 2100 HP LaserJet 4100 So these are the things I tried to do to fix it. - Tried various different drivers from PCL5e, PCL6, Default and PS drivers with no luck. - Removed the Smart Label Printer Software. - Things to consider checking from the HP Support Site - Replaced the LaserJet 2100 with a new LaserJet 4100 and the problem was still there. - Re-imaged a brand new PC and replaced hers with the new one - Replaced parallel cable - Replaced Power Bar - Brought the printer down to a known working source and tested and it worked. - Installed latest chipset drivers - Considered environmental strong interference and thus moved the user's PC and printer down to the service area to "avoid" environmental interference. About half way down my own troubleshooting process, I asked for help from another fellow employee and he offered some of the solutions above. We did resolve the issue, but it was just by luck and we overlooked it completely at first. Let's see if any of the guys here at DH can get it on the first try Answer will be revealed later this week! __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here

Jan 18, 2005, 04:01 AM	#2
Vampyromaniac confutatis maledictis Join Date: May 2002 Location: somewhere dark Posts: 5,974 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	I dunno . . . a faulty parallel port? __________________ *Digitalis 3.3* Athlon 64 3000 // ASUS K8V SE Deluxe // 1024MB PC3200 (2-2-2-10 1T) ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro // 20" Dell 2005FPW (DVI) M-Audio Revo 7.1 + Philips Acoustic Edge // Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 320/16 Western Digital WD3200KS + 120/8 Seagate 7200.7 NEC ND-3550A 16x DVD±RW + Lite-On 52x24x CD-RW Antec Sonata case // 480W Antec TruePower personal bests \|\| Aq'3: 46796 \| 3D'01: 20461 \| 3D'03: 6336 \| 3D'05: 2677 \| PC'04: 4605 \| PC'02: 7691,9092,1250

Jan 18, 2005, 11:43 AM	#5
Callandor Forged on Dragonmount Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 7,237 Rep Power: 304 System Specs	Uh uh, it's a driver related issue. If a printer isn't using the correct driver, the rig won't be able to send the right info to it, for that model of printer, and then it'll end up printing ASCII characters or "garbage" as it is commonly called as it won't be able to decipher and process the signals sent to it. We learned about this stuff in A+ guys, don't any of you remember? I think this is why No_Style and his collegue over-looked this - it's too simple a solution for most people to think of. __________________

Jan 18, 2005, 10:38 PM	#7
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Notice though guys that the drivers were the first thing he tried - even subbed out the entire computer with a new one! Too long a cable length altogether? __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Jan 18, 2005, 11:50 PM	Thread Starter #8
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	You guys aren't even close... Well Judas brushed over a lead that could have eventually lead to the solution, but so far nobody has got it yet. And Sun_Walka is right. It's something we completely overlooked. Let the troubleshooting continue! Tell me when you give up __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here

Jan 18, 2005, 10:45 AM	#4
md5 DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Inside DriverHeaven Posts: 856 Rep Power: 0	He could just wipe the queue.... why waste ink on garbage pages?

Jan 19, 2005, 03:40 PM	#11
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Yeah, like Judas, my next guess would be maybe Spool Data format settings? (Raw, EMF, etc...). Might have been changed by the Smart Label Printer software - gotta think back to that being the point where the problem happened. The software can be removed but the system settings stick... Edit: Logically, throw the printer out of the trouble loop - it checked good on another machine. Also, throw the computer (hardware only) out of the loop too - it was swapped out. What does that leave? __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it. Last edited by swimtech; Jan 19, 2005 at 05:09 PM. Reason: Logically...

Jan 19, 2005, 04:32 PM	#12
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	try changing the symbol set that the printer uses.

Jan 20, 2005, 12:44 AM	#13
goku21 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 152 Rep Power: 0	I know I know!!! But he told me so I can't say =)

Jan 20, 2005, 03:30 AM	Thread Starter #14
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	Yeah, I checked out those spooler settings and left them at default since that's the most compatible. Answer will come tomorrow. __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here

Jan 20, 2005, 05:12 AM	#15
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 92 System Specs	well the 1st place i'd myself look for any port /cable damage then go is the bios and check what the printer port mode is set to / try others try replaceing the printer cable with a known good one,,, in windows check the device manager check how the LPT looks remove and reinstall the printer drivers, test print check for any updates to thier program, test print... if all else fails a loop back test on the printer port.... __________________

Jan 20, 2005, 01:34 PM	#17
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	It's tomorrow! Are we even close? Gotta be a setting somewhere - the hardware is good (right?). __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Jan 20, 2005, 03:12 PM	#18
goku21 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 152 Rep Power: 0	laughs This amuses me. Something like this came across at my job a few months back and what he checked last was what I checked first. Just didn't think it would happen to Mr. No Style =)

Jan 20, 2005, 05:04 PM	#19
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	We will probably laugh and point at one another after the solution is revealed... __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Jan 20, 2005, 10:57 PM	#24
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Ha! Knock on wood, I say, wailing upon my very own noggin! __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Jan 20, 2005, 11:07 PM	#26
swimtech HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,040 Rep Power: 124 System Specs	Awesome thread sir - with a great surprise ending. Sure pays to keep us all humble... __________________ It's not so much getting your way that matters or not - what matters is how you go about getting it.

Jan 21, 2005, 03:59 AM	#30
PangingJr Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 5,989 Rep Power: 71	all i'll see is if it's enough papers then keep looking at something else. lol. i'd probably lost for sometime. lol. how many papers was in the tray, all that's been used, how many printed test.. i believe Judas would have found it if he was there. give him a cookie or somethin'..