port problems?

After months of printing problems - new cables, drivers
etc, I finally worked out that I needed a new printer
port. So installed it and everything worked fine....until
I moved house. Now after reconnecting the computer, I am
getting the same error messages I was getting previously
despite the newly installed printer port.

The error messages I get a
1st...cartridge detection warning...(no problem)
2nd...error writing to LPT2 for canon BJC4400. Printer
not ready - make sure its turned on and online...to
continue click retry.

This is what happened previously, only it was
saying "error writing to LPT1". After installing the new
printer port, I installed the printer & driver to connect
to LPT2. Should I have deleted LPT1 altogether? Would it
be best to physically remove/uninstall the LPT2 port and
start again?

Would appreciate any advice/suggestions thanks.

HOW TO: Troubleshoot Printing Problems in Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows
Millennium Edition
http://support.microsoft.com/default...45&Product=w98

The driver on the Canon site is old, but you could check to make sure your driver is
3.97, there are manuals here too.
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/con...m odelid=6747


This from Canon
I receive the error message "Error writing to LPT1" and the printer won't print.
Problem Description

Error writing to LPT1

Solution

If you receive an error writing to LPT1, try the following:

1.. Reboot your computer and reset the printer.
You can reset the printer by unplugging the printer for 30 seconds while it is
still powered on, then plug the unit back into the power source and press the POWER
button. Make sure there are no error lights or beeps.

2.. Make sure the printer is connected directly to the back of the computer and not
going through another device such as a scanner, tape drive or an external switch box.

3.. Make sure to disable any other programs that may be attempting to access the
parallel port, such as parallel port scanners, tape backup drives, or other printers.

4.. Check the status of the printer port by doing the following:

1.. Right click the My Computer icon and click Properties.

2.. Click the Device Manager tab.

3.. Double-click Ports (COM & LPT).

4.. Double click Canon BJ ECP Printer Port or Canon BJ Printer Port (Note:
drivers for older models may just state the port as: Printer Port or ECP printer
port). The device status should read "This device is working properly". If it does
not, please contact your computer manufacturer.

5.. Test the connection to the computer by printing from DOS. To perform this test,
follow these steps:

1.. Click the Windows Start button.

2.. Click Shutdown.

3.. Select Restart in MS-DOS mode and click OK.

4.. Click Yes to confirm you wish to restart.

5.. From the C:/Windows prompt, type CD.

6.. Press the ENTER key on your keyboard.

7.. Type DIR PRN and then press the ENTER key.

8.. Note how the printer reacts/responds. You may stop the test at any time by
turning the printer off.

9.. To return to windows type EXIT and press the ENTER key.

If nothing happens or you receive an error, the issue is with the physical
connection between the printer and the computer. The problem would involve either
the printer cable, the port on the computer or the port on the printer.

6.. Reconnect or replace the printer cable. Make sure the parallel cable is
securely fastened to the computer and printer. Also, make sure you are using an IEEE
1284-compliant parallel interface cable no longer than 6 feet in length.

7.. If the printer prints from DOS, uninstall and reinstall the printer driver.


--
Mary Sauer MS MVP
http://office.microsoft.com/
http://www.mvps.org/msauer/
news://msnews.microsoft.com
"solo_senorita" wrote in message
...
After months of printing problems - new cables, drivers
etc, I finally worked out that I needed a new printer
port. So installed it and everything worked fine....until
I moved house. Now after reconnecting the computer, I am
getting the same error messages I was getting previously
despite the newly installed printer port.

The error messages I get a
1st...cartridge detection warning...(no problem)
2nd...error writing to LPT2 for canon BJC4400. Printer
not ready - make sure its turned on and online...to
continue click retry.

This is what happened previously, only it was
saying "error writing to LPT1". After installing the new
printer port, I installed the printer & driver to connect
to LPT2. Should I have deleted LPT1 altogether? Would it
be best to physically remove/uninstall the LPT2 port and
start again?

Would appreciate any advice/suggestions thanks.

Check the procedure used to set the mode of the installed port - the printer
requires a bidirectional mode. For your motherboard port this will be a
setting in the BIOS setup, but for the installed port it will be a different
procedure, presumably a setting in the port's properties in device manager,
or perhaps a separate utility that was part of the software supplied with
the port.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (DTS)
"solo_senorita" wrote in message
...
After months of printing problems - new cables, drivers
etc, I finally worked out that I needed a new printer
port. So installed it and everything worked fine....until
I moved house. Now after reconnecting the computer, I am
getting the same error messages I was getting previously
despite the newly installed printer port.

The error messages I get a
1st...cartridge detection warning...(no problem)
2nd...error writing to LPT2 for canon BJC4400. Printer
not ready - make sure its turned on and online...to
continue click retry.

This is what happened previously, only it was
saying "error writing to LPT1". After installing the new
printer port, I installed the printer & driver to connect
to LPT2. Should I have deleted LPT1 altogether? Would it
be best to physically remove/uninstall the LPT2 port and
start again?

Would appreciate any advice/suggestions thanks.

Geoff and Mary,
Many thanks for your quick reply...will take some time to
go thru your suggestions - they're quite challenging for
me. Yes, have the latest printer drivers.

Am still puzzled that all was working fine until I
disasembled/reasembled the system when moving.

The new card (PCI 1P EPP Printer Card) is listed in BIOS
setup as EPP enabled, and was a plug n play model. Can't
remeber having a CDRom for it, but booklet instructions
were followed to a T.

In device manager, LPT1 still listed as being a "printer
port", and my new printer card "Netmos PCI Parallel Port"
listed as LPT2 (which I had directed printer to). There
are no conflicts showing.

Printer is connected directly to tower - have unhooked
scanner. Also have correct cables.

Will get back to you in a few days, and thanks again for
your help with this.
Regards


-----Original Message-----
HOW TO: Troubleshoot Printing Problems in Windows 95,
Windows 98, and Windows
Millennium Edition
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-
us;128345&Product=w98

The driver on the Canon site is old, but you could check
to make sure your driver is
3.97, there are manuals here too.
http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?
act=DownloadDetailAct&fcategoryid=329&modelid=6747


This from Canon
I receive the error message "Error writing to LPT1" and
the printer won't print.
Problem Description

Error writing to LPT1

Solution

If you receive an error writing to LPT1, try the
following:

1.. Reboot your computer and reset the printer.
You can reset the printer by unplugging the printer for
30 seconds while it is
still powered on, then plug the unit back into the power
source and press the POWER
button. Make sure there are no error lights or beeps.

2.. Make sure the printer is connected directly to the
back of the computer and not
going through another device such as a scanner, tape
drive or an external switch box.

3.. Make sure to disable any other programs that may be
attempting to access the
parallel port, such as parallel port scanners, tape
backup drives, or other printers.

4.. Check the status of the printer port by doing the
following:

1.. Right click the My Computer icon and click
Properties.

2.. Click the Device Manager tab.

3.. Double-click Ports (COM & LPT).

4.. Double click Canon BJ ECP Printer Port or Canon
BJ Printer Port (Note:
drivers for older models may just state the port as:
Printer Port or ECP printer
port). The device status should read "This device is
working properly". If it does
not, please contact your computer manufacturer.

5.. Test the connection to the computer by printing
from DOS. To perform this test,
follow these steps:

1.. Click the Windows Start button.

2.. Click Shutdown.

3.. Select Restart in MS-DOS mode and click OK.

4.. Click Yes to confirm you wish to restart.

5.. From the C:/Windows prompt, type CD.

6.. Press the ENTER key on your keyboard.

7.. Type DIR PRN and then press the ENTER key.

8.. Note how the printer reacts/responds. You may
stop the test at any time by
turning the printer off.

9.. To return to windows type EXIT and press the
ENTER key.

If nothing happens or you receive an error, the issue
is with the physical
connection between the printer and the computer. The
problem would involve either
the printer cable, the port on the computer or the port
on the printer.

6.. Reconnect or replace the printer cable. Make sure
the parallel cable is
securely fastened to the computer and printer. Also, make
sure you are using an IEEE
1284-compliant parallel interface cable no longer than 6
feet in length.

7.. If the printer prints from DOS, uninstall and
reinstall the printer driver.


--
Mary Sauer MS MVP
http://office.microsoft.com/
http://www.mvps.org/msauer/
news://msnews.microsoft.com
"solo_senorita"
wrote in message
...
After months of printing problems - new cables, drivers
etc, I finally worked out that I needed a new printer
port. So installed it and everything worked
fine....until
I moved house. Now after reconnecting the computer, I
am
getting the same error messages I was getting previously
despite the newly installed printer port.

The error messages I get a
1st...cartridge detection warning...(no problem)
2nd...error writing to LPT2 for canon BJC4400. Printer
not ready - make sure its turned on and online...to
continue click retry.

This is what happened previously, only it was
saying "error writing to LPT1". After installing the
new
printer port, I installed the printer & driver to
connect
to LPT2. Should I have deleted LPT1 altogether? Would
it
be best to physically remove/uninstall the LPT2 port and
start again?

Would appreciate any advice/suggestions thanks.


.