Printer Time Out Settings

My printer icon in the Start - Control Panel - Printers folder, has two
property settings called

Timeout Settings - Not Selected (in seconds)
Timeout Settings - Transmission Retry (in seconds)

I haven't been able to find out what these setting mean. Also under what
circumstance should they be changed.

(As you can guess, I'm having irregular printer hang-ups that I suspect
could be due to the above settings.)

The timeout setting tells the printer/driver how long it should try to print
before returning an error condition to Windows. The retry setting tells the
printer/driver how long it should wait before it automatically tries to
reprint the job. Neither one should be causing problems if your printer is
working correctly.

Why not give us more details on exactly what problem you're having and when
it happens and let us try to help you fix it?

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Ray Pixley" wrote in message
...
My printer icon in the Start - Control Panel - Printers folder, has two
property settings called

Timeout Settings - Not Selected (in seconds)
Timeout Settings - Transmission Retry (in seconds)

I haven't been able to find out what these setting mean. Also under what
circumstance should they be changed.

(As you can guess, I'm having irregular printer hang-ups that I suspect
could be due to the above settings.)

Thank you for replying.

Occasionally (a few times a week) over the past few months, I or my family
sends a file to my printer. Sometimes the printer decides to print it, other
times it just stays in the print que. If I send more print jobs and there is
a print job "waiting" in the que, those other jobs don't go through.

I end up deleting all the print jobs in the cue, then cold reboot the
computer and the printer. Usually that works for a couple of hours, then it
stops printing again.

I've done the usual thing - download and install the latest driver from the
manufacturer, talked with a manufacturer techie (who sounded like he was
reading from a script), defrag the disk, keep windows up to date, update and
run virus scans, adware scans, registry mechanic, etc. All end up stating
there is nothing wrong with my computer.

Earlier today, I found the manufacturer had a printer diagnostic / trouble
shooting program for all the models they have ever sold. I downloaded it,
ran it, and it pronounced my system is in excellent working condition.
(Should I be surprised?) Yet, the gremlin is still there.

The only thing I can think of is that there may be some communication
miscues between the computer and the printer. Hence, my interest in the
timeout parameters. But I couldn't find information on exactly what these
parameters do or what behaviors they were meant to address. Hence, my
posting.

Any ideas what I can do to extracate this gremlin? Permanently?

Thanks

"Richard G. Harper" wrote:

The timeout setting tells the printer/driver how long it should try to print
before returning an error condition to Windows. The retry setting tells the
printer/driver how long it should wait before it automatically tries to
reprint the job. Neither one should be causing problems if your printer is
working correctly.

Why not give us more details on exactly what problem you're having and when
it happens and let us try to help you fix it?

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Ray Pixley" wrote in message
...
My printer icon in the Start - Control Panel - Printers folder, has two
property settings called

Timeout Settings - Not Selected (in seconds)
Timeout Settings - Transmission Retry (in seconds)

I haven't been able to find out what these setting mean. Also under what
circumstance should they be changed.

(As you can guess, I'm having irregular printer hang-ups that I suspect
could be due to the above settings.)

The first thing I'd try would be a new cable between the computer and
printer to see if there's a short or open in the cable causing the problem.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Ray Pixley" wrote in message
...
Thank you for replying.

Occasionally (a few times a week) over the past few months, I or my family
sends a file to my printer. Sometimes the printer decides to print it,
other
times it just stays in the print que. If I send more print jobs and there
is
a print job "waiting" in the que, those other jobs don't go through.

I end up deleting all the print jobs in the cue, then cold reboot the
computer and the printer. Usually that works for a couple of hours, then
it
stops printing again.

I've done the usual thing - download and install the latest driver from
the
manufacturer, talked with a manufacturer techie (who sounded like he was
reading from a script), defrag the disk, keep windows up to date, update
and
run virus scans, adware scans, registry mechanic, etc. All end up stating
there is nothing wrong with my computer.

Earlier today, I found the manufacturer had a printer diagnostic / trouble
shooting program for all the models they have ever sold. I downloaded it,
ran it, and it pronounced my system is in excellent working condition.
(Should I be surprised?) Yet, the gremlin is still there.

The only thing I can think of is that there may be some communication
miscues between the computer and the printer. Hence, my interest in the
timeout parameters. But I couldn't find information on exactly what these
parameters do or what behaviors they were meant to address. Hence, my
posting.

Any ideas what I can do to extracate this gremlin? Permanently?

Thanks

"Richard G. Harper" wrote:

The timeout setting tells the printer/driver how long it should try to
print
before returning an error condition to Windows. The retry setting tells
the
printer/driver how long it should wait before it automatically tries to
reprint the job. Neither one should be causing problems if your printer
is
working correctly.

Why not give us more details on exactly what problem you're having and
when
it happens and let us try to help you fix it?

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Shell/User]
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* My website, such as it is ... http://rgharper.mvps.org/
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Ray Pixley" wrote in message
...
My printer icon in the Start - Control Panel - Printers folder, has two
property settings called

Timeout Settings - Not Selected (in seconds)
Timeout Settings - Transmission Retry (in seconds)

I haven't been able to find out what these setting mean. Also under
what
circumstance should they be changed.

(As you can guess, I'm having irregular printer hang-ups that I suspect
could be due to the above settings.)

"Ray Pixley" wrote in message =
...
Thank you for replying.
=20
Occasionally (a few times a week) over the past few months, I or my =
family=20
sends a file to my printer. Sometimes the printer decides to print =
it, other=20
times it just stays in the print que. If I send more print jobs and =
there is=20
a print job "waiting" in the que, those other jobs don't go through.

Is this a networked printer or simply a printer connected to a computer =
the entire family uses?
Are the print jobs spooled?
Are the print jobs set to "Start printing imediately"?
Do you get any error messages?
=20
talked with a manufacturer techie (who sounded like he was=20
reading from a script),

99% of them are going by the step x step company fix-it manual and most =
likely they're not even in the US. Most tech support is outsourced these =
days.

--=20

Brian A.

Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Is this a networked printer or simply a printer connected to a computer
the entire family uses?

It is a printer connected to a computer, however the computer is connected
to a home network which has one other computer connetde to it via a netgear
box. (The netgear box is connected to a DSL modem, which is connected to an
internet provider, etc. For what its worth, the netgear box also has a built
in firewall.)

Are the print jobs spooled?
Are the print jobs set to "Start printing imediately"?

Yes to both. Print jobs are spooled both from the computer attached to the
printer, and from the computer attached via the netgear box. The settings
checked a

"Spool print jobs so program finished printing faster", and

"Start printing after first page is spooled".

FWIW, the "Start printing after last page is spooled" setting is unchecked
and the Spool Data format is "RAW" (The other format choice is "EMF".)

BTW, I have a couple gigs of space available for spooling and the typical
print job uses at most only 1 or 2 Megs, so disk space should not be an issue.

Do you get any error messages?

On rare occasions a message flashes on the screen, and the most I could read
before it disappeared is that some time out setting had to be adjusted. Most
of the time, nothing happens, and the print job stays in the spool.

talked with a manufacturer techie (who sounded like he was
reading from a script),

99% of them are going by the step x step company fix-it manual and most likely they're not even in the US. Most tech support is outsourced these days.

I know and am not surprised. Not that they are not in the U.S, but that
they have such a poor grasp of the product they are supporting that all they
can (and for legal reasons may only be allowed to) do is read from a script.
Unfortunately, U. S. based techies tend to practice the same way, so
whereever the support techies are located is irrelevant.

Another poster suggested changing the cable between the computer and the
printer. That's already been done. No joy there either.

"Ray Pixley" wrote in message =
...
Are the print jobs spooled?
Are the print jobs set to "Start printing imediately"?
=20
Yes to both. Print jobs are spooled both from the computer attached =
to the=20
printer, and from the computer attached via the netgear box. The =
settings=20
checked a
"Spool print jobs so program finished printing faster", and=20
"Start printing after first page is spooled".

Try unchecking "Start printing after first page is spooled" and =
checking "Start printing immediately".

FWIW, the "Start printing after last page is spooled" setting is =
unchecked=20

In the above statement you mentioned it was checked.

and the Spool Data format is "RAW" (The other format choice is "EMF".)
BTW, I have a couple gigs of space available for spooling and the =
typical=20
print job uses at most only 1 or 2 Megs, so disk space should not be =
an issue.
Do you get any error messages?
=20
On rare occasions a message flashes on the screen, and the most I =
could read=20
before it disappeared is that some time out setting had to be =
adjusted. Most=20
of the time, nothing happens, and the print job stays in the spool.

Check the manufacturers support site to see if they have any info on =
timeout settings for your printer. Although it may not be an issue, see =
if any of the articles listed below help.

I know and am not surprised. Not that they are not in the U.S, but =
that=20
they have such a poor grasp of the product they are supporting that =
all they=20
can (and for legal reasons may only be allowed to) do is read from a =
script.=20
Unfortunately, U. S. based techies tend to practice the same way, so=20
whereever the support techies are located is irrelevant.

No it doesn't matter where they're at, yet try to find them in the US, =
very very rare.


HOW TO: Troubleshoot Printing Problems in Windows 95, Windows 98, and =
Windows Millennium Edition
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;128345



How to Troubleshoot Spool32 Error Messages
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;191949

Err Msg: Spool32 Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module WNPP32.DLL...
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;143394

Error Message When Printing Multiple Fonts in the Fonts Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;208252

Err Msg: SPOOL32 Caused a General Protection Fault in Module...
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;190825

Error Message: Spool32 Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module =
Lxacpprt.dll
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;306619

Various Error Messages Caused By MTX or Matrix Virus
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;242191

Error Messages if Wsock32.dll File Is Damaged or Missing
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;298436

The Ultimate Windows Spool32 FAQ
http://www.starkreality.com/~callen/spool32.htm

--=20

Brian A.

Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Try unchecking "Start printing after first page is spooled" and checking "Start printing immediately".

Unfortunately, there is no "Start printing immediately" option to check, or
even dimmed out or otherwise. Also, the checked "Spool print jobs so program
finished printing faster" won't uncheck, which make me wonder why a check
option was put there to begin with.

FWIW, the "Start printing after last page is spooled" setting is unchecked
In the above statement you mentioned it was checked.

Uh, there is a difference. One uses the adjective "first", the other the
adjective "last". I'll try the "last" setting for a while as it is worth a
try.

Check the manufacturers support site to see if they have any info on timeout settings for your printer.

Been there. Done that. It's user hostile and a waste of my time. (Sorry to
be so crass.)

Although it may not be an issue, see if any of the articles listed below help.

I'll take a look. Maybe I missed something when I looked at a few of the
earlier.

HOW TO: Troubleshoot Printing Problems in Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Millennium Edition
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;128345

How to Troubleshoot Spool32 Error Messages
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;191949

Err Msg: Spool32 Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module WNPP32.DLL...
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;143394

Error Message When Printing Multiple Fonts in the Fonts Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;208252

Err Msg: SPOOL32 Caused a General Protection Fault in Module...
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;190825

Error Message: Spool32 Caused an Invalid Page Fault in Module Lxacpprt.dll
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;306619

Various Error Messages Caused By MTX or Matrix Virus
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;242191

Error Messages if Wsock32.dll File Is Damaged or Missing
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;298436

The Ultimate Windows Spool32 FAQ
http://www.starkreality.com/~callen/spool32.htm

"Ray Pixley" wrote in message =
...
FWIW, the "Start printing after last page is spooled" setting is =
unchecked=20
In the above statement you mentioned it was checked.
=20
Uh, there is a difference. One uses the adjective "first", the other =
the=20
adjective "last". I'll try the "last" setting for a while as it is =
worth a=20
try.

Thanks for pointing that out, I missed it completely.



--=20

Brian A.

Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm