Win 98 + USB printer problem
 

Could anyone shed any light on this please, we have a W98 machine that was working fine with a lexmark 816 USB printer - this morning it crashed while printing a biggish pdf and now :( nothing

several uninstalls & reinstalls still no further on, the drivers go in, but default to print to file as the install proggie cannot detect the printer. In the printer settings under port selection there is no USB port listed.

In device manager there is a USB host contoller, and a USB root hub, in the power setting of the root hub it is allocating 10mA for the lexmark printer - god knows what this means, but it seems to know its there.

have tried the latest printer drivers, also tried the printer on my w2kmachine - all ok, tried a samsung USB laser install on the 98 machine and get the same problems.

the usb ports are onboard AFAIK, and like I say, it was working this morning :mad:.

are there any generic USB drivers I can install?, or has anyone any ideas.

Also, I plugged in a usb card reader and W98 found it staright away, just needed the drivers, so the socket must work ???

any help much appreciated,

cheers,

mike.

win98, its been a long time.

ok, when you uninstall stuff, it sometimes leaves inf files around the place, so the next installs dont really complete 100% as they end up finding these files.

take a sniff around your windows folder for a hidden inf folder, do a search on that folder for files containing the words "lexmark" and or "printer" move any of those file to a safe location (ie the deskop) as you'll be putting them back if this doesnt do anything. remove the printer, reboot and try a fresh install.

like I said, its been a long time since I've used win98 so all this could be a blur into win2k and above and the inf folder might not have existed back then.

let us know how you get on.

j

The inf folder does exist in Win98 :)

bleh I knew it, heh, in that case ya screwwwwed ;)

Try this:

To start Windows in SAFE MODE:

Press the F8 or Ctrl key just before the Windows logo appears.
When the Start Up Menu appears, select SAFE MODE.
Windows will inform you that you are in SAFE MODE.
If you are using a USB mouse you may not have mouse support.
NOTE: If you remove the USB entries completely then it may create problems for the users who have both USB keyboard and mouse connected. Connect at least one PS2 device (mouse or keyboard) that will enable you to browse the device manager.

Removing USB Completely

If USB is sharing an IRQ with another device and you are attempting to free the IRQ, or you need to refresh the USB driver stack, you must remove ALL USB elements completely. Windows will refresh the USB driver stack when you reboot to Windows Standard mode. In Windows Standard Mode (when the computer has started normally, no Safe Mode)

Unplug all USB devices except keyboard and/or mouse.
Uninstall the software for the USB peripheral devices.
Shutdown and start Windows in Safe Mode - Device Manager
Restart Windows in Safe Mode - go to Control Panel - System Properties - Device Manager.
In the View Tab, select the Show Hidden Devices Option
The order of removal must be followed exactly:

Delete USB peripheral devices (Scanners, Printers, Cameras etc.)
Delete HID and/or Composite USB (Human Interface Devices)
Delete USB Root Hub(s) (Universal Host Controllers)
Delete USB Host Controller(s) (Universal Host Controllers)
Please note that you can browse in Safe Mode using the keyboard Tab, by pressing Alt, Crtl and Arrow keys. The Universal Serial Bus Controller and Human Interface Device headings should disappear completely from the Device Manager. Before starting Windows in Standard Mode:

Insert the Windows CD into the CDROM drive and browse to Look in ( For example D: / Win98, where D is the letter of the CDROM drive on your system), Win9X folder on the CDROM when/if prompted.
Unplug all the USB devices before starting Windows.
USB does NOT like to share it's IRQ with another device especially when the user is employing sophisticated USB peripherals. Even though Windows may report NO conflict, if USB is sharing its IRQ with another system peripheral, (i.e. video, sound, SCSI etc.), that is often the source of the problem. (IRQ Holder for PCI Steering is NOT considered another device)


Jules

:confused: Why's that - I said the inf folder does exist in Win98 :confused:

lol, saw one thing and read another, guess it runs in the family ;)

k mj, two things for your to try now :)

thanks fig

J

cheers peeps, I will give them a whirl and report backhttp://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/images/icons/icon14.gif

computer says no.


unplugged printer, booted to safe mode, moved all .if related files to my docs, removed all usb stuff as above.

when I rebooted again, windows found the usb and reinstalled itself.

plugged in the printer, nothing appeared to happen.

now, in the power properties of the usb root hub, there is 10mA allocated to a lexmark printer ??

installed the software for the printer, still no option in port settings for usb, installs ok though.

rebooted, go into printer properties, but it still cannot let me have a usb port to print to.



any other suggestions or ideas appreciated.

:)

mj,

do the ports exist any more? Are you able to add a port during the "add printer" wizard process? I really cant remember win98 that well to offer much help :(

try this to see if you can add a usb port:

Click Start / Settings / Control Panel
Double click the icon for Add New Hardware
Click Next / Next
Unless Windows 98 detects the Communication port click No / Next
Click No / Next
Click Ports (COM & LPT)
Select either Communication port for a serial or modem port or Printer port for printer port.
Click Next
Click Finish

other than this, im at a loose end, sorry

J

yep - tried this, problem is the only ports it will let me add are serial or comm, not USB.

my next step would be to remove the usb and print through the normal printer cable - unfortunately the printer don't have one :(

thanks anyway mate,

cheers,

mnike.

I've had this problem a few times with Lexmark printers and win98/Me. I seem to remember downloading the latest drivers from the lexmark web site on one occasion. When you plug the printer in after you re-install the drivers does it detect the printer (found new hardware, usb printer)? If it doesn't maybe your printers shot. Or try it on another pc if possible.
If it does detect new hardware make sure it's install correctly in device manager, (make sure there are no ! or ? next to usb device) if so you might need to install the drivers manually.

...sounds technical, how do I do this?


will I get to ride one of these ?


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