Print from Win98SE

I chose this forum because I suspect Win98Se is the culprit. A few days ago I could not print a received Outlook Express message. I then found that I could not print from WordPad, Word2000 or Excel2000. However, test pages from HP utilities and from Printer Troubleshooting and from MS-DOS were OK. The MS-DOS printing was accomplished by a simple COPY filename [space] LPT1. I have uninstalled the HP software (HP R40 OfficeJet) twice. The first time I could print from OE, but after the second time I was back to square one. Oh, right: I can't print from a web page either.

 

THIS may be a good place to start. Let us know how you make out.

 

PLansdowne,
Thanks for the link. It dealt primarily with inability to print from a web site. But within that link I found another link to HP instructions if one cannot print from Windows OS. Unfortunately, everything they talk about checks out just fine (including looking at BIOS). The next option was to contact HP Customer Care, but I seem to have misplaced my original receipt and/or registration papers. So will have to tear the house apart to find any record of the purchase. I know I have it, but it's just too darn late at night to mess with it now. If I should ever hear anything positive from HP and/or I get the problem fixed I'll post results here.

 

Well folks, unless anyone else has a good idea, this should probably be the last post in this thread. I've confirmed that the printer is OK. I've confirmed that I cannot print from ANY Windows based program or web site. I CAN print from MS-DOS and QBASIC. I'm not about to re-install Windows 98 because I've found it to be inherently unstable in several applications. Therefore, I'm trying to locate a complete, unused, in-the-box copy of Windows Millennium Edition or even Windows 2000; but definitely XP. And, no, I'm not considering Linux.

Thanks for listening.
71sigma

 

Hi, I don't think I would ditch 98SE because of these problems.
We can find the solutions. It is possible the HP printer causes
problems with XP also.
What exactly are the error messages you get ?
What is the HP printer model ? How much was it ?
It seems to be a driver problem, but as you say a re-install
does not seem to be the answer. Do you remove the printer
in Control Panel before a reboot and new driver install ?
regards

 

I know couple yrs ago I had problems printing after installing Turbo Tax. Complete puter freeze when printing anything. Did all the installs/uninstall, etc. Figured the printer was old and dying. Got an HP, same issues. I then went into the registry, did a search for the the old and new printer. Found lots of entries. So, did a complete uninstall of the printer, rebooted. Went into the registry, removed every evidence of all printers. Rebooted. And did the HP install per their website. No more freezing. You may want to do a quick reg search.

 

Merlin:
I don't see it as a printer problem. More as a Windows problem because I can print from MS-DOS and QBASIC and from two different trouble-shooting programs (HP and Windows Help). The printer is an HP R40 OfficeJet all-in-one printer, copier, scanner (no fax). I think I paid about $400 for it 3 years ago. You asked for the error messages so put your glasses on and prepare to read (I had the good sense to write them down after about the fourth or fifth try.
Message one:
"INTERNET EXPLORER SCRIPT ERROR "
An error has occurred in the script on this page.
Line: 1197
Char: 1
Error: Unspecified error
Code: 0
URL: res://C:\Windows\System\
SHDOCLLLD.DLL\preview.dly
Do yu want to continue running scripts on the page?
YES NO buttons -- I chose NO

The above error window was immediately overlayed with the one below (message two):
'PRINTERS FOLDER'
There was an error writing to LPT1: for the printer (HP OfficeJet R Series):
There was a problem printing to the printer due to an unknown system error. Restart windows, and then try printing again.
OK button - which I chose.

If that is sufficient info for a super geek to solve the problem I'd be happy to give it a shot. Even if it involves Registry access, but then I'd need VERY SPECIFIC things to find and fix. I do not just go willy-nilly into the registry.

I don't recall whether or not I deleted printers in Control Panel. I remember only using Add/Remove in Control Panel to remove the HP software; then reboot; then re-install HP. Don't remember how many times (maybe 3).

 

Oops, Merlin is Geek Member. Aleekat is Super Geek.

Hey aleekat, please see above response to Merlin regarding messing with the Registry. Thanks for the suggestion.

71sigma

 

Does the C:\Windows\Spool\Printers folder exist?
If no, create it.
If yes, is it full of files?
If so, delete all of them.

 

markp62:
The folder exists. It was empty. Still is.
71sigma

 

Remove the Comms plug to the printer and delete the printer from
the (usually) C:\Printers folder. Reboot. Shutdown.
Reconnect the Comms plug. Reboot. In the Printers Folder
use Add Printer with the HP drivers disk inserted to reinstall
the drivers.
regards

 

Merlin,

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Who knew the solution would be so simple?
I encountered only one small problem in that the Add Printers icon in the Printers window ( Start | Settings | Printers ) insisted on using floppy drive A: for driver input. When I changed the A:\ to E:\setup it told me there was no hardware info on that disk. So I just went to Start | Run | E:\setup to install the HP software. I then successfully tested from SEVEN windows applications.

Thanks again,
71sigma

 

71sigma, Thanks for letting us know you decided not to
write off 98SE
What we still do not know is how you lost the Win98SE printer
drivers, but whatever ...
regards