HP Printer prints nutty first page

Running Win 98 using an old HP Laserjet 2IIP. All of a sudden, the printer prints a first page that has a line of nonsense letters, and then prints the file correctly. It happens in all programs, every time there is a new print job. Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

Wiry--Long shot.
In IE click File|Page Setup. Clear the line called Header, then OK.
But since you say nonsense letters, I am not so hopeful.

 

Jim ... thanks for the reply ... I went to HP and found the solution there ... it seems this is a rather common problem ... just never happened to me before. Thanks for your reply.

Wiry

 

Wiry--Presume you used the HP Support site. I am amazed, but pleased for you, that you got help with an old printer.
Want to share the solution?

 

Jim ... they gave this workaround solution:

#1: Turn printer off before turning on the computer or restarting Windows. Once Windows has finished loading, turn on the printer. If power cycling the unit does not correct the issue, try using a different or new parallel cable.

I am trying a new cable at my friend's computer next week.
The cable sounds right to me. Perhaps her cable is no good.
I know when you use the wrong cable on an inkjet, nothing works right ... so maybe the cable is right.

They also give another solution if that doesn't work.
They recommend changning the parallel port mode setting in the PC's BIOS. HP recommends either ECP or bidirectional port mode settings; however other settings may work, as well.

The Cause of this problem? Usually due to a dat signal generated through the PC's parallel port during the computer's power on self-test, or while restarting Windows 95, Windows 98 or ME. In most cases the data signal being sent determines if a particular device or type of device is attached to the parallel port. When the printer receives a string of data that it does not recognize, it will attempt to interpret the data and assign a character for the unrecognized signal. This results in garbage characters or symbols printing on the page.

I think HP support is the best of printers.

Hope this is interesting for you.

 

Also, there is one more solution: Rename the DRVWPPQT.VXD file.
That's the file used to detect tape backup device, zip drives, cd-writers and other units attached to the parallel port. As long as noon of these devices is installed on the computer, this file may be renamed to prevent it from loading. Rename it to DRVWPPQT.old.

This actually might be my friend's problem as she has a zip drive set up to use the parallel port but it isn't plugged in. It might be that I have to remove it from device drivers. She never uses it. It was on the computer when she got it, but without the drive.

wiry

 

Wiry--Thanks--Hope one works for your friend.