Cannot print with Windows ME / IBM desktop

[muttlies]

I have been using a Lexmark Z55 (on USB) as well as a networked Epson without difficulty for some time. PC is IBM Netwista, OS is ME. All of a sudden neither printer works although to all appearances they are correctly installed. The (software controlled) head alignment test works (from the Lexmark Control Panel) so at least some communication is getting through. The print test page facility (through control panel/printers) returns the message "Windows was unable to print the test page. Would you like to begin troubleshooting now?"
If I try and print from an application, such as Word I receive "Windows cannot print due to a problem with the current printer setup". I have done all the checks - the printer and USB cable work on another PC. I have updated the driver, virus checked (there was a virus earlier), uninstalled and reinstalled the printer several times (including manually removing registry entries). Uninstalled and reinstalled the ports. Tried LPT1 parallel port instead of USB (same messages and even reinstalled the operating system. Device manager and diagnostics says all is OK. No apparent resource conflicts. An IBM web checkup reports that all is OK and that the problem must be with the printer but the printer is fine. Now I have run out of ideas...
Does anyone else have any suggestions... Thanks

 

[bygeek]

Did you ever solve this problem? I have a client having the same problem wih a Lexmark Z82.

Of all the things I've ever lost, I miss my mind the most......

 

[muttlies]

I eventually solved the problem by deleting the LPT1 and USB ports in Device Manager and reinstalling them. Despite the LPT1 not being used for anything I noted that one diagnostic program listed it as OK but 'busy'.
I also noticed (after about a week) that the win.ini file had become read-only so some of the changes I though I had been making earlier hadn't happened. I think this was an effect of the virus that might have started the problem. In susmmary there was a conflict that wasn't being seen or reported.
Hope this helps.