hp dj840c only prints partial pages 1

[danandmrsdan]

I'm having terrible trouble getting my dj840c to print. It is currently only printed the first line of ink on any print job and then spooling the paper out unfinished. I'm using Win2000pro, and the printer is connected to the parallel port. The software I got with the printer is no good, because it only supports up to Win98, but I've been downloading the drivers from hp's website. Here's what I've tried so far:
-I can print from a dos command prompt.
-I can print if I install the printer using windows' generic/text driver, or even hp's universal (dj550c) driver.
-I've downloaded the latest driver for this printer, and installed it several times, but no luck.
-I've refreshed the printer port by uninstalling it several times (windows does not seem to autodetect it when I reboot, but when I check the device manager, it's there OK with the port settings back to their defaults, so I guess it refreshed OK?)
-I've tried the port setting "use any interrupt" (on hp's advice - don't know what it does! Doesn't work though).
- I've performed a hard reset on the printer by taking out the cartridges and unplugging it for 30 secs.

I got an error message printed out %Pdat.clear_download_set; udw.quit; at one stage, if that means anything to anyone

The printer does not appear on the device manager, but I'm not sure it's supposed to. Installing the printer has been a problem because the original cd-rom does not support w2k. In the end I've downloaded the drivers from hp.com, and gone through the "add printer" wizard, and pointed it at the drivers at the appropriate point.

At my wits end - anyone got any idea what is going on??

Thanks

Dan

 

[Buff1]

if you use the universal dj550c driver do you still have the one line problem ?

If so, and you bought the printer locally, i'd see if they can't resolve the problem. It could be the printer.

Try printing a simple text page with no pcl and no escape sequences. will it print that ?

Try a different printer.
Try a different cable.

 

[danandmrsdan]

I can print from the dj550c, which suggests it's a driver problem, but I can't figure out what. There's obviously something about the more sophisticated driver that it doesn't like. I'm going to try another cable next, will let you know how I get on....