Original HP Office Jet

[paxinc]

Since I had some maintenance done, my printer won't print. Its fax function is OK. MS-XP doesn't help and HP has abandoned it.
It seems possible that I've got a driver problem, or, just possibly, the cable's gone wonky. It's pre-USB and connects via parallel port.
Any info would help; it worked fine for years and I hope that it can be back in service.
paxinc

 

[DTracy]

What kind of maintenance did you have done?

Regards,
David.

 

[paxinc]

Thanks for the reply.

I had the hard disk cleaned and re-installed my programmes. To my best memory, no special software came with the office jet.

paxinc.

 

[DTracy]

paxinc,

Ok, add a new printer. I would start out with a Deskjet 500 definition, and LPT1 port--unless you know it's on a different port. Try a test page.

If you have any old legacy programs (DOS) there is a chance they will not print without some support software, but for now just try Windows.

Let us know, OK?

David.

 

[paxinc]

Thanks, Dick:
I've deleted the printer several times and gone through the trouble shooting. It self tests AOK, copies OK and faxes. LPT1 is my only lateral.
XP doesn't show Deskjet 500 although it shows others, such as 300, 330 and 350. I used Deskjet .. nada. I wasn't able to replicate the DOS instruction!
I went back to HP and they've still abandoned me.Any more ideas? Get a new cable? I'm a bit leery of messing with the port, although it feels a bit loose.

Audrey

 

[DTracy]

Paxinc,

No, I'm pretty much out of ideas. I wouldn't change the cable if it worked before. My XP-Pro has many Deskjet definitions including several for those all-in-one printer faxes. Are you using XP home?

Anyway, I'm thinking you are going to be looking for another printer unless someone else has some ideas.

Sorry, I tried though.

Regards,
David.

 

[LawnBoy]

I went to HP to see if they might have that Deskjet 500 driver you could download. HP says that the drivers that come with XP are the ones to use. I then checked a couple of machines around here, XP Pro has the DJ500 drivers and so does XP Home. Either you're overlooking that driver in your list or the guys that "cleaned" your HD (not sure quite what you mean) have botched your XP loadout. Those drivers are included with XP.

 

[paxinc]

Thanks, David & Lawnboy, for trying, but I'm afraid that I'll have to get a new one. It's not feasible to repair printers any longer since their price has dropped.

Now my 895Cse is using no colours but yellow and orange, so, it looks as if this is my week for misery! HP ignores that problem, too.

 

[paxinc]

My problem is solved! I got a new cable and installed it. Nada! On the next day's boot-up, XP had found new hardware so I let the wizard kick in and, as usual, the documents didn't print.
However, once I removed the check from "print off line", which I'd tried yesterday, the printer sprang to life.
Your forum helped me to keep working at it. Thanks.