Tip for Dealing with Odd Network Printer Issue: "Install" 1

[kjv1611]

Around the time I had my network issue that I sorted out thankfully, as mentioned in my previous thread:
thread1726-1749794

I evidently messed something up in relation to my Epson Workforce 3540 printer, which I've been using for a year or two, at least, over wifi at home. It's been a great machine, by the way.

So, the problem was, I could see the printer from my laptop, any other machine could print to it, and I could check the ink levels from my laptop, etc. But I couldn't get it to do anything.

Here are steps I tried that did nothing:
[ol 1]
[li]Use the Windows troubleshooter[/li]
[li]Use the Microsoft Fix-It Download for correcting printer issues[/li]
[li]Uninstall Printer, Delete Printer Driver, Reinstall new installer package from manufacturer site, and all that.[/li]
[li]Even tried running various cleanups between uninstall and then reinstall.[/li]
[li]Power-cycling printer[/li]
[li]Rebooting Windows[/li]
[li]Making sure Firmware up to date on printer and Windows updates in tact[/li]
[li]Tried printing from various applications[/li]
[/ol]

The one thing that actually worked? Let's just say I was mildly shocked when I saw it and decided to try it:
[ol 1]
[li]Open Start Menu[/li]
[li]Go to Devices and Printers (or Control Panel, then Devices and Printers[/li]
[li]Find the stinking printer that won't print, but not the one that says "Network"[/li]
[li]Right-click on that printer[/li]
[li]Select "Install" from the pop-up menu.[/li]
[li]Then wait for Windows to go through it's steps. For this one, it installed 3 or 4 items related to the multi-function abilities of the device (does print, scan, copy, fax).[/li]
[li]Now delete the other instance that says "Network" and isn't working[/li]
[li]Now I'm home free - it prints just like the first time I installed it.[/li]
[/ol]

I still don't get why uninstalling everything and reinstalling the printer driver package didn't work, but at least I know this works in those weird situations, or so it did in mine.



"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

 

[cdogg]

Thanks for sharing. Never can have too many tips and pointers when it comes to weird printer issues in Windows 7.



-Carl
"The glass is neither half-full nor half-empty: it's twice as big as it needs to be."

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