Windows XP and USB Printer

[chrisjohnson]

Hi, I just got a Dell Dimension 4300 with Win Xp. I also bought a Lexmark X83 (a usb connection only printer). My problem is that although it works ok when first booted, if I log in as another user by using the fast-user switching feature,I then get a "failure to communicate with the printer" error. Sometimes I can unplug and re-plug the usb cable on both ends and it will work or else I must restart the computer to re-establish communications. Lexmark support was no help, they advised to simply restart the computer to change users. I have tried uninstalling and installing the updated drivers from Lexmark, but the behavior remains. Does anyone have any ideas or should I start looking for another printer?

 

[chrisjohnson]

Didn't mean to post this twice. The first time it said the sever could not be found. I guess it posted anyway.

 

[rjkrash]

See this article:

Description of the Fast User Switching Compatibility Service (Q294855)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q294/8/55.ASP

I swear I saw somthing about your problem in an article on MS's support knowledge base but I can't find it. You might go there and search with keywords like USB, Fast User Switching, printer and see if they have any answers.

The link to the search is below:

http://search.support.microsoft.com/kb/c.asp

The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[rjkrash]

On the assumption Lexmark support may not know what's what(a not unlikely senario for most support "professionals" at manufacturers) I did a quick search for and found an XP driver for your printer at:

http://drivers3.lexmark.com/drivers.nsf/printer+driver/364ED597EB191EB485256AF100679588?OpenDocument

On that page it also mentions a firmware update. I look into these as posible fixes unless you are already at these levels.
The two rules for success are:
1. Never tell them everything you know.

 

[chrisjohnson]

Thanks for the reply. I had already installed both the new drivers and the firmware update to no avail. I found an article about changing the drivers for the Intel 82801BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller. I will give that a try.

Thanks,
Chris