Printer/Computer not talking

Hello All, I have a HP Deskjet 610 printer and it refuses to take anything from the computer and print it. I have tried all the recommended fixes on HP's site and came up empty handed. It will print a test page if you hold in the resume button, so I figure the problem is between the computer and printer. I changed the parallel cable to no avail.It says on HP's site that the printer port can be reinstalled but it does not say how to do it? Any ideas??????? The computer does come up with an error when you try to print- "out of paper". Which is bogus because it has plenty of it. It said the same thing the time I was having cartridge problems so I think this may be a default thing........I don't use the darn thing that much but occasionally the kids need to print something on it. Thanx alot.

 

The way to reinstall the printer port is to go into device manager
([My Computer], [Control Panel], [System]). Expand the "Ports" section, highlight "Printer port (LPT1)", and hit <remove>. Now reboot computer. Windows will "find" new printer port and reinstall.

 

Tow Guy is right, plus as you mentioned with the HP series it will produce some strange and irrelevant error messages when the cartridges go dry. I never use the color cartridge on mine, but it dried up and the silly thing kept telling me I was out of paper. Go figure. Might want to check the ink levels and also their fluidity. If they dry up or thicken, it can cause problems.

Also, you may need to simply remove the cartridges and clean the contacts (looks like a small circuit board) on the printer, and on the cartridges too. Not the printhead mind you, but the backside of the cartridges. You can clean those with a cotton swab dampened slightly with alcohol. Never use alcohol to clean the printhead. It will ruin the ink by being absorbed into the cartridge.

-Kay

 

Tow Guy- Thanx for the reply I'll try to reinstall the port. As far as the cartridges go they are both fairly new and the printer will print a test page (a demo. for the printer), just fine. If the contacts were at fault would the printer work at all? I'm not sure about that,I may have to try to clean them but I want to do the reinstall first.This thing really bugs me- I just got this printer from HP as a replacement not that long ago because of a cartridge problem- (go figure) and now it is back to not working again. I think I'll try another brand next time.....

 

I'm not familiar with your model. I'm using an HP 672 and before that had a 660 and have gotten good service out of both after thousands of printed pages.

Also might want to check HP's site for the latest driver install file for your model. When you reinstall the port, also "remove" the printer AND delete all HP-related files. They should be under "Program Files". Then do a clean install of the printer drivers.

Here's a link for the drivers for Win98:

http://www.hp.com/cgi-bin/cposupport...t+610c+printer

For other Win versions, check the hp website.

 

Thanx Tow Guy your advice was right on the money. Its working fine now. Only thing is why did it happen in the first place? I guess that is just the computer world for you..... As far as the driver is concerned all it says is that the driver is already installed in Windows XP..... Anyway I need to get another printer because this ones picture printing quality is only fair at best and there are some good ones out there for a about what I paid for this one a couple of years ago.

 

Gremlins. Glad you're up and printing again.

 

I didn't mean to try to steer anyone away from the HP printers. Its just the 600-612 series that doesn't seem to last. It appears that during the computer pkg sales at the local BestBuys, etc. prompted HP to make a lesser printer that could be thrown in with the package deal. I've heard nothing but praises for the newer models, however, this time I ended up with a different brand because it was all I could pop for at the moment. I lucked out and got this one for a little bit of nothing since they had just come out with a 'new' model and with the reduced price and rebate I couldn't pass it up. It is a Lexmark and will be good for what I need a printer for. I do a lot of printing, but not for anything fancy (I print Genealogy info). If I ever get to the point where I expand my business (not Genealogy...heavens, can't even find my family *lol, much less someone elses!) to need to print something like catalogs or mailers I would opt for a better HP.

One thing I do like about the HP over the Lexmark is the control I had over how I printed. This Lexmark doesn't offer book format printing, which is nice when you have larger documents to print and can save paper and file cabinet space by using both sides of the paper. I can't even tell it to simply print all evens, then the odd numbers.

-Kay