Dell Technical "Support"
Bernard Mushinsky
another computer and it works fine. Yesterday and today, I tried to get
through to Dell technical support via phone in order to arrange for the
repair. I was on hold for about 40 minutes each time, and then Dell's
system advised me that they couldn't "process" (their word) my call any
longer and that I should call another time. For what? Will it be possible
to get through another time?
The computer that just failed was about to go into semi-retirement and be
replaced by a new Dell. Now, who knows?
Does anybody have advice that might be useful in this situation?
This situation stinks.
Bernie
topcover
I agree with WSZsr on this one. Sounds like a software problem of some
sort.
Maybe try Settings / Printers, then check Properties for the printer in
question. Heck, it could be drivers or any number of things. I'm guessing
some setting or other got bungled, and this isn't Dell's problem.
Christopher Muto
-Most printer related problems are due to faulty cables. When you tested your
printer on the other machine perhaps you used a different cable or just
happened to 'jiggle' it enough to get it working again. Try to connect the
printer to your PC with the cable from the other PC.
-Look in your system properties menu to see if you have any conflicts and
resolve them if you find any.
-Shell to a MSDOS prompt and type "Copy c:\autoexec.bat prn" and press enter.
If it hangs then your system thinks there is a printer attached but it is off
line. If it returns you to another 'c' prompt then the system has sent the
data (or thinks that it has).
Frederick Reynolds
problem is not software, you should make sure you are booted to a command
prompt only when doing the 'copy c:\autoexec.bat prn'. This is one of the
easiest and best ways to isolate the problem.
"Christopher Muto" <mu...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:388F97D2...@worldnet.att.net...
Bernard Mushinsky
annoying than the printer failure is the fact that it's impossible to get
through to Dell.
Bernard
Frederick Reynolds wrote in message ...
WSZsr
parallel port in your BIOS and make sure it matches what the printer
requires..
"Bernard Mushinsky" <ber...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:86o1u0$s0q$1...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net...
Bernard Mushinsky
Some more info:
The computer/printer combination had been working without any sign of
trouble since last spring some time, when I bought the printer.
The printer is an HP 6P.
I tried to copy autoexec.bat to the printer via DOS and it goes on to the
next line. The printer sees something because a green light blinks and then
stays lit, but no printing takes place. Under Windows, an error panel pops
up saying that Windows cannot access the port.
I use Win98. At the lower right corner of the screen, there's a little
printer icon in the status bar. It has turned red. Moving the cursor to
that icon results in the pop-up legend "HP Laserjet 6P (LPT1)-Printer
Error."
I re-installed the printer driver just after the first failure.
Looked at properties. Everything seems normal.
Bernard
Bearhair wrote in message ...
> I get quick responses using the e-mail support form on the Dell page.
Kathy
running Win98 - mine are universal printer drivers, version 3.2 that were
resident in Win98 (mine is still the first edition) and I've had no
problems. Sounds like a software issue to me as well - but to be safe run
Dell Diags on the ports before you get on the phone with tech support, that
will confirm if a hardware issue is present. By the way, which system do
you have?
Kathy
Bernard Mushinsky <ber...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:86pi65$atm$1...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net...
Fearless
break if they are stressed or bent.
From what you've described, information is leaving your computer and
travelling toward the printer. You've eliminated the printer because it
works on another machine. You've eliminated the computer because
information is travelling to the printer.
This leaves, IMHO, two possibilities: 1) bad printer cable or 2) incorrect
BIOS configuration for the printer port. If you go into the BIOS setup, how
is the parallel port setup? Is it setup for Bidirectional, EPP, ECP, or
Auto? I don't know what the HP 6P requires, but I know that my HP 2100 will
not work if the port is set to EPP. Works fine as Bidirectional or ECP.
Bernard Mushinsky
I changed the printer cable, but have not checked the BIOS or run the Dell
diags.
According to Norton, the driver is V 4.0 and it's a resident Win98 driver.
I just installed it the other day from the Win98 CD.
Norton reports that the data type is EMF. I don't know what that means.
I really do appreciate the help you're all providing.
Bernie
Fearless wrote in message ...
Kathy
printer.
Kathy
Bernard Mushinsky <ber...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:86qan1$7h8$1...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net...
Frederick Reynolds
Another way you could do the same type of test is to type 'dir > lpt1' while
inside a directly (preferebly a directory with a lot of files so it prints
more then one page). And, as before, from a DOS only bootup. If the
printjob is not more then one page, the printer may not finish the page
until you press a button or something because it isn't reading a end of
printjob message.
Frederick Reynolds
printer cables to work 100%. Every IEEE compliant printer cable I have seen
has 'IEEE' written on the cable somewhere. You might check to make sure
that your cable has this on it.
It doesn't seem likely that it could cause you to not get any functionality
at all, but stranger things have happened.
"Bernard Mushinsky" <ber...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
Frederick Reynolds
Bernard Mushinsky
Some comments that may be relevant:
The cable is the same one that I've been using for years.
I have two printers: the HP 6P and a Canon 4100 that happens to be part of
an all-in-one device (fax, copier, printer, scanner).
Yesterday I tried the Canon printer with both of my computers: the Dell and
a Toshiba laptop. The Dell prints gibberish, as it does with the HP; the
Toshiba works as it should. I'm becoming more and more convinced that
something is wrong in my Dell. That Dell cannot be reached is a real
bummer.
Bernard
Bernard Mushinsky wrote in message
<86o1u0$s0q$1...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>...
Fearless
"Bernard Mushinsky" <ber...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in
message news:86sohh$c51$1...@bgtnsc03.worldnet.att.net...
:
: Yesterday I tried the Canon printer with both of my
computers: the Dell and
: a Toshiba laptop. The Dell prints gibberish, as it does
with the HP; the
: Toshiba works as it should.
Presumably you used the identical cable for both printers
and both computers?
: I'm becoming more and more convinced that
: something is wrong in my Dell.
I agree, but you still haven't ruled out software problems
or BIOS configuration problems. Boot to DOS. At the C:
prompt, type the following (with either printer connected):
dir *.* >lpt:
If the printer prints the root directory contents of your C:
drive, there is nothing wrong with the port; it is a Windows
printer configuration problem or resource conflict. If it
doesn't, get into the BIOS setup and check to see how your
printer port is configured (as I explained in my earlier
message). Don't change anything. Simply report your
results back here.
In all my years of owning personal computers, I've never
encounter one that had a frank failure in the parallel port.
But, the good news is that after you've tried all these
various tests, you'll be confident when you finally get
through to Dell (trying calling late at night) that you'll
get the problem taken care of.
HTH
FarberBear
prints the page when the page is full, or it receives an "eject" command. When
there is data in the buffer, then the data light stays lit. On 6P printers, I
believe there is a button that will print the current page even though the page
is not full. And that really is the only button on the printer. This is useful
when using it in DOS mode without any fancy software. By the way, do you have
any other devices on the parallel port line? A scanner or something like that?
If so, that has to be powered on too.
Good luck.
>Subject: Re: Dell Technical "Support"
>From: "Bernard Mushinsky" ber...@worldnet.att.net
>Date: 1/27/00 5:47 AM Pacific Standard Time
>Message-id: <86pi65$atm$1...@bgtnsc01.worldnet.att.net>
>>>>> > LPT1 seems to have failed on my computer. I connected the printer to
>>>>> > another computer and it works fine. Yesterday and today, I tried to
>>>get
>>>>> > through to Dell technical support via phone in order to arrange for
>the
>>>>> > repair. I was on hold for about 40 minutes each time, and then
>Dell's
>>>>> > system advised me that they couldn't "process" (their word) my call
>any
>>>>> > longer and that I should call another time. For what? Will it be
>>>>possible
>>>>> > to get through another time?
>>>>> >
>>>>> > The computer that just failed was about to go into semi-retirement
>and
>>>>be
>>>>> > replaced by a new Dell. Now, who knows?
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Does anybody have advice that might be useful in this situation?
>>>>> >
>>>>> > This situation stinks.
>>>>> >
>>>>> > Bernie
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>
David Farber
David Farber's Service Center
L.A., CA
Fearless
important it is to go through the troubleshooting algorithm yourself before
calling Dell. That way, you can be certain that when the suggest various
fixes that you'll know they won't work but you can smugly let them try.
"Bernard Mushinsky" <ber...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:J24n4.1638$gH.5...@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> Surprise!
>
> I downloaded the Dell diagnostic and then called Dell and, after about 30
> minutes on hold, I managed to get through. The technician tried about a
> dozen things; I then suggested we run the diagnostic. It immediately
> reported an error associated with the parallel port. The run-around
stopped
> at that moment; Dell shipped a mother board overnight (the parallel port
is
> in the mother board). I installed it and everything is now fine.
>
> Bernard
>
Bernard Mushinsky
I downloaded the Dell diagnostic and then called Dell and, after about 30
minutes on hold, I managed to get through. The technician tried about a
dozen things; I then suggested we run the diagnostic. It immediately
reported an error associated with the parallel port. The run-around stopped
at that moment; Dell shipped a mother board overnight (the parallel port is
in the mother board). I installed it and everything is now fine.
Bernard
Fearless wrote in message ...
>
>
>"Bernard Mushinsky" <ber...@worldnet.att.net> wrote in
>get the problem taken care of.
>
>HTH
>
>
abha...@gmail.com
> LPT1 seems to have failed on my computer. I connected the printer to
> another computer and it works fine. Yesterday and today, I tried to get
> through to Dell technical support via phone in order to arrange for the
> repair. I was on hold for about 40 minutes each time, and then Dell's
> system advised me that they couldn't "process" (their word) my call any
> longer and that I should call another time. For what? Will it be possible
> to get through another time?
>
> The computer that just failed was about to go into semi-retirement and be
> replaced by a new Dell. Now, who knows?
>
> Does anybody have advice that might be useful in this situation?
>
> This situation stinks.
>
> Bernie