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HP712.TXT |
  
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HP712.TXT |
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HP712.TXT
HP DeskJet 712C Printer
HP DeskJet Printers -
Troubleshooting the Parallel
Cable Connection
Table of Contents
Introduction
Test the Parallel Cable Connection
Situation 1: No printer response; C:\ prompt
does not return
Situation 2: No printer response; MS-DOS
(R) error message returned
Situation 3: No printer response; C:\ prompt
returned
Situation 4: Printer lights flash; printed text
is not legible
Situation 5: Printer lights flash; only one line
of text prints
Situation 6: Graphics files do not print, but
text prints
Introduction ( back to Table of Contents )
The following information helps you to troubleshoot
problems with the parallel cable connection between
the computer and HP DeskJet printer. Test the parallel
cable connection first. If that does not solve your
problem, then find the situation that resembles the
problem you are having and follow the steps for solving
that problem.
Test the Parallel Cable Connection ( back to Table of
Contents )
The best way to find out if the parallel cable is working
is to connect it from the computer's parallel port
directly to the HP DeskJet printer and print a directory.
1.Connect the parallel cable to the computer's parallel
port.
2.Disconnect other parallel port devices like
switchboxes, scanners, zip drives, tape backup drives,
external CD-ROMs, or software lock-out keys
(dongles).
3.Connect the parallel cable to the parallel port on the
HP DeskJet printer.
4.Exit Microsoft (R) Windows 3.1x, 95, or 98 to an
MS-DOS prompt. (In Windows 95 or 98, click Start
and then choose Restart in MS-DOS mode and click
OK.) Or, in Windows NT 4.0, click Start, point to
Programs, and click MS-DOS Prompt.
NOTE: Do not test the parallel cable
connection by using the MS-DOS
Prompt icon on the Programs menu,
unless you are using Windows NT
4.0. The MS-DOS Prompt icon within
Windows brings up a MS-DOS shell
with Windows still running in the
background.
Some printers, such as the HP
DeskJet 710C, 720C, 820C, and
1000C series printers, are
Windows-only printers and, therefore,
need Windows running in order to
print. For troubleshooting purposes,
printing to a file and then copying that
file to the parallel port (COPY /B
FILENAME.PRN LPT1) is equivalent
to a DIR>LPT1. For specific
instructions on printing to a file, see
the HP FIRST document 4934.
5.At the MS-DOS prompt type DIR>LPT1 or DIR>PRN
and press ENTER.
The HP DeskJet, DeskJet Plus, and DeskJet
500 series printers should respond by
immediately printing the directory. If the page
does not eject from the HP DeskJet printer when
the directory is done printing, press the Form
Feed (FF) button or Load/Eject button on the
printer to eject the page.
The HP DeskJet 540, 600, 800, and 1100 series
printers should respond by immediately printing
the directory or flashing the Resume light on the
HP DeskJet printer. If the Resume light flashes
on the HP DeskJet printer, press the Resume
button to continue printing that page.
6.If the directory does not print or does not print properly,
check the 6 different situations below for possible
solutions.
Situation 1: No printer response; C:\ prompt does not
return ( back to Table of Contents )
If the following happens, try the solutions suggested
below:
Printer Response:
There is no response.
Computer Response:
Flashing cursor and the C:\ prompt
does not return. The keyboard
locks up.
Recommended Action
Verify that the HP DeskJet printer is Online and Ready
(no blinking lights).
Try using CTRL+BREAK to free the keyboard (this
may not work if an infinite retry parameter is specified
in a MODE statement).
A hard restart may be necessary (turn the computer
power off and then on).
If connected through a sharing device, scanner, zip
drive, external CD-ROM, etc., try printing with a direct
connection from the computer to the HP DeskJet
printer.
Check the cable connections at both ends and verify
which port is currently in use on the computer.
Disconnect the cable from both the HP DeskJet printer
and the computer; then reconnect without using the
clips or screws on the cable to tighten it in place.
Test communication from MS-DOS, specifying a port
(DIR >LPT1 or COPY /B FILENAME.PRN LPT1)
rather than a device (DIR >PRN).
Disable infinite retry for the port by typing MODE
LPT1: from the MS-DOS prompt. When infinite retry
has been enabled (using MODE LPT1:,,P), the
MS-DOS prompt will not immediately reappear since
the computer continuously attempts to send the print
job to the port, regardless of any error condition that
may exist.
Start the devices in reverse. Turn off both the computer
and the HP DeskJet printer. Turn on the HP DeskJet
printer and allow it to power up before turning on the
computer. Retest communication from MS-DOS.
Try a different parallel cable. Use an IEEE-1284
compliant parallel interface cable. The HP part number
is C2951A.
Try a different parallel port.
Situation 2: No printer response; MS-DOS (R) error
message ( back to Table of Contents )
If the following happens, try the solutions suggested
below:
Printer Response:
There is no response.
Computer Response:
MS-DOS message: "Write Fault
Error Writing Device LPT1 or
PRN. Abort, Retry, Ignore, or
Fail?"
Recommended Action
Verify that the HP DeskJet printer is Online and Ready
(no blinking lights).
If connected through a sharing device, scanner, zip
drive, external CD-ROM, etc., try printing with a direct
connection from the computer to the HP DeskJet
printer.
Check the cable connections at both ends and verify
which port is currently in use on the computer.
Disconnect the cable from both the HP DeskJet printer
and computer; then reconnect without using the clips or
screws on the cable to tighten it in place.
Test communication from MS-DOS, specifying a port
(DIR >LPT1 or COPY /B FILENAME.PRN LPT1)
rather than a device (DIR >PRN).
Disable port redirection for the port by typing MODE
LPT1:,,P from the MS-DOS prompt. If the LPT port has
been rerouted to a COM port for use by a printer
connected to an RS-232 serial port (for example,
MODE LPT1:=COM1:), a printer attached to LPT1 will
not respond to the computer's attempt to send the print
job.
Start the devices in reverse. Turn off both the computer
and the HP DeskJet printer. Turn on the HP DeskJet
printer and allow it to power up before turning on the
computer. Retest communication from MS-DOS.
Try a different parallel cable. Use an IEEE-1284
compliant parallel interface cable. The HP part number
is C2951A.
Try a different parallel port.
Situation 3: No printer response; C:\ prompt returned (
back to Table of Contents )
If the following happens, try the solutions suggested
below:
Printer Response:
There is no response.
Computer Response:
C:\ prompt returned.
Recommended Action
If connected through a sharing device, scanner, zip
drive, external CD-ROM, etc., try printing with a direct
connection from the computer to the HP DeskJet
printer.
Check the cable connections at both ends and verify
which port is currently in use on the computer.
Disconnect the cable from both the HP DeskJet printer
and the computer; then reconnect without using the
clips or screws on the cable to tighten it in place.
Test communication from MS-DOS, specifying a port
(DIR >LPT1 or COPY /B FILENAME.PRN LPT1)
rather than a device (DIR >PRN).
Disable port redirection for the port by typing MODE
LPT1:,,P from the MS-DOS prompt. If the LPT port has
been rerouted to a COM port for use by a printer
connected to an RS-232 serial port (for example,
MODE LPT1:=COM1:), a printer attached to LPT1 will
not respond to the computer's attempt to send the print
job.
Try a different parallel cable. Use an IEEE-1284
compliant parallel interface cable. The HP part number
is C2951A.
Try a different parallel port.
Situation 4: Printer lights flash; printed text is not
legible ( back to Table of Contents )
If the following happens, try the solutions suggested
below:
Printer Response:
The Busy light comes on, and the
Online light flashes. Printed text is
not legible, or random characters
occur on the page.
Computer Response:
C:\ prompt returned.
Recommended Action
If connected through a sharing device, scanner, zip
drive, external CD-ROM, etc., try printing with a direct
connection from the computer to the HP DeskJet
printer.
Check the cable connections at both ends and verify
which port is currently in use on the computer.
Disconnect the cable from both the HP DeskJet printer
and the computer; then reconnect without using the
clips or screws on the cable to tighten it in place.
Test communication from MS-DOS, specifying a port
(DIR >LPT1 or COPY /B FILENAME.PRN LPT1)
rather than a device (DIR >PRN).
Try a different parallel cable. Use an IEEE-1284
compliant parallel interface cable. The HP part number
is C2951A.
Try a different parallel port.
Situation 5: Printer lights flash; only one line of text
prints ( back to Table of Contents )
If the following happens, try the solutions suggested
below:
Printer Response:
The Busy light comes on and the
Online light flashes. Only one line
of text prints, or all the text is on
one line.
Computer Response:
C:\ prompt returned.
Recommended Action
If connected through a sharing device, scanner, zip
drive, external CD-ROM, etc., try printing with a direct
connection from the computer to the HP DeskJet
printer.
Check the cable connections at both ends and verify
which port is currently in use on the computer.
Disconnect the cable from both the HP DeskJet printer
and the computer; then reconnect without using the
clips or screws on the cable to tighten it in place.
Test communication from MS-DOS, specifying a port
(DIR >LPT1 or COPY /B FILENAME.PRN LPT1)
rather than a device (DIR >PRN).
Refer to the computer documentation or the computer
manufacturer to verify that the computer will insert a
carriage return for each line feed. Depending on the
computer system, the carriage return with a line feed
can be set up at the HP DeskJet printer.
For the HP DeskJet 300 and 400 series printers,
use the HP DJPMenu to change the printer
settings to a carriage return with a line feed.
For the HP DeskJet 500 series printers (except
the HP DeskJet 540 printer), the dip switch A7
should be in the up position.
For the HP DeskJet 540, 600, and 800 series
printers (except the HP DeskJet 820 series
printers), use the HP DeskJet Control Panel for
MS-DOS to change the printer settings to a
carriage return with a line feed.
NOTE: The HP DeskJet 710C,
720C, 820C, and 1000C series
printers are Windows-only printers
and, therefore, need Windows
running in order to print. These
printers do not have a Control Panel
for MS-DOS. Any MS-DOS printer
settings available can be found in the
printer's properties window in the
MS-DOS or Advanced Tab.
Try a different parallel cable. Use an IEEE-1284
compliant parallel interface cable. The HP part number
is C2951A.
Try a different parallel port.
Situation 6: Graphics files do not print, but text prints (
back to Table of Contents )
If the following happens, try the solutions suggested
below:
Printer Response:
Graphics files do not print. Text
files do print.
Computer Response:
There is no response.
Recommended Action
Try a different parallel cable. Use an IEEE-1284
compliant parallel interface cable. The HP part number
is C2951A.
Try a different parallel port.
Microsoft (R) is a U.S. registered trademark of
Microsoft Corp.
MS-DOS (R) is a U.S. registered trademark of
Microsoft Corporation.
Windows (R) and MS Windows (R) are U.S.
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
Windows NT (R) is a U.S. registered trademark of
Microsoft Corporation.
Copyright © Hewlett-Packard Co. 1997
This information is subject to change without notice and
is provided "as is" with no warranty.
Hewlett-Packard shall not be liable for any direct,
indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages
in connection with the use of this material.
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