Curse

Kusandaa · Apr 21, 2008, 06:17 PM // 18:17

3 computers, same printer, same OS... one computer doesn't let me print.

Printer: Lexmark P4350. Uses USB.

Computer A: my own. Asus P5B, 1GB RAM, 250GB HDD, integrated sound card (REALTEK SoundMax High-Definition Audio), nVidia 7700GT video card. WinXP Pro SP2.

Computer B: my grandparents. Asus P5LD2, 512MB RAM, 200GB HDD, integrated sound card and video card. WinXP Pro SP2.

Computer C: my parents. Exact same as computer B.

Full story:

I bought a printer back in 2006, a Lexmark P4350 (on comp A). My parents then bought one for themselves (comp C) and for my grandparents (comp B). I installed the printers on all computers and everything worked fine. With the RAM issues I have on comp B, I had comp A transfered here with the help of some of my uncles.

And that's when the problems started.

The SAME printer being installed on 3 computers with the SAME OS SHOULD, technically, work without reinstalling the said printer. I mean, take my TV tuner - works on comp A and B when installed (and even comp D, not taken into the equation 'cause the printer isn't installed on it), I don't need to reinstall it everytime I plug it in.

However, comp A is totally unable to print. I keep getting errors when I want to print anything. Rough translation from French:

"Unable to communicate with computer. Try the following:
- Unplug USB cord from printer;
- Unplug power cord from printer;
- Reboot the computer"

I followed all 3 multiple times and it never fixed anything. Tired, I uninstalled the printer (Start => Configuration Panel => Add/Delete programs => Lexmark P4350 => Uninstall programs and drivers)... but when I was came back to installing, we could NEVER find the CD. At all. My parents think my grandparents might've thrown it away... GG.

So I've downloaded new drivers for the printer. However, there are problems with the installation executable: extracted files seem to have been corrupted or were named the wrong way by Lexmark, or have the wrong filetype. The setup installation is UNABLE to find files that are INDEED there, but are NAMED and CLASSED as ex.: "lxdriver.dl_". Note the underscore. "dl_" is the filetype, and not "dll". Which is causing problems during the install, because some of those drivers are critical to the operation of the printer and they cannot be "found".

I'm unable to find the CD (with the default drivers) and every single copy of the drivers I download are "corrupted" in the same way. I'm at a complete loss since I need something printed by TOMORROW. What I'll end up doing will be unhooking comp A and put comp B instead, but eventually, I want to fix the problem because I know it's going to do the same thing once I'm home...

Anyone have possible solutions for this? (And yes, I could have the CD with the default drivers sent by snail mail, but I want to avoid it as it takes too long).

Thank you very much for regarding this.

fusa · Apr 21, 2008, 06:39 PM // 18:39

.dl_ files might be able to be expanded using Microsoft's expand utility. Just go the the directory the installation files are located using cmd. Then "expand lxdriver.dl_ lxdriver.dll" etc for the files ending with .??_ Or try deleting all temporary internet files. Then redownload the driver, or maybe try an older version if you can find one.
Sometimes the printer needs to be unplugged before installing drivers for drivers to install correctly, be sure to do this if it says to do so.

Kusandaa · Apr 21, 2008, 07:08 PM // 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusa

.dl_ files might be able to be expanded using Microsoft's expand utility. Just go the the directory the installation files are located using cmd. Then "expand lxdriver.dl_ lxdriver.dll" etc for the files ending with .??_ Or try deleting all temporary internet files. Then redownload the driver, or maybe try an older version if you can find one.
Sometimes the printer needs to be unplugged before installing drivers for drivers to install correctly, be sure to do this if it says to do so.

Thanks for the CMD tip, I'll try that. The .dll files aren't the only ones corrupted, I have a whole directory of xx_ files, some that I don't even know the whole extension. But I'll try deleting temp files in order to download from another source, despite I think it's the same .exe file taken from the official site and thrown on another site.

The printer was once plugged in during the install, the other time it wasn't. I had thought about it :P.

zamial · Apr 21, 2008, 07:34 PM // 19:34

not the best advice but.

if a printer doesn't work MOST of the time you can throw it away and get a bright shiny new 1 for less than the headaches + ink refills you have now.

Kusandaa · Apr 21, 2008, 08:02 PM // 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by zamial

not the best advice but.

if a printer doesn't work MOST of the time you can throw it away and get a bright shiny new 1 for less than the headaches + ink refills you have now.

Yeah, no way I can change this printer; first it's not mine (but I have the same home), second I'm borderline broke so I can't use my cash.

Tarun · Apr 21, 2008, 09:04 PM // 21:04

Reinstall the software and drivers for it.

If at all possible, try making a printer network share to use one printer. It'll be much easier for the majority.

Kusandaa · Apr 21, 2008, 09:43 PM // 21:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarun

Reinstall the software and drivers for it.

If at all possible, try making a printer network share to use one printer. It'll be much easier for the majority.

I have tried reinstalling software and drivers, several times this afternoon. I can't find the original drivers and the updates and other drivers I download for it are all corrupted.

I can only hook one computer up - one monitor, one desk, one keyboard, actually I have 2 mouses though, but the main problem is that I have no router ATM. If I was home, I'd have access to my default drivers (I know where my CDs are, unlike here...) and at most, I would have the possibility of having 3 other computers hooked to my WIFI network (my laptop + my husband's computers).

Usually I install the drivers on my laptop (the comp D I refered to in another post), but I didn't use it to print stuff since the last time I formatted it.

=-=-=-=-=

EDIT: Problem fixed. Downloading the driver updates in FRENCH worked, despite they were in English at first. English files were corrupted but not the French ones, weirdly enough. I usually download things in English by default so my husband can use the apps as well, so I wanted to avoid downloading French stuff. I'm glad I'm bilingual x].

Oh well, it's fixed, please close =].