I have a communication problem between my computer (Windows 98) and my printer (Canon 
Bubble Jet BJ-200) and can't seem to fix it. When I try to print from any application, 
I get the following error message and have to cancel the print job:

"There was an error writing to LPT1: for the printer (Canon Bubble Jet BJ-200): A 
printer timeout error occurred."

I know the printer itself is working because when I cancel the print job, the printer 
beeps and makes its usual adjusting noises. The printer's "self test" also prints 
without any problem.

Here's what I've tried to clear the problem:

- disconnected / reconnected the printer cables
- turned the computer and printer off and on
- run defragmenter
- run ScanDisk
- run Avast virus scan
- run SpyBot scan
- restored Windows registry
- tried printing from DOS
- tried printing from Word Pad
- tried printing using Generic/Text Only printer driver
- checked the Printers.txt file for answers
- uninstalled / reinstalled BJ-200 printer driver
- uninstalled / reinstalled LPT1 port
- checked printer manual for any troubleshooting tips

It was printing fine beforehand and I hadn't changed anything on my computer before 
this came up. The only thing I think might've caused the problem is a one of those 
minor email viruses that change settings. It seemed to start after I read an email 
I'd received and shut down. When I came back to the system, I couldn't connect to 
the internet and had to turn one of my Internet Explorer settings back on. My computer 
works fine. The only other thing that cropped up is this printer communication problem.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,
Scott

Tip: Run a free scan for common Windows errors ad

re: printer communication problem Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 1:30 pm Posted by gewg_ (3925 messages posted) Scott Leslie wrote: |[...]When I try to print from any application, I get the following error message[...]: |"There was an error writing to LPT1: for the printer (Canon Bubble Jet BJ-200): |A printer timeout error occurred." |[...] |Here's what I've tried to clear the problem: |[...] |- restored Windows registry |[...] |- uninstalled / reinstalled BJ-200 printer driver | Those 2 would have figured prominently in my technique--but later. |I know the printer itself is working because when I cancel the print job, |the printer beeps and makes its usual adjusting noises. | Interesting hypothesis. The 1st thing I would have done is go to the root directory and execute (at a command prompt) DIR > LPT1 REAL DOS is preferable as that will get Windoze / the driver completely out of the picture. |- disconnected / reconnected the printer cables | A parallel connection has multiple conductors; perhaps only ONE is broken. Tripped over the cable lately? Got a spare cable you can try? Got a buddy with one he can spare? [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: printer communication problem Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 3:58 pm Posted by Scott Leslie (15 messages posted) THANK YOU. I would've never thought to replace the cable. I'd never tripped over it or anything recently, but it is an old cable so I guess it gave up the ghost. I replaced it with an extra cable I had and that's done the trick. Thanks again, Scott On Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 1:30 pm, gewg_ wrote: > >A parallel connection has multiple conductors; perhaps only ONE is broken. >Tripped over the cable lately? >Got a spare cable you can try? >Got a buddy with one he can spare? [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: printer communication problem Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 6:29 pm Posted by bob wells (1591 messages posted) WAT? No Linux fix? ur slippin gewg_:) I might have thought of that on day 2! On Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 1:30 pm, gewg_ wrote: >Scott Leslie wrote: >|[...]When I try to print from any application, I get the following error message[...]: >|"There was an error writing to LPT1: for the printer (Canon Bubble Jet BJ-200): >|A printer timeout error occurred." >|[...] >|Here's what I've tried to clear the problem: >|[...] >|- restored Windows registry >|[...] >|- uninstalled / reinstalled BJ-200 printer driver >| >Those 2 would have figured prominently in my technique--but later. > >|I know the printer itself is working because when I cancel the print job, >|the printer beeps and makes its usual adjusting noises. >| >Interesting hypothesis. >The 1st thing I would have done is >go to the root directory and execute (at a command prompt) >DIR > LPT1 > >REAL DOS is preferable >as that will get Windoze / the driver completely out of the picture. > >|- disconnected / reconnected the printer cables >| >A parallel connection has multiple conductors; perhaps only ONE is broken. >Tripped over the cable lately? >Got a spare cable you can try? >Got a buddy with one he can spare? [Reply or follow-up to this message] re: printer communication problem Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 9:55 pm Posted by gewg_ (3925 messages posted) bob wells wrote: |WAT? No Linux fix? ur slippin gewg_:) 8-D Well, if I knew he had bootable Linux media, the command to do the same job (send a directory listing to the line printer) would be ls > lpr ...but Linux couldn't have gotten any closer to the bare metal than DOS --and I knew for a fact that he had DOS (though, in fact, it **needn't** have been a M$ version of DOS and could have just as easily have been Free Software): http://google.com/search?q=FreeDOS+"GNU.General.Public.License" [Reply or follow-up to this message] Tip: Use one of the [Reply or follow-up to this message] links above to add a message to this thread Search this forum Start a new thread on a different subject Report abuse of the forum Return to the Windows 98 Discussion Forum