printer problem

[jhay_e03]

Im having problem regarding our printer here in our office. we are using HP Laser Jet4 plus that connected to lenovo pc which is parallel(printer) to usb port(lenovo pc), with Os windows vista, the printer sometimes print on occasion but after that it neither do any printing at all. it accepts printing feeds from other units through network but does not print them. i am thinking that the main cause may be in the network but im not sure kindly help me regarding this matter.

[jhay_e03]

the printer works fine whenever the lenovo host unit is restarted

[dahlarbear]

So when the lenovo host is restarted...  you can print from both lenovo host and other computers on the network?

So when does it stop working fine?  Does it stop while "actively" printing a job, while there are jobs queued and ready to print, or after it's been sitting idle (empty print queue)?

Does it stop printing for both the lenovo host and all other computers on the network?

Educate me.  If you're connecting a parallel port printer to USB port on host computer, does it show up in "Device Manager" as a USB printer?

[jhay_e03]

yes, the printing job stops intermittently even when the host computer (lenovo) prints something. yes it shows as a usb print, no the hardware are installed properly, i think the problem with the (?) printer driver does not complicate the printer job. im thinking if the parallel to usb printer cord has an unstable architecture? the problem is intermittent really i can't find the problem can it be the OS(Vista) or is it because of the parallel to usb connector. kindly enlighten me on this.

[dahlarbear]

Does it stop while "actively" printing a job, while there are jobs queued and ready to print, or after it's been sitting idle (empty print queue)?

[soybean]

Could you install that printer on another computer on the network, one with a parallel port on it?

[dahlarbear]

1.  Bidirectional Support.  Assuming either your parallel cable or cable configuration may not support bidirectional communications, try disabling bidirectional support for each defined printer mapped to the HP LaserJet 4 Plus.  For now, to restrict troubleshooting modifications to just one computer; "unshare" the printer on the host computer.

On the host computer, "Start" -> "Printers and Faxes" -> right click your "HP LaserJet 4 Plus" printer -> select "Properties" -> select "Ports" tab -> uncheck box for "Enable bidirectional support".  Reboot the computer.

If printing on the host computer is now stable, re-enable the "share".  You may have to make the same change for each defined printer mapped to the share.

2.  Power Management.  If the printer does not print after sitting idle for several minutes, try modifying the power management attributes of its USB root hub.

On the host computer, "Start" -> "Run" -> type "devmgmt.msc" without the quotes and hit Enter key -> Within the "Universal serial bus controllers" category, select "USB root hub" hosting the printer -> right click that "USB root hub" -> select "Properties" -> select "Power Management" tab _> uncheck box for "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."  Reboot the computer and retest.