printing problem

[dahlarbear]

They can print using Office applications, but they can not print from Firefox or IE8.

[patio]

Tried doing it from a "print preview" window yet ? ?

[dahlarbear]

Do you have the "Microsoft Software Inventory Analyzer software" installed?

If so, see Printing functionality fails in Internet Explorer 7 and 8 on Windows XP.

They don't mention computer freezing as a symptom however.

[Kando]

Thanks for the link. I don't know if the MSIA is installed but tomorrow is a half day for the kids I will have the lab all to myself to work on the problem.  I must say though that this is almost as annoying as removing the McAfee anti virus only to have to download and run the McAfee removal tool.

I will let you know how it goes tomorrow afternoon.

[Kando]

More annoyances, the MSIA was not installed. I downloaded it, ran it and removed per the last paragraph and the problem remains. I can test print, print from Office applications but when trying to print from either IE8 or Firefox the browser freezes up. The mouse works and when it reaches the top of the window it changes from the hourglass to the arrow, that lets me minimize or close the window. It takes 3 or 4 tries to close it and I get "(not responding)" next to Mozilla Firefox. When it closes I get the info box asking if I want to send an error report.

I tried printing using Print Preview but got the browser freeze with that too. Also, when the browser freezes both the Firefox and IE icons in the extreme top left change to what looks like a blank window.

As a precaution I ran Symantec 10, Ad-aware, Malwarebytes and Spybot. There were a couple of things found, tracking cookies mainly, but they were removed. Repeat scans found nothing.

Any other ideas?

Thanks

NEW INFO - I went to File>Page setup and the browser froze again. So either the problem is not with the printing or it is spreading out into other areas. Still looking for help with it.

NEW INFO - Now it freezes up when I try to print a Word doc. Office 2007 installed.

[dahlarbear]

Both browsers, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox, can be invoked via their own "safe mode" (I believe this starts each without any of their helper programs or add-on extensions).  For testing purposes, it might be worth a shot...

See Run Internet Explorer and Firefox without Addons.

[Kando]

Thanks I will try that on Monday

[Kando]

No luck on the printing front.

I started up IE8 and FF and tried to print - window froze, need task manager to close
I started up IE8 and FF in their safe modes - window froze, need task manager to close
I rebooted into Safe Mode, started up IE8 and FF and tried to print - no printer installed, could not install printer in safe mode. I was able to open and use Page Setup.
I rebooted into Safe Mode, started up IE8 and FF in their safe mode and was able to use Page Setup. Still can't print

Any other ideas or options?

Thanks

[Karnac]

You might try reset the printer.....

Resetting a Lexmark printer

You will firstly need to switch off your printer. Then simultaneously press the RETURN and READY keys while switching the printer on. This will take you to the Diagnostics Mode. The display unit will show the message 'Performing self test'. Choose 'Maintenance count'. Reset the count to make it zero. Then select the RETURN key and go back Diagnostics Mode. Then you can reset the printer to go back to the normal mode.


Failing that you might try sfc in case you're missing a necessary XP file to allow your printer to work.

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

You'll need the XP disk handy if requested

[Kando]

Unfortunately there is no ready button. The three on the left are Back, Menu and Stop. The center set of buttons are for going through the menus and the center check button selects your choices. And on the right is a number pad above a usb port.

Lastly there is no XP installation disk to use, these computers come with the software pre-installed by the Dept of Ed. There are standard images available, but that would wipe the computer and that is not what I am looking for.

[Kando]

Ok, I called in a favor and got a copy of XP. I ran sfc and it went through the disk, checking files. When it ended I was able to print from Word, but only once. I still can not print from either browser. The same problem, they freeze up if I try or if I select page setup.

What other options are there?

Thanks

[Quantos]

Is this problem still current?

[Kando]

Still current, still annoying me to no end, still looking for an answer.

Thanks

[Quantos]

Sit tight, I'll go over the symptoms and printer anomolies.

[Kando]

While you check it out I will be trying Google Chrome as an option. It may not have the issues that IE or FF have.