I've got an old laptop running Win98SE which I've given to a friend. She's trying to get an Epson C42UX printer working on it and can't. I've had a look and it's getting recognised by Windows fine and all of the Epson USB drivers work. The Epson software to query the printer about the ink cartridges also works fine.

The problem is that Windows has decided not to spool anything at all. Nothing ever happens when you try to print. It doesn't complain and doesn't know about any errors or faults. I've reinstalled the printer software and it hasn't helped.

Anybody got any ideas about how to convince Windows to actually print?

- Trevor

Have you done the simple test of printing the Test Page from the printer properties dialogue? (Right click on printer)

Does the printer self test and print a test page OK, independently of SE?

Yep. Tried pressing the test page button in the properties for the printer. Does absolutely nothing on the actual printer itself. Windows thinks it's done it and brings up the dialog box asking if it's printed.

The printer seems able to print and the laptop is able to control it to a certain extent. All of the supplied Epson utilities work with it and it can command the printer to execute it's cleaning cycle and test print.

I'm currently backing everything up and I'll probably reinstall Windows and see how it goes. Windows should be that badly broken however as it's only got Office installed. It is the Sony install of Windows 98SE however so it does have some Sony applications installed.

- Trevor

Does it print when connected by parallel? (if this connection is present)

It's a USB only printer so I can't really tell

- Trevor

I've given up and just reinstalled Windows. Works now

- Trevor