My sanity

[susandennis]

This printer thing is making me crazy. I woke up at 4:15 this morning stressing about it. I just cannot believe how this thing is kicking my ass. Besides need the occasional hard copy and scanning capabilities every now and again, it's a matter of pride.

About 5:15 I had a bit of a light bulb... I could try installing it on my little Fujitsu Lifebook. That would test both the printer and the cable.

So I did. I didn't bother to dig out and hook up the external DVD drive to install all of the crap on the CD. I just downloaded the print drivers and the twain drivers and installed them. I got some error messages and it was a bit of a cluster fuck, but I got them all installed and rebooted and BAM! I have printer and I have scanner.

Halefuckingloooya!!

So. It's not the printer. It's not the cable. I'm 99% certain it's not the USB 1.1 pci hub or the USB 2.0 pci hub or the USB ports built into the machine. My prime suspect is Windows XP - or at least as it currently lives on this desktop.

But, I think I'm going to take today off. Probably next weekend, I'll get back on the project. I think I'll start with replicating the install I did on the Lifebook - drivers only from the website. Failing that, I'll try Microsoft telephone support. Failing that, I'll reinstall XP on this machine. I probably should do a clean install but maybe I can buy a year or two with a reinstall.

Meanwhile, here's what started this whole thing. I wanted a digital version of Jake's baby picture. August, 1989. Can you stand the cuteness?

Comments

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

Jake's so damn squeezable and cute. I love fuzzballs. My furball is about 6 months older than Jake.

[treebreeze.livejournal.com]

Adorable.....he has your eyes...;)

[susandennis]

While clicking to get this window open, I had several scandalous retorts flip through my sick brain... Fortunately, for you, I got a hold of myself. So, I'll just go with :)

[theryn.livejournal.com]

His blue tag looks like a little blue bow tie. It's terribly terribly cute.

[kyrielle]

He is so, so adorable. Thank you for posting that.

And good luck with the printer. What a mess. (I assume you've checked the web site in case there are updated drivers for XP, particularly service pack 2, from what came with the printer?)

[susandennis]

Oh yeah, first off. I had a couple of Lexmark printers on this machine since the last service pack and I discovered yesterday that apparently Lexmark redirects the print spooler default forever. It takes an unnatural act to get that fixed but I did. I'm pretty sure, however, that it is still the root of the problem.

Now that I've narrowed down the problem, I'm feeling better about getting a solution plus, now I do have the ability to print and scan here at home so things are decidedly brighter!

[kyrielle]

...they do WHAT?

Mental note to self: have nothing to do with Lexmark, EVER.

[susandennis]

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm#LexmarkDriver

Plus, the guy at OfficeMax yesterday dismissed Lexmark as an option really fast and I said "why? just curious" And he said their cartridges are the most expensive and their printers suck 'em down like they need a 12 step program!

Good note to self.

[kyrielle]

YUCK. A bad bet all around, it sounds like - thanks for the warning!

[pheon.livejournal.com]

As a retired color printer person, I can add that Lexmark has been one of the most proactive companies in using anything they can to tie you to their replacement cartridges. They put a chip in their cartridges that the printer checked to make sure it was a real Lexmark cartridge. When replacement companies duplicated the technique, Lexmark took them to court for violation of the DMCA. [They lost.] HP tried a similar tactic, but also failed.

The printer companies make most of their money on the long tail of replacement cartridges, not on the original printer cost. And I notice several people realizing that it is cheaper to buy a new (subsidized) printer than to buy a replacement cartridge. Of course, the printer companies are making the cartridge installed on the printer smaller and smaller, so this may cease to be workable....

[susandennis]

Interesting. I have ruined printers with cheap cartridges. Now I just don't print unless I absolutely have to.

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

Awwww shucks, what a cutie.

[roadskoller.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, he's so cute. I had a cat that color once and my dad named him Smut.

[davmoo.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you have a very bad virus on your computer. The name of this particular virus is "Windows XP". There is a freely available program to remove it. Its called "Linux". There are several versions.

I'll run and hide now, before she reads this...but I so rarely get to use that joke with someone who works for The Evil Empire itself, and I couldn't resist...

[susandennis]

It's so sad that you have to settle for a contractor and not a real Microsoft employee. I'm sorry. But, if I'm the only foil ya got, I'm happy to serve.

[davmoo.livejournal.com]

The only two "real" Microsoft employees I knew both moved on to other things over the last two years. So you're all I've got for Microsoft humor now. Aren't you lucky?! ;-)

[susandennis]

It's an honor. I'd like to thank...

[letmesaythis.livejournal.com]

That's definitely more cuteness than I can bear. He was an adorable baby.

[pinkrose70.livejournal.com]

Awww...what a nice, shiny coat on that little guy. And Jake's still quite the looker now, in his distinguished older gentleman way.

Glad you had that light bulb idea and have a working printer, even if it's on
your other computer for now. ;)

[theryn.livejournal.com]

I just saw

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<a href"http://www.shopintuition.com/products/pursepal/index.html">') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

I just saw <a href"http://www.shopintuition.com/products/PursePal/index.html"> these</a> and thought of you.

[susandennis]

VERY clever! And... actually, kind of tempting. Thanks for the URL!

[minimac.livejournal.com]

Awww...what a cutie!

I popped over from Ossie's Journal

[genesisdiem.livejournal.com]

and I saw that you knitted afghans. I have a friend who does afghans for everyone and I wanted to get her something. Any ideas what she might like such as a new toy or some container or some such? thanks!

ps baby kitties are the cutest!

Re: I popped over from Ossie's Journal

[susandennis]

What a wonderful question!

You didn't say how much you wanted to spend or whether she knits or crochets, but I would think any afghan maker might like a little bag of maybe:

http://www.herrschners.com/products/sku-014048-0000__id-3516__tab-.html
and maybe a package of these cool labels
http://www.herrschners.com/depts/id-3516__tab-__page-4.html
and
http://www.herrschners.com/products/sku-013109__id-3513__tab-.html

But, mainly, I'll bet she'll be thrilled that you went to the trouble!

Let me know if I can help further. Any friend of Ossie's... :)

Re: I popped over from Ossie's Journal

[genesisdiem.livejournal.com]

thank you so much! I'm going to poke around that site some more as well. I may find enough little things to make a little basket or I may just see if they have a gift card I can purchase so that she can buy what she needs to make everyone's afghans. She's such a wonderful woman! I find most women who sew tend to be really patient and friendly. :D

Re: I popped over from Ossie's Journal

[susandennis]

I'm sure whatever you decide to get will be wonderful. Herschnner's is my favorite place to buy knitting stuff. Don't hesitate to ask if you hit on something that needs an explaination. Your friend is very lucky to have you.

Re: I popped over from Ossie's Journal

[genesisdiem.livejournal.com]

thank you, thank you

[nt.livejournal.com]

Depending on what you use a printer for, I wonder if using a service like EZ Prints (http://www.ezprints.com/home/) for digital photos, or Kinkos (http://fedex.kinkos.com/fpfk/howto.php) for documents, might be easier?

Very cute pic of baby Jake, by the way!

[susandennis]

Good suggestions that I actually considered seriously in lieu of a printer/scanner. But my closest Kinkos is not open on Sundays and has really limited hours on Saturdays. And, I'm lazy.