Microsoft KB Archive/100181

Troubleshooting the Windows Printing System

PSS ID Number: Q100181 Article last modified on 09-09-1996

1.00

WINDOWS

= SUMMARY =

Treat the Windows Printing System (WPS) software as you do any other Windows printer driver when you are troubleshooting a problem. First make sure that the printer functions correctly with the appropriate Windows Hewlett-Packard (HP) LaserJet driver without the WPS cartridge installed. Also, make sure that the cartridge is installed in one of the supported HP LaserJet printers. (The cartridge is not supported on any printer not manufactured by Hewlett-Packard).

= MORE INFORMATION =

First check to make sure the WPS cartridge is installed correctly by using the following procedure:

  Make sure that the cartridge is properly inserted in the printer’s left-most slot.   Take the printer offline.   Choose one of the following key combinations for the proper model printer: Printer Model Front Panel Key Combination ————- ————————— IIP IIIP IIP+ MENU + II III IID IIID CONTINUE MENU   Press the appropriate front panel keys briefly, then wait 10 seconds. 

If the printer front panel displays “WPS 1.00 READY,” the cartridge is correctly installed and should function correctly. If any other message appears, such as “Copies ####” or “00 READY,” turn off the printer, reinsert the cartridge in left-most slot, and repeat the above procedure. If the printer panel continues to display an improper message, the WPS cartridge is probably defective.

If the cartridge is installed properly, start Windows in standard mode and try to print a test page with the following steps:


 * 1) In Control Panel, choose the Printers icon.
 * 2) In the Printers dialog box, make sure that WPS is selected.
 * 3) Choose the Setup button.
 * 4) In the Setup dialog box, choose the Test Printer button.

If this is unsuccessful, you should clean boot the computer and try the test page again.

For more information, refer to “Streamline the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files” section on page 99 of the “Windows Getting Started” manual, or query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

clean and boot and windows 3.1

If the problem still exists, continue with the following steps:


 * Check the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file for third-party virtual device drivers.
 * In the [386Enh] section of the SYSTEM.INI file, comment out DEVICE=VCD.386 and DEVICE=WPSLJVPD.386 by adding a semicolon to the beginning of each line, and add the line DEVICE=*VCD to the [386Enh] section.
 * Comment out the Load= and Run= lines in the WIN.INI file if they contain anything.
 * In the WPS.INI, set BIDI= from 1 to 0. This may allow the system to work without bidirectional communications.

The WPS is not supported while using any type of electronic switching device. Always remove any switching device when testing the WPS to ensure the integrity of the data being sent to the printer. Bidirectional communications may be lost if a switch is used.

For more information about the Windows Printing System, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

WPS

KBCategory: kbprint KBSubCategory: Additional reference words: wps 3.10 windrvr 3.11 tshoot

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================================================================ Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1996.