Microsoft KB Archive/95073

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Epson 286 Incorrectly Indicates that Printer is Out of Paper

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ID: Q95073

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11
 * Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c
 * Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.0, 4.0
 * Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows, version 3.0

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SYMPTOMS
When printing from Word for Windows to an Epson 286 9-pin printer with the optional Cut Sheet Feeder attachment, the paper-out sensor will interrupt printing between feeding pages. This problem occurs with the EP9.DRV (version 2.10) and updated Universal printer driver (version 3.1.2) in both Word for Windows and Windows Write.

CAUSE
The optional Cut Sheet Feeder automatically feeds paper one page at a time into the printer. Between feeding pages, there is a brief period when no paper is over the paper-out sensor. This results in a paper-out signal being sent through the parallel port via pin number 12. The Epson 286 printer has a dip switch setting that deactivates the paper-out sensor; however, this only deactivates the beeping, not the signal on pin number


 * 1) The Epson 9-pin printer driver which shipped with Windows 3.1 (version

1.0) did not sense the paper out signal and worked fine with the optional Cut Sheet Feeder attachment. The newer Epson 9-pin printer driver (version 2.10) always senses the signal from pin 12 and halts printing with an error that it cannot send to the port.

WORKAROUND
Use the older Epson printer driver which shipped with Windows 3.1 when using the cut sheet feeder optional attachment.

MORE INFORMATION
The following excerpt from page A-5 of the &quot;Epson 286 Printer User's Manual&quot; describes the dip switch setting for the paper-out sensor:

"Switch 1-3 controls the paper-out sensor. When it is on, the printer will ignore the lack of paper, causing printing to continue even when the printer is out of paper. When it is off, the printer stops and sounds the beeper when the end of paper passes the paper-out sensor. The PE (Paper End) signal will go out of pin 12 on the host connector regardless of the setting of switch 1-3."