"Computer Not Communicating"

Added to this problem is the uncertainty of which forum this one should be in!
I am on Dell Inspiron E1505 laptop with Vista Ultimate SP2; AIO Dell Printer A960; d-Link WBR-1310 Router connecting this laptop with adjacent HP desktop, the total network.

I am unable to print from the laptop even when printer connected directly instead of to the desktop tower. For an extended period I had no difficulty printing from either computer. Trouble followed a Dell tech on remote assist uninstalling/reinstalling drivers on desktop to resolve unrelated problem rather than dealing with the error code. Easier for them but leaves the possibility of repetition as problem not addressed, as well as eliminating existing network.

I come here only after many hours on Dell phone support plus many email exchanges plus similar help from d-Link (the network is correctly set). The most frustrating aspect is Dell is at least partial responsible yet assert can without difficulty fix whatever needs fixing for $129!

With my inexperience I'm unsure just what needs fixing as I have reinstalled drivers, exchanged router/printer cables and followed various other instructions to no affect. Perhaps laptop "SetUp" needs redoing, but could not find where/how to do it. Got as far as fxsetutil.exe. but no further.

Will welcome specifics as to cause/cure from you more knowledgeable forum colleagues. Thank you.

 

Thanks Plodr for much info. I'll do as you say, but realize it is just what was last done with exception of A960 Printer status check. Currently it is just as you say it should be.

Answering your questions: Yes, printer connected directly to laptop; FYI, the OS of desktop, Win XP SP3; believe file/print sharing on both but unsure, and with some embarrassment, ask just where I should verify it! Cordially,

 

Did you say you couldn't print from two different computers with the driver installed? If you hooked the printer up directly to two different systems and installed the driver from the printer manufacturer's site, I would be looking at the printer and cables as suspect, not the OS.

 

No, Noone, print routinely from desktop XP SP3. Problem with laptop Vita Ultimate SP2.

 

Thanks again Ploda.

Will follow up although the technet URL is baffling. Printer not connected to Router, and so far as I know, it is not supposed to be.

Designation of default printer with check mark/hand/ready/0 routine on both computers.

 

Two frustrating hours since my earlier reply, ploda. Bottom line, have unistalled Dell A960 Printer completely from the Dell Vista laptop (found 3 copies of driver sets!) -- BUT cannot reinstall!
First to cover lesser matters: 2nd URL very helpful and showed on DESKTOP network disabled. Now easily enabled. On laptop Vista presentation much different than XP, but shows network connected. 3rd URL, fortunately, of no concern. Relates to inability to access anything on Vista; not my problem.

So many discrepancies between what is supposed to show and what does show makes it difficult not to bore you with a multitude of problems encountered when tried reinstall.
All sorts of reference screens at Dell. Easily complied with downloads of the 4 items shown: DRIVERS G10, A00;Firmware, 235.154..44.101; Patch/Upgrade, G5, A00; last one, Systems Firmware is duplicate of Firmware already entered but entered anyway.

From there went to A960 Download Page. Operating System box: entered Service Code 3RZRL31; not recognized, simply returned to entry box page. Alternative, enter model: Inspiron E1505: not listed, same return to entry page. Listed included 1501 (which showed 41 files) & 1520 (with 68 files). No way could I proceed despite having the aforemwntioned 4 downloads at Documents.

I'll go back to Dell Support but without any confidence in their boilerplate responses.

 

Thank you again ploda. No I reconnected the printer to the desktop where its usually been. As I understabd it, the settings now is for the network as per my earlier message. But of course the question has not yet come up!

Nothing back from Dell, but long experience teaches me I will, and it will be full of platitudes and boilerplate and probably not have a word in response to specific questions.

The strange it won't install so far as it appears to me is the blockage at entry of Computer Model. When Service Code unrecognized, and Inspiron E1505 unlisted, how can it progress? RO

 

UPDATE: Last night Dell remote assist did the reinstallation of Printer A960 on my laptop. It goes without saying, no explanation of the two Dell glitches which blocked my installation.

So now problem reduced to original "Computer Not Communicating..." Succession of screens following "Please select network printer you want to use" bewildering.
There are two entries \\RODELL (apparently laptop) & \\RODELL41PC (apparently desktop).
At "Select Printer", without knowing just how I did it, I brought up the full panoply: Dell A960/HP Deskjet 970CSe/Microsoft Document Writer/Fax/Quicken/Add Printer. (FoxIt Phantom printer uninstalled). The Dell & HP each ad two similar listings:
Dell AIO Printer A960
Dell AIO Printer A960 on DUKE41PC
Same with the HP.
Understand first title for laptop; second for desktop. However, unable to print on either.
The WBR-1310 d-Link Router support was no no help.

Hopefully this morass can be resolved, but will need step-by-step instructions to do so.

 

To remove misunderstandings, can print (Dell A960) from the HP desktop; A960 connected on HP tower. Dell laptop does not print just as you say, but it certainly does print when A960cable connected to it.

I put off disconnecting ethernet, etc., because it does not seem necessary in view of aforementioned. Nor any need for test pages which always come out beautifully.

What I do need is specific sequence of entries following "Please select network printer...."
As reported, there are a bewildering array of entries thereupon, all of which are far beyond my competence. Those I listed may not be all-inclusive, but if you can provide screen items in the order needed I should be able to make the entries.
What comes to mind is that familiar saying, "...you've forgotten more than I'll ever know"

Cordially,

 

Plodr I do hope you will understand my reluctance and apprehension at following your clear instructions. I may be, or probably am, way off-base in thinking they are retrogressing. To start "Add a Printer" where both Dell & HP printers already appear twice, plus assorted others as reported, seems inappropriate. To remove them and start again seems beyond my competence if not unnecessary.

What I reported as below seems to show the need to make correct entries as the respective screens appear. It is that sequence I so hope you can provide!

"Succession of screens following 'Please select network printer you want to use'.
There are two entries \\RODELL (apparently laptop) & \\RODELL41PC (apparently desktop).
At "Select Printer", without knowing just how I did it, I brought up the full panoply:
Dell A960/HP Deskjet 970CSe/Microsoft Document Writer/Fax/Quicken/Add Printer. (FoxIt Phantom printer uninstalled).
The Dell & HP each had two similar listings:
Dell AIO Printer A960
Dell AIO Printer A960 on DUKE41PC
Same with the HP.
Understand first title for laptop; second for desktop. Each prints if cable is connected.
The WBR-1310 d-Link Router support was no no help."

Your self-ref to kb922120, involving a hotfix download on the Win XP SP3 is not something I should undertake willingly, being as inexperienced (= stupid) as I am.
Overall I keep remembering that what I'm after is no more than what I had -- which functioned without setup difficulty or thereafter any problems in operating.

Cordially,

 

Plodr, progress up to the last item for complete interchangeability!

UPDATE: After review of CNET ASIA referral re SHARING, on desktop found name "Printer 4". Knew this to be the Dell A960; changed name.

Also checked re "Additional drivers", desktop being XP SP3 & laptop Vista SP2. Found list half-dozen items, one of which (an Intel) checked YES.

Went to laptop SHARING; no "Add Printer" (as was on desktop); checked name, found Printer 4, but when Cancelled, checked again, up came the Dell A960.

I had not intended to follow directions had "Add Printer" been there inasmuch as six printers already shown The Dell A960 & HP Deskjet 970CSe being each shown twice, it was safe assumption the ones with title RODELL41PC referred to desktop; ones without that to the laptop.

BUT on the desktop there was only one entry for each printer, each without RODELL41PC in title. Total five printers if include "Add Printer".
The "Additional Drivers" area was "blued out".

NETWORK ACTIVE LAPTOP PRINTED ROUTINELY! (This despite both printer cables connected to desktop!)

Here's the rub: Selecting HP Deskjet in place of the Dell A960: DID NOT PRINT.

One further anomoly on desktop. Opening taskbar A960 icon in use, 0 documents. At Ctrl Panel PRINTERS, the other icon with abbreviated title showed 3. Accepted to Cancel 2, but not the 3rd.
On desktop all five printers "0" & "Ready".

 

Greetings, plodr. Per 2/12/10 15:25, these are the six from Select Printers, not from Remove Printers. But to clarify listings, here they are:

On LAPTOP:
At "Select Printer", without knowing just how I did it, I brought up the full panoply:
1. Fax
2. Microsoft XPS Document Writer
3. Dell AIO Printer A960
4. Dell AIO Printer A960 on 192.168.0.101 (believe address on both computers)
5. Dell AIO Printer A960 on RODUKE41PC (believe this is desktop)
6. HP Deskjet 970CSe
7. HP Deskjet 970CSe on RODUKE41PC (believe this is desktop)


On DESKTOP:
1 & 2 only has one "version" --the one with printer name alone
3. Plus Add Printer
4. Plus Microsoft Doc Writer
5. ]Plus QUICKEN PDF Printer
(FoxIt Phantom printer uninstalled)

So when you say "...using 6 different printers" it's my turn to be confused! Although this list has been the same as long as I can remember, have never used FAX, nor MICROSOFT DOCUMENT WRITER. Unsure as to the laptop need to display 3 "versions" of Dell 960 & 2 HP Deskjet 970CSe, which make up the 6 total. But quite obviously one of each is used since it does (network) print.

Another observation is the simple printer name "version" on each computer printer list can be deleted. This on assumption if it were needed for laptop to print, its existence on the desktop should allow it to print as well!

Noting laptop has each printer with ...on RODUKE41PC, that is more likely the one needed on desktop. And as the ... on 192.168.0.101 is only shown for the Dell A960,not for HP Deskjet on laptop and also not shown at alll on desktop, it reinforces the ... on RODUKE41PC as the more likely. What say you?

Which comes back to LAPTOP network printing from both printers, but DESKTOP from neither, despite both cables connected to its tower.

Difficult to describe convoluted situation but I'm apprehensive as to taking any actions without your advice and guidance. Cordially, RO

 

Hi plodr. That you misunderstand my reports so often is much regretted.
The list of printers is only meant to show what's there and not anything more! FAX as you do seem to recognize, appeared automatically and has never been used but can be. The HP appears because I installed it. It's not a matter of choosing between it and the Dell. Objective is for the network to make either/both accessible. That's the interchangeability which started this endless thread!

I'd like to close it now. The network works on one computer and I'll just switch cables to use either on the other computer.

Sincere appreciation for all your efforts and those of others. Cordially, RO

 

So you just wanted to share a printer over the network? :-D

 

Both computers, desktop & laptop and both printers, Dell A960 & HP Deskjet 970CSe.

FYI, haven't been able to find how to put the CLOSED THREAD icon alongside this thread title. If you can do, please do. Cordially,