My printer will not reinstall

I have a Lexmark X85 all-on-one printer (copy/scan/fax/print), which I have been successfully running on Windows XP Pro, on a 40GB, 256RDR RAM, Pentium4 PC. The printer suddenly stopped working, displaying error messages when I attempted to print, so I uninstalled it completely and started from scratch, as if the printer were brand new. The installation goes well until the drivers are setup, whereupon I receive the error message "The argument is invalid". Upon attempting to finish the installation, I also get this message: "Operation cannot be completed. Either the printer name was typed in incorrectly or the specified printer has lost its connection to the server." Upon further attempts to reinstall, I also receive a message indicating somewhing wrong with the "monitor" (?) and another later one indicating "Error launching printtray.exe".

I downloaded appropriate drivers from the Lexmark website, supposing a driver problem, but this was unsuccessful. I also attempted to install the printer both with the Installation CD ROM and without, with no success. And upon the advice of a friend I attempted a Restoration through Windows XP Help and Support, only to have the computer inform me there had been no changes to the computer since the beginning of the month, despite my problem beginning just yesterday.

Help! Any ideas, anyone? I do not understand the error messages, and am unable to pursue the matter further alone.

Roseric

 

If the printer connects via USB, unplug it from your system.

Perform an uninstall of the printer drivers and software. Make sure that there are no print devices listed under "Printers & Faxes" after the uninstall.

Than, since the printer worked from the software on the CD it came with, reinstall that. Once completed, plug the printer back in to your system, wait for it to recognize it properly. Check that it is listed under "Printers & Faxes". Before trying to print something from a program, right click on the printer and try printing a test page first. If that goes OK, try printing from other programs.

Good Luck.

 

Thank-you, KK, for your advice. Unfortunately, it hasn't helped. I have uninstalled the printer by use of the Lexmark Uninstall program, as well as using Norton Uninstall, and have the same result. In addition, the computer does not recognize the printer as plug-and-play, and it is not installing properly from the CD-ROM. I am thinking at this point the problem may be with the CD-ROM, although I have only used it once before, on the printer's original installation, approximately 18 months ago.

Just in case I haven't provided enough info, or missed something important, let me review exactly what I do, and what happens as a result of my efforts to install the Lexmark.

Upon insertion of the CD-ROM the screen says "establishing directory", then "updating registry", and then "Start Sprint, 4.0 Setup", with the following below: "This installation is created with Installer VISE from Mood Vision Software".

Next the screen reads "installing software for the printer", followed by a prompt to connect the USB cable. After a couple of bleeps (a "tin can". followed by a two-tone xylophone and a "lip pop"), the word "setup" appears.
Then "Starting Lexmark Installation" and "Prepare Installation Shield Wizard".

Next comes "Driver installation", then "Select Port", USB-Lexmark(recommended) or FILE. I choose the former. Then "Enter name of printer" (the default name already shows in the window), and then "Setup has enough info to start copying the program files", followed by "Setup is updating your system".

Thie is where it gets interesting. Under the heading "Printer", the message "The argument is invalid" appears. I click "OK". Then "error launching printtray.exe", and finally "Setup has finished installing". I click "Finish".

Then I go to Settings (or through Control Panel/Printers/Add Printer) and access the "Add Printer Wizard", which prompts "Select option". I select "local printer attached to the computer". Next comes "select port", and I choose the recommended one. Then "Install printer sofware", and as the model of printer is not on the list generated, I click on "have disk".

"Insert manufacturer's disk" leads to display of the proper name in the window, but with the notation below it "This driver is not digitally signed". I click Next, type a name for the printer in the next window, indicate Yes or No to a test page in the next one, then see "Completing the Add Printer Wixard" and "You have successfully completed...", and I click on Finish.

At this point other interesting things happen. I get the error message "Printer driver was not installed. Operation could not be completed."

Usually at this point I attempt to use the printer, or check the Add Printer Window - there is nothing there, and the printer will not work. So I went to the Lexmark website and downloaded the correct driver(s) for this printer model to the Lexmark Folder, and click on the Install icon. This takes me completely through the installation process all over again, but with the added error message "failed AddMonitor()-3006, superimposed on an empty black window titled "C:\PROGRA~1\LEXMAR~1\WIN2k\InstMon... Then it finishes the setup process, updates the system, and I find myself back at the Add
Printer Wizard.

Well, that's the long sad story. I apologize for the length of my messge, and hope that someone can help me with this. If not, I will try to find someone with the same printer and borrow his/her CD-ROM to see if my theory holds water.

Help!

Roseric

 

You could try doing a repair install of XP, maybe a system file has been messed up. Might not fix it but it wont hurt.

 

Thanks to all for their suggestions - I did a complete reinstall of Windows XP and that did the trick. The Lexmark techies were helpful and prompt, just for everyone's general information.

roseric