Printer offline error help!
Hi guys... I have a computer issue, and since you're all a bunch of whiz-kids, I thought I'd ask around.
I have a Dell inspiron 1520 laptop running Windows Vista, and I'm trying to get my Canon Mp600 printer to run with it. The CD that came with the printer was for XP, so I downloaded the relevant Vista drivers from the Canon website. The computer seems to be recognising the printer, with one little problem - it says the printer is offline. The printer is plugged in, the cables seem fine, and I've tried the 'use printer offline' and 'use printer online' options, restarting the computer, trying a different USB port etc, but to no avail.
At one point it seemed like the printer was communicating - something briefly flashed up on the printer screen, but then the computer went back to saying it was offline. When I un-check the 'use printer offline' option, it just has an 'error' tag under printer status.
Help?
Ice.
I have a Dell inspiron 1520 laptop running Windows Vista, and I'm trying to get my Canon Mp600 printer to run with it. The CD that came with the printer was for XP, so I downloaded the relevant Vista drivers from the Canon website. The computer seems to be recognising the printer, with one little problem - it says the printer is offline. The printer is plugged in, the cables seem fine, and I've tried the 'use printer offline' and 'use printer online' options, restarting the computer, trying a different USB port etc, but to no avail.
At one point it seemed like the printer was communicating - something briefly flashed up on the printer screen, but then the computer went back to saying it was offline. When I un-check the 'use printer offline' option, it just has an 'error' tag under printer status.
Help?
Ice.
Not to be rude, but maybe this will help you a bit, if you search enough. At least, Google's helped me pretty much every time I had a problem, so...
I'm not a fool... I've spent hours on google. So far, I've discovered that HP, Canon and Lexmark printers all have a similar problem with Vista - vista sucks, and that all proposed solutions don't work. Google was, believe it or not, my first outlet. I only posted here because I've found some people on here in the past to have strokes of inspiration. 
A brief update - I don't know what I did, but the printer decided to print... a third of a page, and then it stopped, and its offline again. It doesn't seem to be a cord problem, it just seems bizarre 
Do a barrel roll.
But really, is there another computer in the household to test this printer out on? This will be the easiest way to discern if its the driver, printer, computer or any combination of the three.
But really, is there another computer in the household to test this printer out on? This will be the easiest way to discern if its the driver, printer, computer or any combination of the three.
1) Backup all your saves on another storage device.
2) Find a copy of a Windows XP install CD.
3) Reformat your Harddrive.
4) Install Windows XP.
2) Find a copy of a Windows XP install CD.
3) Reformat your Harddrive.
4) Install Windows XP.
1. Have you antivirus on your computer? If so, it's usually preferable to disable it while driver installation.
2. There is a known problem with USB devices - some of them just can't get along together. Do you have USB devices plugged in while using the printer?
Canon printers also sometimes don't like to share the PC with other devices (e.g. I had to move ACER scanner to another PC because of Canon printer).
3. I have an impression that Vista is still dripping wet, so if you don't really need Vista to run your applications, do what Striker said - downgrade to XP.
4. If you have another computer with XP you can share the printer (make a network)
2. There is a known problem with USB devices - some of them just can't get along together. Do you have USB devices plugged in while using the printer?
Canon printers also sometimes don't like to share the PC with other devices (e.g. I had to move ACER scanner to another PC because of Canon printer).
3. I have an impression that Vista is still dripping wet, so if you don't really need Vista to run your applications, do what Striker said - downgrade to XP.
4. If you have another computer with XP you can share the printer (make a network)
Similar to striker's idea, install Windows XP as a secondary partition. Running both WinXP and Vista can be useful, I'll admit.
My other suggestion:
1) Log onto Ebay
2) Sell the printer there
3) Buy a new, Vista-compatible printer
My other suggestion:
1) Log onto Ebay
2) Sell the printer there
3) Buy a new, Vista-compatible printer
Thanks guys... just what I needed No, really thanks for the advice, lol.
The printer definitely works, we sent it to the shop to be fixed (it had a small problem with the paper feeder) and they ran a bunch of tests on it with XP, and it worked fine. So I'm presuming its Vista. The printer is Vista compatible, according to Canon anyway, it just came with an XP disc (the new MP600s are released with Vista CDs).
I've tried the obvious things... I really don't want to downgrade back to XP if I can help it, it'd be a hell of a hassle. I don't have too many problems with Vista generally.
Thanks anyway, any more ideas would be appreciated
PS Sorry if I sound ungrateful, I'm not, I'm just really tired
No, really thanks for the advice, lol.The printer definitely works, we sent it to the shop to be fixed (it had a small problem with the paper feeder) and they ran a bunch of tests on it with XP, and it worked fine. So I'm presuming its Vista. The printer is Vista compatible, according to Canon anyway, it just came with an XP disc (the new MP600s are released with Vista CDs).
I've tried the obvious things... I really don't want to downgrade back to XP if I can help it, it'd be a hell of a hassle. I don't have too many problems with Vista generally.
Thanks anyway, any more ideas would be appreciated
PS Sorry if I sound ungrateful, I'm not, I'm just really tired
