Please help I am using Compaq Presario 5000 series pc. I installed usb driver for a digital camera and since then ( I suppose) I am having difficulty in getting printed a document or pictures etc. The trouble shooter at the computer itself did not help. I initially thought that there is a mistake in my printer and installed a new printer ( a Lexmark) and while it is installed it says a wrong printer is connected to the pc ( in spite of it being connected properly). When I try to remove the LTP1 port from the printers property dialog box ( thinking of reinstalling it a fresh) it keeps on saying that the printer port is being used by a printer despite no printing job carried out. I overhauled the HDD by the restore CD provided with the PC when I bought it brand new. However the problem persists. Can anyone help me in guiding how to make the port free ( as if it is being used by some other application that I cannot identify). Many thanks.

Please clarify some points: 1. At the time you installed the USB camera, what was the Printer [EXACT make & model please: NOT just the name of the manufacturer alone:-)]attached to the PC? [ How was that 'old printer' connected to the PC? 3. Did you uninstall that old Printer before the New Lexmark Printer was installed? 4. Is this Lexmark Printer ( Model Please) a USB or Parallel Printer? 5. Has this new Lexmark ever printed normally or started giving the problem after a period of normally working? 6. If it has worked ok, when did it work normally the last time? [in days from today or Calendar date] 7.Are there any other USB devices attached to the PC besides the USB camera? 8. Do you have any USB device attached via a Powered USB Hub?

Thanks Madhuri 1. At the time you installed the USB camera, what was the Printer [EXACT make & model please: NOT just the name of the manufacturer alone:-)]attached to the PC? [ How was that 'old printer' connected to the PC? HP Desk Jet 670C connected with a paralel port 3. Did you uninstall that old Printer before the New Lexmark Printer was installed? No 4. Is this Lexmark Printer ( Model Please) a USB or Parallel Printer? Lexmark 3200 using a paralell port 5. Has this new Lexmark ever printed normally or started giving the problem after a period of normally working? It is just out from box.!! 6. If it has worked ok, when did it work normally the last time? [in days from today or Calendar date] 7.Are there any other USB devices attached to the PC besides the USB camera? No. 8. Do you have any USB device attached via a Powered USB Hub? No.. Please reeply

You may try this: 1.Click Start>Settings >Printers 2.In the Printers folder RIGHT click on on the Lexmark 3200 printer listed there and verify if there is a Check mark on Set as default 3.If NO check mark is seen, check the Set as default and then click Properties > Print Test Print Page button 4.If the Test Page is Printed successfully, try printing from MS Word/ WordPad etc 5.If Test Page is NOT Printed, copy any error messages displayed for any future troubleshoot questions. 6.From Printers Folder , Right click Lexmark 3200 and then click Delete. Similarly RIGHT click and Delete any other Printers listed [Example your old HP DeskJet 670C] 7.Open Add/Remove Programs [ Start>settings >Control Panel> Add/Remove Programs] and Remove any Printer Software seen by selecting and then clicking Add/Remove button. 8. Restart the Computer [ with the current Lexmark3200 still connected] 9. Open Printers folder using Step-1 above 10.Click Add Printer> Next> Local Printer. 11.Select Lexmark from Manufacturer's list and click Have Disk... in the Right Panel 12.Insert the Lexmark3200 Software Diskette in Floppy A: or if Disc in CD-ROM drive and direct the search to that and follow the on -screen prompts.

You may also want to go into to the bios and make sure your LPT1 port is set to ECP/EPP or "ECP or Epp" (combined, not just ECP or EPP, the wording depends on your bios.) If it's set to Bidirectional, it may not work. And in order to remove the printer port,you'd have to uninstall (Delete) all the printers, make sure nothing is attached to the LPT1 physically, reboot and then you could remove the port. Larry

thanks maduri and larry. with regard to Maduri's helpful notes ( many thanks for the pain undertook to type that)I have already tried and exhuasted before I begged help from all of you. The problem is that the pC is identifying ( i think)something constantly occupied the LPT1 port. The funniest part was that when my previous printer ( HP Deskjet) was used it was saying a communication error when tested communications, but giving out garbled printouts with symbols and signs and continuos printing. To Larry: I can remove LPT1 at the system properties->device manager -> ports and it getting automatically reinstalled at the next boot up. The time I cannot remove LPT1 is when I am at the printer properties dialog box->remove port , which says that the said port is in use by a printer. I have checked at the CMOS setting ( pressing del at bootup) and see that LPT1 is ECP mode. does not say it is enabled or not. please give me further Ideas

Colt, You may try this; Uninstall your Printer (lexmark3200) software from CP and Delete the Printer in Printers folder. Disconnect the Printer from Printer Port and Power Off. Restart PC in Safe mode. Check for Ghost LPT1 and if found remove it as well as LPT1. Restart The PC in normal mode. Now check the Device Manager. LPT1 would have been reinstalled by Windows as a non- plug and play device. But if you now try to remove LPT1 in normal mode from Device Manager, it should not give the warning about it being used by a Printer. Now, you connect the Printer as per the manual and Install its Software as suggested. I think you wil be able to have a working printer because the BIOS has already shown it to be ECP the best mode for most Parallel Printers for two-way Communication with Windows, the LPT1 is free and the correct drivers are installed and no other software is there to cause conflict.