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Can't get printer to work

Started by marcbryant, 2011.12.25, 02:33:52

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marcbryant

I've got an Epson c-80 that worked fine under ecs-1.2.  Can't get it to work on 2.1.  Clicked on the driver package, dragged the c-80 object to the desktop set the port, made sure the .drv and .dll's were in the os2/boot/epom15 directory.  When I hit the print button it doesn't get to the spooler. (Usually the spooler shows a 1 and moments later it prints). Oh, I have Windose xp loaded in VPC and it won't print either yet I can check the ink levels. Any ideas?

thanks,

Marc

Pete

Hi

My guess is that something went wrong during creation of the printer.

Did you use the Desktop -> Local System ->. Printers -> Install Printer to install driver and create the printer?


Regards

Pete

marcbryant

I did that and it didn't work either. 2nd try I dragged and dropped from the Epson.drv file that has always worked for me. I have a program called PMpatroll  which shows the spooler ativity and the print job never makes it to the spooler. It's got to be something simple. I'm just at a loss for the solution.

ALT

When you go into the printer properties notebook, Printer Driver page: can you open the Job Properties dialog?  If nothing happens when you click the button that indicates that the driver install is corrupted.

If it works then the problem may be the port configuration.  Is this a USB-attached printer?

marcbryant

I can't get job properties so I guess the driver is corrupted. I can't delete the driver, epsoni5.drv.  Tried the shredder but it won't delete it or the folder that it is in.  Attributes of the driver are archive only so I don't understand why it can't be deleted. I have to get it deleted before I re-install.  Printer is lpt1.
Funny the drag and drop method installs the driver in the C:\os2\dll directory while the e-com install puts it in the C:\ecs\install\prndrv directory.

Pete

Hi

To delete a .drv file make sure that it is no longer in use - in this case deselect the driver in the printer object properties - then open a command line window and use the del command.

I'm not sure but suspect that OS/2 based systems are "hard wired" to find printer drivers in the \os2\dll directory tree. The drivers are initially installed by eCS to \ecs\install\prndrv but when you actually create a Desktop printer object and select a printer the necessary files are copied to \os2\dll\?


Regards

Pete

ALT

I suspected that would be the case.  :P

You may not need to delete the driver, just fix the bad install data.

Basically, there's three main things that can cause problems like this (at least with non-PS drivers). 

  • The EPOMNI5 key is missing from OS2.INI --> PM_DEVICE_DRIVERS
  • The extended attributes on EPOMNI5.DRV are missing or corrupted
  • \OS2\INSTALL\PRDESC.LST has the wrong name (e.g. incorrect capitalization) for the driver description.

Check the first two to begin with, as they're somewhat easier to spot.  The EPOMNI5 key in OS2.INI should be a string containing the full path to the driver, e.g. "c:\os2\dll\epomni5\epomni5.drv".

If EPOMNI5.DRV (in the directory noted above) is missing its extended attributes, you can use eautil to rejoin them from the ones shipped on CD.

AFAIK, the corresponding line in \OS2\INSTALL\PRDESC.LST should look like:
Epson Stylus C80 Series Inkjet Printer: C80 (epomni5.drv)
(exactly as written).


BTW, the drivers under \OS2\DLL are the ones used by the system.  The ones in \ECS\INSTALL\PRNDRV are where it goes to find new drivers to install.  Every time you install a new printer object, it copies the driver files from \ECS\INSTALL\PRNDRV\PMDD_x (based on the directory index defined for the driver in \os2\install\prdrv.lst) - although if you have the corresponding files already installed under \OS2\DLL, it'll ask you if you want to replace them or not.

marcbryant

What editor do you use for the ini files? As for the ea's how would I know if they are missing?  Everything else checks out ok.
I do show a file epomn15.ea in the eprom15 package. If that file are the extended attributes what program would I use connect them to the .drv file?

Thanks for the tips!

RobertM

regedit2 will work in a pinch (just type that at a commandline) - though its intent is for Windows based registry changes to keys needed for WinOS2 and Win32 stuff.

Possibly (or definitely) better, definitely OS/2 specific ini file editors can be found at these two locations (and on Hobbes and elsewhere):
http://www.os2site.com/sw/util/ini/index.html
http://www.pmoylan.org/pages/os2/os2info.html (Scroll to "System Maintenance and Tuning")


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Kirk's 5 Year Mission Continues at:
Star Trek New Voyages
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ivan

I would recommend iniedit v1.02.  It is the only editor that I have found that I trust with OS/2 ini files, just be careful when using it or any other ini editor, especially when using it on the main os2.ini and os2sys.ini.

There is also a small program - I've forgotten the name - that can be used for cleaning up printer settings in the ini files.

ivan 

Pete

Hi ivan

The utility you are thinking of is, probably, prndrv.exe which can be found here http://www.os2site.com/sw/comm/faxworks/prndrv.exe


Regards

Pete

ivan

Thanks Pete, that's the one.

I should have got up and looked on my main computer but it's much too nice sitting here on the terrace in the sun - warmer outside than in.

Belated happy Christmas to everyone.

Also a good New year to all.

ivan

marcbryant

#12
Ok I did everything you guys said.  Files checked out ok.  Removed entries from ini files.  Got rid of the epromi5.drv by remming  out print1.drv in the config.sys file.  Rebooted moved the eprom directory into a temp folder and shredded it rebooted with the rem line deleted  went to install printer choose epson c-80 and said it couldn't find the file pmdd_5 in the ecs\install\prn directory.  So I went to install it as I have allways done in the last 30 years and it still won't work.  One of concern is epomni5.ea fron the eprom package.  If it is the extended attributes, what program can I use tool put them back in the .drv file?


Never mind! I got it working! Finally! Used some drivers from an Australian web site.  Went to the os2\dll\epsoni5 directory right clicked on the driver and selected install.  Tried to print no go.  Then I double clicked on the driver and copied the printer C-80 to the desktop and set the right port and now it's working like a charm. It may not be the right way but it worked!
Now if I can only find out why my cd drive takes so long to read the disk.