I can't print!!! Help!?

Question

I have an EPSON C80 printer which i connected to my pc with a USB cable (short length, shielded). The printer was recognised by Windows Vista Business and installed correctly. Although i can check the ink cartridge level from the properties when i try to print something, it sends it to the printer queue, it disappears but the printer does not print anything (it doesn't even try to start printing).

I had this printer connected to a Windows XP machine with a parallel cable and worked nice, but after i bought a new pc and connected it to usb it doesn't print (no parallel port on the new pc).

I would appreciate any help,

Nezos

Reinstalled the driver (contacted epson and the only solution was to reinstall the drivers in a certain way which i did, they also suggested to change the printer spool directory, but no option is available using the drivers for vista). PC is fully updated, there is no hotfix for my problem.

Answer 1

This looks like to be USB port recognition related problem. Is it possible to connect the printer through parallel port to Vista or USB to XP ?
Try segregating the cause by doing both of above.
1. It prints from vista thru' Parallel - Printer USB port is defective
2. It prints from XP thru' USB - Vista PC problem or driver problem
3. It does not print from either set up - Printer problem
4. It does printing is all set up except Vista with USB - Driver bug or configuration problem.

Answer 2

Although theoretically, we should be able to plug in and unplug and USB device, it doesn't seem to work that way - at least not for me. I have found it necessary, before unplugging a USB device, to go through the "safely remove" procedure.

Have you tried unplugging the printer, restart, then plug in? Or, it may also be you need a fix to get it to work with Vista. Contact Epson to see if they can help you there. This sometimes happens with newer programs. My HP didn't work properly after I downloaded IE7. I contacted HP - they knew about the problem - had a fix - problem solved.

Good luck.