Clemente Tech News – March 2002

Clemente Tech News | March 2002 | Volume 1 | Issue 1

Now get printing!

Known Printer Issues
There is a known issue with the iMac computer running system 9.2 and printing through Macintosh Manager. Teachers may experience some difficulty printing and accessing the chooser if using an iMac running system 9.2 or higher. There is nothing teachers can do to correct this problem at this time. Clemente’s Computer Technology Coordinator Ron Walker is making all efforts to correct this issue.

Other Common Printer Issues
For most printing problems, the solution is to set the chooser. For all printers, access the Chooser under the Apple Menu in the upper left corner of the computer screen. When the Chooser dialog window opens, select your printer type in the left pane and the appropriate port in the right pane.

Make sure background printing is turned OFF and that AppleTalk is ACTIVE. If these settings are not correct, they may cause other problems in connecting your computer to the network as well.

For Hewlett-Packard DeskWriter 600 printers, select DW600 (not DW600 AT) in the left pane of the chooser and the modem (phone) port in the right pane. Then close the chooser.

For Epson 740 printers, select SC740 in the left pane and the USB port in the right pane if you are using the Epson with an iMac. For non-iMac computers, select the SC740 icon and the modem port.

For other printers, find the appropriate driver in the left pane, and check your computer for the correct port.

Using a Switch Box
Rooms equipped with an A-B switch box are special cases. Users must make sure the box is switched to the computer from which they wish to print. For example, most rooms are set up so that the left computer is “A” and the right computer is “B.” So when printing from the left computer, users must ensure that the box is switched to “A.” The box must also be correctly switched in order to set the chooser.

Performing a Printer Self-Test
At times users may find that their printer is not responding to the computer’s print commands. To determine whether there is a problem with the computer settings or the printer itself, first attempt to set the chooser as described above. If users cannot successfully set the chooser, they may need to check the printer itself for problems. Providing all cables are connected correctly, a printer self-test might tell whether or not the printer needs repairs.

To perform a printer self test on the DeskWriter 600 series printers, press and hold the paper feed button (indicated by the paper with a corner folded down on the printer). In a few seconds the green power light should start blinking, indicating that a print job is being processed.

Do not hold the paper feed button down when you see the power light blinking. Shortly after the light begins blinking a printout should feed through the printer. This is the test print. A successful test print indicates that the printer functions well and that there might be another problem, i.e. bad cables, cables with bent pins, improper connections, etc.

Make a valid choice

There are new developments in the printing problems with Epson 740 printers. Teachers are now reporting that both teachers and students get a message that “there is not a valid printer chosen” even after setting the chooser and changing the page setup as instructed. The computer department is working on a solution to this problem. It affects everyone who signs in and attempts to print to a local Epson printer.

We will keep everyone informed of what we find out about this as we work to resolve this issue. We thank you for your patience, understanding, and cooperation as we upgrade computers in classrooms and provide a stronger technological presence for staff and students alike.

In the meantime, remember that the new network features allow users to login at another computer— perhaps in a computer lab or a team member’s classroom—access their documents, and proceed to print. Please take advantage of this option while we continue to hammer out the printing issues with the Epson printers.