Printer Problem

[TopsyTurvy]

I have a strange fault running two printers off one machine through an A/B switch. Works fine with printer [A] (Lexmark) but will not print to [B] (HP DeskJet 500). All I get is the message in the Printer Folder:-

"There was an error writing to LPT1 for the (HP DeskJet 500). Cannot access the port.
It may be in use by another proogramme. Quit the other programs & try printing again"

I've tried deleting and reloading the drivers, changed cables, bypassed the A/B switch, checked there are no clashes with other programs. I've also tried the configuration on another machine and it works OK.

Machine is Socket 7 AMD K2 500 Windows 98SE

Any ideas? Many thanks for your replies

[michaeln]

Which printer have you set as default?

Which programme are you trying to print from?

If for instance you are in Microsoft word, whichever printer you have set as default, word will attempt to print to. If however you then throw the switch and enable the other printer but do not tell Word to print to the altrnative printer then you will hav problems.

[Lycia]

Originally posted by TopsyTurvy
[B]I have a strange fault running two printers off one machine through an A/B switch. Works fine with printer [A] (Lexmark) but will not print to (HP DeskJet 500). All I get is the message in the Printer Folder:-

"There was an error writing to LPT1 for the (HP DeskJet 500). Cannot access the port.
It may be in use by another proogramme. Quit the other programs & try printing again"

I've tried deleting and reloading the drivers, changed cables, bypassed the A/B switch, checked there are no clashes with other programs. I've also tried the configuration on another machine and it works OK.

Machine is Socket 7 AMD K2 500 Windows 98SE

Any ideas? Many thanks for your replies

Hmm, only used A/B switch the other way, two PCs pringting to one printer...ok, so is each printer assigned it's own port? When you install the first printer it should go to LPT1 and the second printer should install on LPT2.