Printer not working with PC

princessamy86

Hi everyone
Think I might have to take my PC to the shop to get fixed but thought I would ask you knowledgable people first;
For some reason, when I plug my printer into my PC, the wireless mouse stops working. I thought it might be that the USB port was knackered but it doesn't work in any of them. Also, if the printer is plugged in when I start the PC up then it just freezes without loading anything on the desktop, then the mouse stops responding. The keyboard (wired) still works, I'm very confused!
Can anyone help?
Thanks

macman

Does your wireless mouse connect into an adjacent USB port, or into a PS2 port? Does the USB port work with another device? Are your other USB devices still working (you didn't say if your kb is USB or PS2)?

princessamy86

Hmmm not sure what a PS2 port is! My wireless mouse is plugged in to adjacent USB port, but even if I move it the printer doesn't work. Other USB devices are fine, plugged the camera in with no problems to the same port.

macman

A PS2 port is the old fashioned type of kb connector, purple in colour. So it's not a faulty USB port then?
When you start up with the printer USB cable plugged in (but the printer not switched on), can you describe in more details what happens? Does the PC still boot to the desktop screen, is everything else normal but it's just that the mouse doesn't respond?

princessamy86

Not a PS2 port then. If I boot up with the printer plugged in but not turned on it goes to desktop but then doesn't load any icons or the taskbar-just comes up with the wallpaper and then freezes. It boots up fine it the printer is not plugged in at all, but if you plug the printer in the mouse just stops responding.

macman

OK, suggest you unplug the printer from the USB but still plugged into the power socket. Then try printing a test page from the printer (i.e. without it being connected to the PC). The manual should tell you how to do this for your model of printer (you didn't give the make or model) but it normally involves pressing the buttons in a certain combination. This should tell you if there is a printer hardware malfunction.
If not, come back and we'll look at the printer software.

princessamy86

Thanks very much macman, I'll give it a try when I get home tonight and let you know how I get on.

macman

No problem. I think it's unlikely to be a hardware fault on the printer, but it'd quicker to test that first.
If that is not the problem, then I would suggest uninstalling the printer and reinstalling it because the drivers may have become corrupted.

old_codger1

macman wrote: »

No problem. I think it's unlikely to be a hardware fault on the printer, but it'd quicker to test that first.
If that is not the problem, then I would suggest uninstalling the printer and reinstalling it because the drivers may have become corrupted.

Yeah, good shout... I was gonna say printer driver problem. Of course, it could be some part of windows that communicates with printers and not with other types of devices, (scanners, mice or whatever), but the driver's the first place to start.

macman

But why is it freezing her wireless mouse? if the USB's are working, I can't see any connection?

bluboy

This could be a hardware issue, a driver conflict, a virus or even a lack of memory.
I'd also agree that the driver is the first place to look (Device Manager errors?) but the OP doesn't say whether this is a new problem, whether the printer has worked previously, or if it's a new printer that may not even have drivers installed yet.

OP - it would also be a good idea to say what version of Windows you have and the printer make & model number.