Tech: 2 Tech Questions Printer and Modem

Subject: Tech: 2 Tech Questions Printer and Modem
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 10:56 AM

Every time I use my printer it says "Printing 1 of 2" even when I am only printing one page. It prints the page, then spits out a blank sheet of paper. Not a huge problem but irritating. How can I fix it?

And, about once a week I start getting Error 404, and my host e mail "cannot be found". No ISP trouble. I can fix it by doing complete shut down, un plugging modem, waiting about 15 seconds and re booting everything. What on earth is going on?

High speed DSL, WinME and IE 5.5

Subject: RE: Tech: 2 Tech Questions Printer and Modem
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 11:35 AM

The trouble with DSL is usually the USB part - maybe you can download updated drivers for the USB modem, and possibly your motherboard, too.

The printer problem is a bit odd... again, re-installing with updated drivers is a good starting point! Is the printer parallel or USB?

Subject: RE: Tech: 2 Tech Questions Printer and Modem
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 11:41 AM

USB, thanks, I'll start there.

Subject: RE: Tech: 2 Tech Questions Printer and Modem
From: Mark Clark
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 11:46 AM

Hi, Sorcha,

Sorry to hear about the ME situation, my daughter's family has that one as well.

I'm guessing that the printer prints an extra page because the file you are printing has a page feed or newpage character following the single page you are printing. If you are using a word processor, check to be sure there is no blank page after your single page of content. If that isn't the problem, you may want to go to manage printeres, right-click on your printer and select properties from the context menu. You should find some configuration tabs that may resolve your problem.

Is it possible your browser has been hijacked? You might want to try a free program called HijackThis! and one called Spybot Search & Destroy. If you're already certain your browser hasn't been hijacked and you aren't hosting any spyware, you may want to talk with your ISP's tech support folks and let them talk you through the configuration for the connection.

Hope some of this helps,

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Tech: 2 Tech Questions Printer and Modem
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 11:49 AM

I already have Spybot. Will try the other suggestion.

Subject: RE: Tech: 2 Tech Questions Printer and Modem
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 11:55 AM

Its a type of trojan, can be stopped by installing Zonealarm and locking all suspicious activity ..eg unknows apps and searching on your drives ...- that is kinda stupid obvious, at least to me.

You might like to get a recent copy of Norton Antivirus and check you system with the boot disks. Also watch your print spooler utilities which is were this stupid out of date crap likes to leave its dirt for shipping via your modem.



Hope that helps.

Hi Gargoyle .. hows it goin now man

Subject: RE: Tech: 2 Tech Questions Printer and Modem
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 01:56 PM

Unstalling/reinstalling the soft ware seems to have stopped the extra blank page problem. Norton and HouseCall on line both assure me that my machine is clean.

Subject: RE: Tech: 2 Tech Questions Printer and Modem
From: Mark Clark
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 02:23 PM

I'm not familiar with HouseCall but there are some viruses Norton is known to miss. Also, antivirus programs don't necessarily check for browser hijackers since, technically, they aren't viruses.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: Tech: 2 Tech Questions Printer and Modem
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 04:25 PM

People, I am running Outpost Firewall, jv16 reg cleaner, Spamwasher, Norton, Spybot, and Panicware. Not much more I can get....don't think it's a virus. Somebody suggested either Blaster or Welchia, and I did a check for those. Don't have them.....

Subject: RE: Tech: 2 Tech Questions Printer and Modem
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 06:51 PM

Thar 'tis, Sorcha. All them programs are confusin' each other...

Seriously, you're the 3d one to report frequent "404 Error" problems here recently. The other guys haven't found any real answers either, but you might want to look at the other thread: Tech: ?404 not found /null?.

I can't replicate their problem, but maybe you'll see something we've all missed.

John