[aaronvegh]

Hi there,
I just bought a LaserWriter 12/640 PS via eBay, and it came last night. When I hooked it up and turned it on, it spit out a configuration page...but it hasn't printed since!

I'm able to communicate with it via the Apple Printer Utility, and change the settings (for instance, to turn off the config page printout on power up), but when I actually try to print something, I get "Processing job..." in the Chooser, and the green light flashes, but nothing ever happens. Then, if I cancel the job in the Chooser, the green light continues to flash, and I can't print anymore because the printer's status is still "Processing job..."!

I'm using a G4/466, running both OS X 10.1 and OS 9.2. In 9, I've got LaserWriter 8.7 installed, and god knows what under X (I assume it's just native support for the LaserWriter). I've dealt with Laserwriters before, and my friends have used them all the time, and nobody can explain why the printer seems to work great up till the actual print job.

Please, if anyone can help, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Aaron.

[veblen]

Hi,

I don't know if this will help, but here goes. I was given a LaserWriter II NTX [serial] and in order to get it to work I had to purchase AsanteTalk [$100]. This is an ethernet to serial adapter.

With this said I must add that I have a Pismo running 9.0.4. Asante explained to me that 9.2 and after are Postscript 2 and there may be printing problems later than 9.0.4. This may be a difficulty when I get my new Ti 667 with OSx. Under 9.2 Asante explained that choosing IIg or IIf in my chooser may allow printing to occur on the Ti [9.2].

I don't know if this is helpful, but maybe it is. You might consider calling Asante they were very helpful whether I bought their product or not.
1.801.566.8991.

Good Luck ... I'll be curious to know how this turns out for you.

Philip.

[aaronvegh]

Hey there,
Thanks for your reply! I don't think that'll be the issue, since I've got the Laserwriter plugged into my Ethernet network, and I'm using an AAUI tranceiver. Connectivity doesn't appear to be a problem: I can "see" it in the Chooser, I can configure it using the Apple Printer Utility, and it knows instantly when I've removed the print tray. ;-)

The fact that the printer will accept a job, but not print it (constantly "processing job...") tells me that the problem is deeper than connectivity.

Thanks!
Aaron.

[veblen]

Hi,

Hmm, that's a tough one. Driver?
Does this happen no matter the application being printed from?
I'll be curious how this works out.

Philip.

[aaronvegh]

yeah, this happens in any application I print from...it happens before I even think of printing, when it's trying to print the configuration page. It's set to print on power up, and it chokes on that.

I too would be curious to see how this resolves. Anyone else out there with an idea???

Aaron.

[aaronvegh]

For those of you who are interested, it appears that my problem is not unique. Here's a posting made earlier in the year on another forum:

Tek-Tips Forum

I've messaged the poster to see if he's solved his problem, but so far, it's not encouraging.

Aaron.

[aaronvegh]

I figured it out!!!
The solution came when I was working with it in a silent room. I noticed
that there was a buzzing sound coming from the side of the printer. When I
noticed that it was coming from the unmoving fan, it occurred to me that the
sound was more like the sound of an electric motor which isn't able to move.

I opened the printer to attempt to get access to the fan, but there was no
way I was able to do that (have you ever seen the inside of this thing? It's
very complicated in there!). Looking through the fan grille, I saw that the
fan was choked with dust. I took some Q-Tips and poked them through the fan
grille to get out the biggest dust rhinos.

When I started the printer back up, the big difference I noticed right away
was that the fan started too! And boom, it spat out the test page almost
instantly, and every page I sent thereafter. This is one fine-looking
printer.

My attempt to clean out the printer was sufficient to get it working, but
it's far from all the way clean. When I get a chance in the new year, I'll
be taking it in for a good cleaning service.