OSPRINT2 = PRINTER ERROR MESSAGES, PROBLEMS, AND SOLUTIONS 02/02/96 ======================================================================= Printer Error Messages, Problems, and Solutions--All OS/2 Releases ======================================================================= Please Read Entire Document for Full Explanation of Procedures -------------------------------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION This document describes how to resolve error messages received while printing, possible conflicts, and damaged INI files. It addresses the following error messages: PRINTER OUT OF PAPER PRINTER OFFLINE SYS004 RESOLUTION Usually, these error messages are caused by: * Not using the latest printer driver: If you don't have the latest printer driver for OS/2, contact your printer vendor. * Incompatible hardware: The most common incompatible-hardware problem is an I/O adapter. Make sure it is connected properly. If it is an older version, it might not be compatible and needs to be replaced. * An IRQ conflict: If you have a sound card installed, this is the first IRQ to check. The OS/2 documentation lists the defaults for the IRQ levels. Both LPT1 and the sound card, by default, use the same IRQ. OS/2 does not share IRQ levels. Each device needs its own. For the sound card, we suggest you change the IRQ to 10, because it is available. * Printer cable: A printer cable should be no longer than 6 feet, and it should approved by IBM. OS/2 requires that all 25 pins be connected. If your printer works in DOS and not in OS/2, the cable could be the problem, especially on later processors, because DOS requires only 9 pins be connected. * Damaged INI files: When system initialization (INI) files are damaged, they need to be rebuilt. Files can be damaged by: - Improper system shutdown - Power surges - Hardware problems - Improper INI updates by applications or by OS/2 The two files involved are the OS2.INI and the OS2SYS.INI, which are in the \OS2 directory of your boot partition. Print object settings are stored in the OS2SYS.INI file. When a problem exists with the way these settings are stored, you could experience: - Incorrect printer-setting information - Multiple drivers selected in the Printer Driver tab - Multiple ports selected in the Output tab - Inability to print after a previous printing - Invalid object under the Set Default listing Note: If you backed up your INI files immediately before the problem occurred, and you have not changed your setup since then, you can replace the current files with the backup set: 1. Start the system with the OS/2 Installation Diskette. 2. When prompted, remove the Installation Diskette and insert Diskette 1. 3. Press Enter. 4. When the Welcome Screen appears, press Esc to get the A: prompt. 5. Replace BOTH the OS2.INI and the OS2SYS.INI files at the same time. If you experience problems at startup, you should run MAKEINI using the instructions that follow. IMPORTANT: If you have one of the following video adapters or the chip set, you MUST return to VGA mode before you continue: IBM ValuePoint ATI S3 chip set Returning to VGA ---------------- Use the following procedure instead of the SETVGA command if you have to return to VGA mode. Do the steps after starting OS/2 from the Installation Diskette and escaping to the command prompt. Note: In all of the procedures, x is the drive where OS/2 is installed. Case 1: You Installed OS/2 from Diskettes ----------------------------------------- * If RSPDSPI.EXE is in the \OS\INSTALL\ directory, type the following and press Enter after each (A: is the diskette drive you used to install OS/2): x: CD x:\OS2\INSTALL RSPDSPI /PK:VGA /SK:NONE /S:A:\ /T:x: * If RSPDSPI.EXE is NOT in the \OS2\INSTALL\ directory: 1. Insert Installation Diskette 8; then type the following and press Enter to unpack RSPDSPI.EXE (A: is the diskette drive containing Diskette 8): x:\OS2\UNPACK A:\INSTAID x: /N:RSPDSPI.EXE 2. Type the following and press Enter after each (A: is the diskette drive you used to install OS/2): x: CD x:\OS2\INSTALL RSPDSPI /PK:VGA /SK:NONE /S:A:\ /T:x: Case 2: You Installed OS/2 from CD-ROM or a LAN ----------------------------------------------- * If RSPDSPI.EXE is in the \OS\INSTALL\ directory, type the following and press Enter after each (E: is the CD-ROM or LAN drive): x: CD x:\OS2\INSTALL RSPDSPI /PK:VGA /SK:NONE /S:E:\OS2SE21\ /T:x: * If RSPDSPI.EXE is NOT in the \OS2\INSTALL\ directory: 1. Type the following and press Enter to unpack RSPDSPI.EXE (E: is the CD-ROM or LAN drive): x:\OS2\UNPACK E:\DISK_8\INSTAID x:/N:RSPDSPI.EXE 2. Type following and press Enter after each (E: is the CD-ROM or LAN drive): x: CD x:\OS2\INSTALL RSPDSPI /PK:VGA /SK:NONE /S:E:\OS2SE21\ /T:x: Making or Renaming System INI Files ----------------------------------- Before proceeding, run CHKDSK to ensure there are no file problems. Running CHKDSK for OS/2 2.x and OS/2 Warp ----------------------------------------- 1. Shut down the system. If you're unable to shut down, turn off the system for 30 seconds. 2. Insert the Installation Diskette in drive A. 3. If you performed a shutdown in step 1, press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart the system. If you turned the system off, turn it on. 4. When prompted, remove the Installation Diskette and insert Diskette 1. 5. Press Enter. 6. When the Welcome Screen appears: * For OS/2 Warp, press F3 to display the command prompt. * For OS/2 2.x, press Esc, to display the command prompt. 7. Remove Diskette 1 and insert Diskette 2, which contains the CHKDSK command. Note: If you installed from CD: * For OS/2 Warp: a. Insert the CD into the CD-ROM drive and press Enter. b. Type x: and press Enter (x: is the CD-ROM drive). c. Type OS2IMAGE and press Enter. d. Type CD DISK_2 and press Enter. * For OS/2 2.x: The command prompt stops at the CD-ROM drive in the DISK_1 subdirectory. Type the following and press Enter to change to the DISK_2 subdirectory: x:\OS2SE21\DISK_2 8. To correct errors on the hard disk, type the appropriate CHKDSK command, as follows, and press Enter (x: is the drive where OS/2 is installed): * For FAT file system: CHKDSK x: /F * For HPFS: CHKDSK x: /F:2 Note: If you have any errors, continue to run CHKDSK until all errors are cleared up. Running MAKEINI --------------- 1. Change to the drive containing OS/2, and then to the OS/2 subdirectory. For example, type the following and press Enter (x: is drive where OS/2 is installed): x: CD OS2 2. At the command prompt, type the following and press Enter after each: REN OS2.INI OS2.BAK REN OS2SYS.INI OS2SYS.BAK 3. At the command line type the following and press Enter after each: MAKEINI OS2.INI INI.RC MAKEINI OS2SYS.INI INISYS.RC Note: If you are unable to access the INI files, type the following and press Enter: ATTRIB OS2*.INI -R Then retry to run MAKEINI. 4. At the command prompt type the following and press Enter after each to delete the hidden file, WP ROOT.SF, in the OS/2 startable partition: ATTRIB x:\WP?ROOT.?SF -s -r -h DEL x:\WP?ROOT.?SF 5. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart the system. This rebuilds the Desktop by replacing the damaged INI files with new INI ones. 6. Do an immediate shutdown after installation to ensure all programs and files have been associated correctly. ______________________________________________________________________ IBM disclaims all warranties, whether express or implied, including without limitation, warranties of fitness and merchantability with respect to the information in this document. By furnishing this document, IBM grants no licenses to any related patents or copyrights. Copyright (c) 1994, 1996 IBM Corporation. Any trademarks and product or brand names referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners. Consult your product manuals for complete trademark information.