Can't print from internet

[mike12]

Sold a friend my Dell 4700 Pentium 4 computer running XP Pro. Needed to install a modem for him, because the computer did not have one before, and I had cable. Anyway, he has no problem printing from Excel or Word etc. But if he goes on the internet with AOL and tries to print something he can not print from the internet or even Excel or Word at that point. He must reboot to even print from Excel or Word. Is AOL messing something up ? I never had any problem printing from the internet, but then again, I had cable.

[glc]

Modem and printer brands/models, please.

[mike12]

Modem is a US Robotics (model #5699 I think, will check tonight). The printer is a Canon MP60 multipass.

[glc]

I assume a PCI modem - is the printer parallel or USB - and I assume WinXP?

[mike12]

The modem is a PCI, it has a USB connection, and yes, XP Pro. He is bringing the computer back for me to play around with it a bit more. Like I said in an earlier post, I installed the modem for him because he still has dial up. I did test the modem at my home and it did connect to the internet with no problem. When I had the computer at home, there was no problem printing to MY printers regardless if I was on the internet or not. Now there is a problem when he tries to print from the internet. If he then closes off the internet, he still can not print at all. He needs to reboot the computer. Then he can print as long as he does not connect to the internet. Very confusing-why is connecting to the internet messing up the ability to print ?

[glc]

This almost sounds like a question for AOHell.

[mike12]

Anyone with suggestions on what the problem could be ? He is bringing the computer and the Canon printer back to me to see if I can figure out what is causing the printing problems. I do have another excellent modem I was going to install. It is a US Robotics Performance Pro model 3CP5610A that I used a few years ago before I got cable. I was going to try that modem and see if it makes any difference, but will I just be waisting my time changing modems ? Could the problem be caused by the modem, or should I be looking elsewhere ? He also said that he was getting disconnected more than normal (compared to his other computer, also on AOL). That is another reason I thought to switch modems. I know when I used that modem, I hardly ever got disconnected.
Any and all suggestions greatly apprecated

[glc]

Swapping the modem is certainly worth a try for troubleshooting.

[mike12]

OK, I now have the computer and printer at my house. As stated earlier, there is no problem printing a test page or anything from Word or Excel. But when I log onto the internet I get the following message.
"Multipass--Unable to communicate with the device. Please start "MPSERVICE" from the "Service Applet" in control panel. Then please right click on the status monitor to reconnect and try again"
Now the printer is a Canon Multipass F60. It seems like there is a problem communicating with the Canon printer. And I checked control panel. There is no "SERVICE APPLET" there. He tells me he already tried removing and reinstalling the printer driver. Any suggestions ? Please.

[glc]

Dial up your ISP if you have dialup and see if it does the same thing. You have to get AOHell out of the equation.

[mike12]

Have installed the different modem and downloaded the latest updates for it from the USR website for V92 etc. Have set up another dial up account with MY internet provider and can access the internet with no problem. Have deleted AOL and the Canon printer from the computer. Will now reinstall the Canon printer (he gave me the disc) and then go on the internet via the new connection, and then try printing. Will post back in a little while.

[mike12]

Ok, still get the same message that I got before--Unable to connect to the device. Please start "MPSERVICE" from the SERVICE APPLET in control panel, then right click on the status monitor to reconnect and try again "
I do not have a SERVIVE APPLET in control panel. Now what ???

[mike12]

Additional info. I went into the Canon website looking for maybe an update for the drivers. I found there is a compatibility issue with this printer and XP Service Pack 2. There is a patch I downloaded, but so far it does not work. Will try again tomorrow and post back. Still can not understand why I can print with no problems when OFF the internet, but not on ???

[gary_hendricks]

You should also check the usb ports setting in the system>hardware and let me know what have you came up

[mike12]

Thanks glc and gary, for the suggestions. I think I finally got it. After applying that patch it worked only sometimes. I then e-mailed Canon and said I had their Multipass F60 printer and was having problems, and that I already applied that compatability patch and still had problems. They responded that I also need to download and install an updated driver for XP in addition to that patch. I have since downloaded that update for XP, and all seems OK so far. I can now print on or off the internet. Canon never said why I only had problems trying to print from the internet. Guess I will never know. All that matters is that it is now printing either way