XP vs. Lexmark X73

[Dean Huster]

The fight is on. We're trying to install this new Lexmark X73 printer/scanner on a new hp Pavilion 520w and it's turning into the installation from hell. We've used the Lexmark CDs; we've tried the stuff in XP; we've gone to the Lexmark site and used their instructions; we've downloaded the drivers from the Lexmark site. Nothing is working. It might as well be a concrete block attached to the end of the USB cable. Any insight out there? This is Mom's machine and no one around here has a clue as to the quirks of XP, including me. HELP!!!!

[framerw47]

Is the USB controller showing up in "Device Manager"? Do you have another USB device that you can plug in to make sure the port is working?

[GaryRouth]

Hope this isn't too late:

Try uninstalling all your printer drivers ( N O T deleteing, but
uninstalling - using either their Uninstall icon shortcut, or from
Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs). Then install with your latest
download drivers. Note: most Lexmark's, if you are choosing to use their
"custom driver", will ask you to cancel XP's offer to install the generic
printer driver (it pops up in a little gray box and waits for your answer),
and then install the downloaded driver by double-clicking on it's .exe file.
Post back if you're still having trouble.
...Gary


(and remember to disable anti-virus programs while installing...you can turn
them back on when you're done)

[alexmacdonald]

not sure if this will help, but make sure you turn off driver signing in the system properties otherwise an unsigned driver will not load, this may be the problem you are having.

[Dean Huster]

I tried the Uninstall option but never could find the driver on the installed programs listing .... like it had never actually been installed. The stuff that was downloaded is in the directory that Lexmark created. Of course, now they're giving a message something like "Driver/printer wasn't registered within 14 seconds of downloading so you'll have to download again, sucker!"

However, I foolishly forgot to turn off the virus protection ... I knew better than that! I'm back home and 4 hours away from the offending system. I'll send up some hints and see if we can't get this thing going.

Thanks for the suggestions so far, guys. Don't stop the input.

Dean

[GaryRouth]

Hi again

Do you see the Lexmark listed in the Printers folder? I believe removing it
from there will also uninstall the drivers associated with it. ...however,
I haven't had to try this with a scanner/printer combo like the X73, so I'm
not sure if it uninstalls the scanner, too...you might have to find the X73
in Device Manager if it's listed under Imaging Devices and remove it there also.

There are quite a few "gotchas" involved with the Lexmark XP install: most of
them are on the Lexmark site in some detail, if you try the "Lexmark Knowledge
Base", select "multifunction devices", select "X73", select "XP", select
"software install issues"... I was going to paste the whole shebang into
this post, but figured it'd be too big. Some of the "alerts" they point out
include some oddball error messages that they want you to ignore & click
"Continue Anyway", and instructions to not have the USB cable plugged in
when starting the install, but later plugging it in when prompted by a screen
in the install.

....
I'm not really sure exactly what you mean when you say that it's not working.
Does it show up as an option to print to from a Print menu in a word processor?
When selected, do any error messages appear when you attempt to print? On
your tasklist (you can display processes by right-clicking the toolbar, and
selecting Tasklist) do you see background processes that start with the letter
LEX or LX?....

Well, this hunting around should keep you busy for a while. It's late here,
I'll check back sometime later on after some sleep.
...Gary

[beergut67]

heres an idea. wash the z73 down really really good with gasoline. soon after you are done with this, dry it off with a lit match, i have personally never heard a decent thing said about those printers. if your mom still has the reciept that would be nice. take it back and get something that works.

[Dean Huster]

Well, I agree with the gasoline idea, actually. I've never been impressed with these printer/scanner/fax/copier/buttscratcher combo units. They're just like those VCR/TV combos. Just that much more to go wrong and getting them fixed is not cost effective.

As it turns out, after we drove home, some guy named Doug went to Mom's and spent 3 hours dicking with the thing one day and a couple of hours the next day and finally got it printing. Don't know if it scans. Mom can print, send and receive e-mail, play solitaire and get on the Internet, so she's happy.

I understand that "he took everything off the machine and reloaded it". I don't know if that means the drivers or all of XP. Should have done that and reloaded '98 .... or DOS 6.0

Thanks for your help guys. I'll be using your hints next time I have to deal with XP. I'm trying to get 2000 Server loaded now. Never dealt with it before either, and it's becoming a disaster. I hate computers.

Dean

[tobydog27]

I also had this problem.
But the answer is quite simple.

Printer properties.......and un-tick bi-directional lead.