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Printer problem, anti-virus problem
A query to any tech-savvy readers out there regarding two big computer headaches I've been having this week:
Printer madness
On Sunday night, my Samsung ML-1450 laser printer started going crazy on me. When I printed out a Word doc, it immediately began spitting out dozens of pages with one or two lines of gibberish type, in an infinite cycle. I had to pull the plug (tried canceling the print job, rebooting the computer, and turning the printer on and off -- none of which worked).
So I figured the printer driver somehow got corrupted, right?
But then I transfered the cable to my Epson inkjet printer -- and the exact same thing happened!
So, it's not the printer driver. What could it be, and how can I diagnose it and fix it? (I'm using a Dell PC running Windows XP, though am sorely tempted to revert back to my Mac.)
Anti-virus madness
On Thursday, my Norton Anti-Virus software detected a virus on my computer, as it has done from time to time. As always, it wasn't able to repair the file and so quarantined it.
Unlike in the past, however, when I hit the OK key, the 5-inch by 3-inch Alert message stays plastered on my screen. I've hit it a couple of zillion times, rebooted the machine a dozen times since Thursday -- and still get the same alert message. I've moved the message box to a side of the screen, but am hoping for a better solution. There is nothing I can see in Norton Systemworks Antivirus that lets you turn off Virus notifications.
September 14, 2004 at 11:19 PM in Computing | Permalink
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Comments
JD -
Start with the basic troubleshooting stuff, and keep your readers updated...
First, turn the printer off. Reboot the computer. Wait for it to finish the full boot cycle. Turn the printer back on. Now:
1. What happens if you run the printer "self test"; does it print or spit out garbage?
2. Create a new notepad file with a few lines of text. Print. What happens?
3. If both of those work, fire up the application you were using to print before, create a new file, and print. What happens?
4. If that works as well, crank open the doc you were printing when the trouble began and try again...
I'll check in on ya in the morning, but I'm sure it'll be resolved by then. ;)
tony --
Posted by: Tony Gentile at Sep 14, 2004 11:33:10 PM
OK, Tony, check back with me around 2 pm Wed. PT and I'll let you know my progress (you're more optimistic than I am!)
Posted by: JD at Sep 15, 2004 12:26:07 AM
Tony, that seems to have worked, so thanks very much.
Now, anyone have any idea how to get rid of this annoying antivirus window?
Posted by: JD at Sep 15, 2004 1:59:00 PM
JD,
What is the name of the virus and of the file that Norton is flagging?
And what version of Norton AV are you running?
Posted by: SCSIwuzzy at Sep 15, 2004 2:18:57 PM
Virus Name: Trojan Horse. Action taken: Unable to repair this file. It gives me a directory path to the DLL file that does not exist.
I'm running Norton Antivirus 2002 but am subscribed, through Norton LiveUpdate, to the most recent antivirus definitions.
Posted by: JD at Sep 15, 2004 4:41:49 PM
JD -
Afraid I didn't do anything other than recommend an approach for cycling the computer & printer to make sure everything got cleared... but I'm 'stoked' to see the problem is resolved.
Best wishes on the virus (hey, remind yourself that it's just a UI issue and that the virus itself is contained).
tony --
Posted by: Tony Gentile at Sep 15, 2004 8:29:49 PM
Switch to AVG. Better, Cheaper, and doesn't suck up your system resources, or scatter crap all over the registry.
Posted by: the head lemur at Sep 15, 2004 9:42:01 PM
