hp laser p2035 crashes xp

[terryZ]

i am running an xp machine at work (not the machine described in my signature) which has an hp h2035 laser jet attached via a parallel port.

i've been using this printer for a number of years with no problem.

the other day, however, when i printed an invoice, my xp machine re-booted. odd, i thought. but it didn't repeat so i ignored it.

yesteday, it happened again. this time, it printed the same page and rebooted. rinse and repeat. only when i shut down the printer did this cycle stop.

additionally, another pc in my office space prints to this printer thru my pc via local network. when that one prints, i get the re-boot also.

i tried doing a cold re-boot. no change.

i tried installing the latest driver from hp. no change.

thinking that something shorted (or something similar) in the printer, i bought a new printer. same model.

i installed the software with the new printer. and printed a page.

pc re-boots.

any suggestions as to where to look next? i'm stumped.

thanks in advance.

[terryZ]

PS>

just as i posted this, it re-booted on it's own. no printing going on. at all.

now i'm REALLY stumped

[Steve R Jones]

Disable auto-reboot

When Running windows and it crashes you will get a blue screen and it will automatically restart, ofter it will restart too fast for you to see the error message. You could check the error log in this case but that is too easy. We are going to disable auto restart on system failure.

1. Go to Start -> Control Panel -> System (Windows+Pause works, too)
2. Go to Advanced
3. Under the Startup and Recovery section, click Settings...
4. Under System Failure un-check "Automatically restart"

[terryZ]

thanks steve.

i'm backing that pc up now (just in case) and using a different one while that is going on.

i'll disable auto-reboot when the backup is done.

[terryZ]

Disable auto-reboot

When Running windows and it crashes you will get a blue screen and it will automatically restart, ofter it will restart too fast for you to see the error message. You could check the error log in this case but that is too easy. We are going to disable auto restart on system failure.

1. Go to Start -> Control Panel -> System (Windows+Pause works, too)
2. Go to Advanced
3. Under the Startup and Recovery section, click Settings...
4. Under System Failure un-check "Automatically restart"

ok steve. this is done.

i assume i'll get an error message next time this happens.

i'm assuming it's a driver problem to cause a complete crash. am i wrong?

thanks.

[jdc2000]

Is the printer plugged into the same power circuit as your computer? It could be that there is too much current draw on that circuit and that is causing the reboots. Other possibilities include a power supply on your computer that is slowly dying and not providing quite enough power any more. Also possible is a problem with the printer that is causing your computer to reboot. A simple test would be to install the printer (and parallel printer cable) as a local printer on a different computer, and print a test page. If that computer reboots, the printer is at fault. If it does not, then you have issues with either the power at your location or your computer.

[terryZ]

Is the printer plugged into the same power circuit as your computer? It could be that there is too much current draw on that circuit and that is causing the reboots. Other possibilities include a power supply on your computer that is slowly dying and not providing quite enough power any more. Also possible is a problem with the printer that is causing your computer to reboot. A simple test would be to install the printer (and parallel printer cable) as a local printer on a different computer, and print a test page. If that computer reboots, the printer is at fault. If it does not, then you have issues with either the power at your location or your computer.

i'm inclined to dismiss the "too much current draw". this electrical setup has been the same for quite a few years.

as to the laser printer itself causing the problem ... i replaced the laser printer today (with a new exact model) and the problem persists. however, there is a color inkjet attached to this pc and printing to IT causes no problems (forgot to mention that in my op. sorry.).

also, i had one instance today of a re-boot when no printing was being done ... or even considered.

power supply problems in the pc? that is a possibility then.

[Train]

Uninstall the problem printer, reboot and reinstall it.
Had that stop lots of weird printer problems.

[jdc2000]

If the computer's power supply is several years old and not in the best of health, the additional current draw from a laser printer on the same circuit can cause its output voltages to drop below the minimum needed to keep the computer running, so it reboots. Ink jet printers do not use fusers, so their current draw is much less. It might not be a bad idea to test the power supply. Posting the make and wattage might help us evaluate it also.

[jerryctx]

I would bet on the PC's power supply but don't dismiss JDC2000's suggestion of an overloaded utility circuit too quickly. Any new equipment installed lately? (New Xerox copier? Cold winter? Someone may have plugged in an electric space heater. Is the break room on the other side of the wall? Maybe you have a new toaster oven.)

[terryZ]

I would bet on the PC's power supply but don't dismiss JDC2000's suggestion of an overloaded utility circuit too quickly. Any new equipment installed lately? (New Xerox copier? Cold winter? Someone may have plugged in an electric space heater. Is the break room on the other side of the wall? Maybe you have a new toaster oven.)

If the computer's power supply is several years old and not in the best of health, the additional current draw from a laser printer on the same circuit can cause its output voltages to drop below the minimum needed to keep the computer running, so it reboots. Ink jet printers do not use fusers, so their current draw is much less. It might not be a bad idea to test the power supply. Posting the make and wattage might help us evaluate it also.

hmmmmm .. i have an identical pc that died last year. it's power supply might still be okay. i might consider swapping them and seeing what happens.

and, no, no new equipment in a long long time.

[jdc2000]

Post the make and model of the computer (and the make of the power supply if you can). If those are eMachines, then the power supply is likely the problem.

[terryZ]

it's a gateway 5200S. the spec sheet does not list the power supply. and i can't find info on it on the web. omg ... it was purchased in late 2004!

btw, i just this morning printed 64 sheets on the laser printer without as much as a flicker on the pc's monitor (*scratches head*).

maybe the power supply is weakened enough so that a slight drop in voltage that happens all the time is now critical? dunno.

[jdc2000]

A Gateway that old MAY have a Bestec power supply. You should remove the side cover on the computer case and check the label on the power supply. If it does, you need to replace ASAP it before it takes out the motherboard.

[terryZ]

A Gateway that old MAY have a Bestec power supply. You should remove the side cover on the computer case and check the label on the power supply. If it does, you need to replace ASAP it before it takes out the motherboard.

nope. no BESTEC label. in fact, no label at all other than the gateway stickers.

and i'm still printing to the laser with no re-boots.

keeping my fingers crossed.