Since upgrading to Windows XP and Office 2003, jobs sent to our HP
laserjet 4050 will sporadically print only 1/4 of the page --
sometimes with enlarged font.  This does not occur at regular
intervals, only sporadically.  It also occurs in different
applications.  We have downloaded new drivers from HP's website, but
it doesn't help. I THINK it only does this to jobs sent to a
particular tray (not sure.)  This printer is not on the print server
but is shared out among three workstations.  Thanks for your help.

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Request for Question Clarification by taxmama-ga on 21 Feb 2005 16:30 PST

Dear brilcristiel,

Here's what's happening - it only seems sporadic
because when you print just one page it doesn't happen.

It does that when you print several pages - and then, it prints every 
other page just fine. (i.e. first page is good, second page is huge;
third page is good, fourth page is huge...)

And it doesn't do this with all programs. Just certain ones.

We spent a great deal of time trying to sort this out with new drivers, etc.
because this was happening only in our tax preparation software.

It turns out, that in each program, there's one thing you need to 
check in your options or preferences file. 

Under preferences or options, when we uncheck "print return in one print job"
the problem stopped. Cold. 

Try this with each program where this happens.

If it works when you do it on one computer, use the same fix
from each machine. We also share the printer with a couple of computers.

Let me know if this works for you.

Best wishes

Your TaxMama-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by taxmama-ga on 03 Mar 2005 10:38 PST

Hi brilcristiel-ga,

Just checking back....did this work for you?

Best wishes

Your TaxMama-ga

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Clarification of Question by brilcristiel-ga on 04 Mar 2005 08:55 PST

Dear Answer Boy,

I had seen an answer similiar to yours (I think it was on MS TechNet)
and tried it previously (guess I should have mentioned that.)

Two days ago we downloaded yet another driver from Drivers.com.  We're
not sure yet, but it looks like this MAY have fixed the problem.

Thanks for responding!
brilcristiel

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Clarification of Question by brilcristiel-ga on 04 Mar 2005 09:01 PST

Dear Tax-Mama,

Thanks for responding.  Our problem is not quite as predictable as the
one you mentioned. It does happen when we print just one page, but
only about every 20th time.  And I know of at least two totally
unrelated applications it happens in -- one is MS Word and the other
is Millennium.

Two days ago we downloaded yet another driver -- this time from
Drivers.com.  We're not sure yet, but it looks like this MAY have
fixed the problem.  If not, I will sure try your suggestion.

Thanks again,
brilcristiel

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Clarification of Question by brilcristiel-ga on 04 Mar 2005 09:12 PST

Dear Tax-Mama,

I forgot to mention, for so reason I did not get the notification of
your answer until this morning.  Don't know if the first one went to
Junk E-mail (a "wonderful" - HA! - feature of Office 2003) or what.

Thanks again,
brilcristiel

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Request for Question Clarification by taxmama-ga on 05 Mar 2005 07:52 PST

Hi brilcristiel,

Incidentally, have you ever been to www.MajorGeeks.com?

When I needed help clearing a search engine hijacker from my computer,
after about three days of waiting, I got a Microsoft tech to call me. 
He spent all morning on the phone with me, walking me through various
repairs. Most of the tools he had me download were available for free
on MajorGeeks.com

The trick is - there are a LOT of tools there. 
(Some free, some paid) So there is a surfeit of riches.

I do hope this works for you. It's taking entirely too long
and must really be messing up your office's productivity.

Good luck. 

Your TaxMama-ga

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Clarification of Question by brilcristiel-ga on 07 Mar 2005 12:29 PST

Dear TaxMama,

Thanks for the tip about MajorGeeks.com.  Looks like an awesome site.

So far so good on the driver from Drivers.com.  Sayin' my prayers!

Thanks again for all your help!
brilcristiel

Hello ,

can you let me know what specific format of documents you are trying
to print?. Here is the information I am able to generate by what I
understood from your query

Print an internal self-test from the printer. 

To print the configuration page (self-test) on the HP LaserJet 4050
Series Printers, press the MENU button on the printer control panel
until Information Menu appears. Now press the ITEM button until Print
Configuration appears. Press SELECT to print the configuration page.



NOTE: If the self-test prints correctly, then the printer is
functioning properly. The next steps would be taken to test for an
issue with the communication between the printer and the computer.

Disconnect the parallel cable from both the PC and the HP LaserJet
1100 or 1100A printer, inspect the cable ends for any damage. Then,
reconnect the cable, ensuring that the connection is tight.

Ensure that the parallel cable meets specifications and is directly
connected from the printer to the PC.

Try a different cable if possible. 

Try printing a directory from DOS. Use the following steps: 

Verify that the printer is turned on and is in the ready state. 

Attach the printer directly to the PC. Verify that no printer-sharing
devices or daisy-chained devices are between the computer and the PC.

Restart the computer. 

For Windows 95 press F8 when "Starting Windows 95" appears on the screen. 

For computers with Windows 98, press and hold the CTRL key immediately
after the computer?s power-on Self Test (this is usually when the
computer beeps during the startup process and then briefly goes to a
solid black screen).

For Windows 3.1x; simply exit Windows and go to Step 6. 

From the Windows Startup Menu, select "Command prompt only.? 

At the C:\> prompt, type DIR>LPT1 (LPT1 is generally the parallel port
to which the printer is printing). If the port is different, insert
the correct path to the port. Then, press ENTER.

Restart Microsoft (R) Windows and try a test document from either
WordPad or Write. Use the following steps:

In Windows 95 or 98, click Start, Programs, Accessories, and click
WordPad. In Windows 3.1x, from the Program Manager, double-click the
Accessories group icon and double-click the Write icon.

Type a line or two of text. 

Select the File menu and click Print. 

In the Print dialog box that appears, ensure that the HP LaserJet
printer is selected and click OK.

Try attaching the printer and the cable to another PC; then attempt to
print a directory from DOS.




regards,
answer boy

Thought I should tie the ribbons on this.  Here is what finally
worked:  I began to notice that all printers in the building that were
connected directly to computers (rather than through the print server)
began having problems IF they had been moved to another computer or IF
they were recently set up.  (Printers set up this way that had no
recent changes did not experience problems.) The other common thread
was that this all started AFTER installing Windows Service Pack 2. I
found the answer (on the internet :0).

The FIX was to uninstall the printer, turn off the firewall and
reinstall the printer (Start/Settings/Control Panel/Security
Center/Windows Firewall, General tab,select Off.)  Not the best
solution perhaps but it worked on all three printers that were acting
flaky -- two HPs and a Minolta.

I have learned a lot of good stuff reading everyone's suggestions. 
Thanks for "being there" for me.

Blessings,
brilcristiel