LaserWriter 4/600 PS = printing on OSX 10.3.9

I do have two Ethernet ports and they have been used for years. One for DSL and the other connected to my LaserWriter, so that's the configuration I currently have and would like to try to get it to work as it is connected, if at all possible.

I have enabled Appletalk on the built-in Ethernet port, which is where the printer is hooked up, but that still has not allowed me to see the printer. The light on the AsantiTalk is green, and always has been.

When I go to the Print & Fax box in System Preferences there is a box that says Printer Setup. I click that and all I can do is access the utilities for the Epson printer on my USB port. I hit the plus sign to add a printer and it gives me the dialog box as I have explained in my previous post. I don't know what to put into those blank boxes, if anything. If I should not be using that dialog box, what should I be using and how do I get there. I have tried the suggestions offered previously, but it does nothing to find the printer. I am at a loss, please help! It seems that the dialog boxes I have on my system are not matching what you are telling me I should be finding, so nothing really makes sense.

Michelle

Go to the Utilites folder in the Applications folder. There you will find a program named Printer Setup Utility. Use that to setup the printer & make sure to specify AppleTalk as the connection method.

Thanks for the tip, but this takes me to exactly the same screen as clicking the plus sign in Print & Fax on System Preferences. Shows the same dialog boxes with the same blank spaces. Nothing different at all. So I'm still frustrated at square one.

Michelle

I found two articles that show up in a search that may apply. They are from 10.4 help.
The first reminds the user that if your printer/ connection method does not show up and is not in the list, use the More Printers selection to get additional protocols. I expect you have already done that.

The second suggests that if your printer/connection method does not show up, maybe you did not install all the printer drivers from Mac OS X Install Disk 2 (or 3, if you have it). In that case you should put them in the drive and double click on the Installer package icons to install them "live" into your running system. I have no idea whether this applies, but the link to the article is below:

Mac OS X 10.4 Help: The printer I'm adding says "Driver not installed"

The list I get in a fairly standard install of 10.3.9 is:

AppleTalk
BlueTooth
IP Printing
Open Directory
Rendezvous
USB
Windows Printing

all are in one list. I guess in 10.4 is splits into the most common in the first list, and the rest in the More... list

Thanks for the additional suggestions. The driver is installed on the hard disk. When I select Apple printers from the box in the add printer dialog box, it comes up with drivers and I can choose the LaswerWriter 4/600 PS. It then comes up with all the info about the printer and such, but that is only driver info and still does not actually see the printer on the Ethernet port.

Doesn't get much more frustrating than this. System 9 was a lot better to use and never gave the kind of problems I'm getting in System 10. Everything takes longer to load and run, and I can't use a great laser printer that I've had for years, and worked great up until I changed to OSX.

Michelle

Thank you,

I have located a Farallon Ethermac iPrint LT. This one has no cables. Can I run the cable that is presently joining the printer to the old PowerMac to the adaptor and then run an ordinary Ethernet cable to the new iMac (or Router and then on to the iMac)? When bought new the LT is shipped with the following cables and I am usure whether or not I should wait until I find one that has its original cables.

- 10Base-T Straight-Through Cable
- 10Base-T Cross-Over Cable
- LocalTalk Cable

Thanks for all your help.

PS Michelle's difficulties are starting to concern me!

still does not actually see the printer on the Ethernet port.

Several things can cause the printer not to be seen:

• AppleTalk not turned on in Network Preferences (but you said you checked that).

• AppleTalk turned off as a Directory Services protocol in Directory Access Utility (the AppleTalk box should be checked on the "Services" pane.

• The AsantéTalk or Farallon protocol converter box box has lost its connection to the printer for some reason. If this is the case, turn off the converter box and the printer, power up just the printer, and when it is ready to print (self-test all done) power up the converter.

• The PhoneNet connectors have an "open" phone port. Any connectors left open must be filled with a 120 Ohm Phone-jack Terminator, or the data will spill on the floor.

julian,

No need to wait. Go ahead and use your existing cable.

"Can I run the cable that is presently joining the printer to the old PowerMac to the adaptor and then run an ordinary Ethernet cable to the new iMac (or Router and then on to the iMac)?"

The local talk cable goes to the obvious place. The crossover cable will only be used for cpu to cpu ( peer to peer) connections. A printer is not a peer in the strict sense of the word so the crossover cable can be saved for another day, another project. If the cable came free, great. It will not hurt if you plug it in by mistake.

Once you have two CPUs and a printer on a network, you have a LAN. Every point into a hub or switch ( most routers will have a built-in switch that can be used, even if you are not connecting to the internet) should be a straight cable. The print adapter simply gives an ethernet connection to a printer that lacks that port.

Here are some networking tips for your reference:

http://homepage.mac.com/car1son/os9xnet_nfilesharing.html


http://www.atpm.com/network/files/file_sharing.htm

Good luck.

I have only just acquired a LaserWriter 4/600 PS, it powers up ok and all little green lights are constant.
I have one cable which is 8 pin and the only identification is the Apple logo at either end,is this the required cable or do I need another one?. I am using a G4 Tower OS 10.4.10.
Do I need an Asante Talk Box to get under way?

George

georgirporgie-

If you are using a Mac that does not have a round serial port, or is running mac OS X, you will need to run your AppleTalk over the Ethernet medium, rather than directly over the serial cables.

Try this thread for a more complete explanation:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1061953&tstart=15

I just can't help thinking Michelle's problem would be solved by using a switch or hub.
It's been a long time since I set up my LW 12/640PS, but it seems like I had trouble until I went through my switch. It's worked beautifully for years.

So Michelle, you might consider an inexpensive switch like a Belkin or whatever is on sale this week.
Connect your Mac directly to the switch with a standard ethernet cable, DSL modem directly to switch with std. ethernet cable, Laserwriter to switch via adapter(I use Asante FriendlyNet adapter).

Another thought is you might have corrupted printing pref files.

Look in:
Your Hard Drive/Users/(michelle? or little house icon)/Library/Preferences and find the file:

com.apple.print.PrintingPrefs.plist

Delete this and a new one will be created next time you run Printer Setup. This has saved my butt more than once. This is not your driver or anything irreplaceable, just a prefs file.

Another idea:
•power-off printer
•disconnect enet cable from adapter
•power-on printer and wait one minute
•attach etnet cable to adapter

Long shot, but may work

Good Luck