I cannot get my imagewritter II to print from my macintosh se

I did a Google search for "imagewriter II drivers for mac se" and came up with some possibilties --

http://www.info.apple.com/support/oldersoftwarelist.html#print

http://www.ccadams.org/se/printer.html

You can also try searching http://lowendmac.com.

At least those are some starting points. Maybe someone here will have exactly what you need.

Wolfemanjack wrote:

I have the corect cables runing from the printer to the back of the SE, but it doesn't want to print when I choose Imagewriter under Chooser.

What cable do you have, exactly? There are two different types with MiniDIN8 ends - one is a null modem (or "Printer") cable, and the other is a modem cable. A non-Apple printer cable often has two arrows embossed on each end, pointing in opposite directions. The Apple part number is 590-0552-A.

It would print something rather than nothing even with the Imagewriter icon. Is the cable connected to the back of the SE to the printer (vs. phone/modem) plug?

Please help us understand a few things by answering the following questions.

Did you buy this computer at a store or from a friend?

How long have you had this computer?

Have you ever gotten anything to print?

Did it use to print but now it has stopped?

Do you have any back up disks that would allow you to copy a clean system onto your computer?

Have you tried printing from different software applications?

Where in the world are you located? That will help us understand what options you have.

For example, in Seattle, Washington, USA, you can go to a recycling store and buy all the old computer supplies to work on older computers. Other cities may not have as many helpful resources for older computers.

I hope I am not adding noise here --

The ImageWriter II had AppleTalk as an option. I am not sure if System 6 and the Macintosh SE had AppleTalk. The point being, I was just wondering if you checked all the appropriate switches and lights on the printer.

There is a troubleshooting section in the User Manual for the ImageWriter. Did you get the manual either with the printer or from Apple. The manuals can be found at http://support.apple.com/manuals/#imagewriter. There are also other snippets in the manual that tell you how to check the status and error lights that may not be obvious.

Wolf...

Matt Brings up a good point that I had overlooked. If the Imagewriter has an Appletalk card installed, you will not use the normal Imagewriter icon in the chooser. Select Appletalk and see if a printer shows up on the list.

The fact that you are in Yakima means that you have two options. Come to Spokane and have access to our resources or go to Seattle and find Chuck at RC-PC on 4th Ave. near the Mariners and Seahawks stadiums. I think one is still Safeco Field but they change names from time to time.

Chuck knows his stuff and saves mac items for people who still care about vintage macs.

As for Spokane, we have a youth group that meets downtown and we tinker with the old stuff for historical reasons. And, we have backup systems for just about every mac ever made. We also have at least one each of every mac ever made plus external hard drives to connect to every mac made.

Your comment that the printer will print a test page means that we can rule out the printer issues except for one. There are dip switches on the printer that can affect performance. Some are changed when you install an AppleTalk card.

By the way, is your Imagewriter white or grey (platinum)?

Start with that and post back.

Ji~m

Appaloosa mac man wrote:

... There are dip switches on the printer

If a LocalTalk Option Card is installed and the OP wants to disable it for the purposes of using serial, switch SW2-4 "off" (up - open - away from you - toward the platen).

It is not necessary to remove the card itself.

Archived - ImageWriter II: Dip Switch Settings for AppleTalk Card

The ImageWriter cable is a standard Apple M/M "Mini-DIN 8" straight cable. You can find them on eBay. Here is one seller.

Some more resources

ImageWriter II User's Guide: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/0302002IWIIUG.pdf

ImageWriter II General Troubleshooting: http://support.apple.com/kb/TA30636

ImageWriter II Correcting Communications Problems (1/97): http://support.apple.com/kb/TA30701

ImageWriter II DIP Switch Settings for AppleTalk Card: http://support.apple.com/kb/TA47042

ImageWriter II LocalTalk Option Card: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/SpecialIWIISpecIns.pdf

Matt Broughton wrote:

... I am not sure if System 6 and the Macintosh SE had AppleTalk.

Way before then. The original Mac and its original OS had AppleTalk.

Its development began with Lisa. Every Mac ever built was capable of networking, right out of the box.

I know you are well aware, but for the sake of those who don't, AppleTalk was included in every OS all the way through Leopard.

🙂

John,

Thanks for the dip switch settings. Our books are packed so that comment was helpful.

Jim

Wolfemanjack wrote:

... Also, I happen to have an Apple IIe platinum. Would by chance I be able to test the printers capacity to print by getting a cable to go from the Super serial card inside the Apple IIe with out having to find a driver for the Apple IIe?

You're in luck - I omitted this reference because it requires a IIe and I assumed you did not have one.

Archived - ImageWriter Hardware Communication Problems