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

Hello, I'm just needing help getting my Imagewriter II to print with my Macintosh Se. 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. Is this a capatible printer? Do I need a driver, if so does anyone out there still sell 3.5" 800k floppys that will run on a Macintosh se. Need Help as this is my first and only computer that I've acquired for High school and college work recently.

Thanks,

Keep it "Reel",

Wolfemanjack

Other OS, Macintosh Se. O.S. 6.0.8.

Posted on Oct 15, 2012 6:59 PM

23 replies

Wolfemanjack Author

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Oct 19, 2012 10:24 AM in response to Appaloosa mac man

The Imagewriter looks to be a cream color, so it probably was white origanally.

I will look at the dip switch setting on the printer and check to see if they are correct or are changed.

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?

Oct 19, 2012 12:23 PM in response to John Galt

That article shows the DIP switch settings for the ImageWriter not the ImageWriter II but otherwise would be great for testing on the Apple IIe. I found the ImageWriter II DIP switch settings in a the ImageWriter II Quick Reference Card publication.

While we are talking DIP switch settings, do you have a recommendation for the baud rate? The OpenPrinting.org Mac package for the ImageWriter uses 9600 baud except for the ImageWriter LQ.

Wolfemanjack Author

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Oct 19, 2012 5:51 PM in response to John Galt

I looked in my Imagewriter II and the dip switch settings were all open on sw-1 except for sw-1-6. On SW-2 all the switches were open except for 3,5,6. I once again tried printing from the Imagewriter II and there was no responce. I'm thinking that when I click on the phone icon under "Imagewriter" that it should do something instead of just staying lit up, shouldn't it give the name of the hooked up printers? Also, when I first got the computer it was set for a "Stylewriter". Man I just want a printer that works...

Thanks.

Wolfemanjack

Oct 19, 2012 6:34 PM in response to Wolfemanjack

I'll let the experts give the final word, but I think some of those switch settings may need changing.

I looked in my Imagewriter II and the dip switch settings were all open on sw-1 except for sw-1-6.

This looks/sounds right.

On SW-2 all the switches were open except for 3,5,6.

I believe the default settings should be

1 Closed

2 Closed

3 Open

4 Open

5 and 6 Closed and not for use by the user.

See pages 69 and 70 in this manual.

From what I can tell, you have the baud rate set at 300 rather than the default 9600. I think the more likely culprit is SW2-3. I thinbk that should be closed. Having it open corresponds to using the XON/XOFF Protocol rather than the Hardware Handshake Protocol.

Wolfemanjack Author

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Oct 19, 2012 9:43 PM in response to John Galt

Thanks for the help. I was fiddling with all of the different printer Icons under "Chooser" when as before I chose the AppleTalk option. When In the Appletalk I choose the printer port and the "imagewriter 1" showed up and I clicked on it and then once again tried to print and it was a success, after making sure that the select button was on as I had tried before. I come back on to say that I got it to work and I see that John Galt had posted the exact solution to my problem.

I don't know why the other Imagewriter Icon's didn't work but under "Appletalk" that seemed to do the trick.

Thanks a million from all those who have helped me through this hair pulling experience.

Thanks once again for the posted websites, and you just might hear from me in the future asking if it's possible to connect a Mac Se to the world wide web.

Keep It "Reel",

Wolfemanjack

Oct 20, 2012 11:50 AM in response to Wolfemanjack

Absolutely. Our first Apple computer was a IIc, Our second printer was a white Imagewriter II with a sheet feeder. They will talk to each other.

When selecting cables, be sure to use a printer cable instead of a modem cable. The modem cable has a pin position swap for send and receieve. Because the printer does not talk back, it only receives data. Given more time, I could probably dig up the pinout for the two cables and you can make your own or adapt one.

Oct 17, 2012 6:14 AM in response to Wolfemanjack

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?

Oct 19, 2012 10:15 AM in response to John Galt

John,

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

Jim

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