No Printers Are Available - Cannot Add Printers

Question

Level 1

14 points

No Printers Are Available - Cannot Add Printers

System Preferences / Printers: Says No printers are available.

Clicked on + to add printer: Add screen is devoid of any printers; says "no selection" in both Name and Location fields

Printer involved:

Epson Work Force WF-3540 - have had it for about a year and it has been working with no problems

Had a printer jam I couldn't find; rebooted a few times, etc. Eventually found the jam and then the above problem started. (I'm embarrassed to say that I found a toothpick inside the printer. It was once sitting on top and must have rolled under and in.)

All software up to date, except for a Pages update.

History of where I looked and actions taken (not necessarily in order):

Library/Printers was (and still is) empty, not the least because of multiple printing system resets.

Have attempted to restore Printers directory from TimeMachine, with no luck. Epson printer drivers were restored, but System Preferences/Printers still blank.

Have attempted to install original printer software from disk, but it hangs in the middle, saying that no printer connection can be found, despite printing being online.

Have attempted to run Software Update to get latest printer drivers, but Software Update says that it is up to date and won't let me rerun.

Have run disk utility to verify: disk = okay

Have run verify disk permissions. Had loads of permission errors related to the printer library

Have run repair disk permissions

Have done the last two steps many times, but disk permissions don't get fixed and original problem has not changed.

Unplugged everything, took a break, factory reset printer, started all over. Nothing worked.

Also did the RESET THE PRINTING SYSTEM like so many threads suggested. Doesn't help. OS X Mavericks: Reset the printing system

Also tried to download the drivers from Epson, but they just tell you to use Software Update and I already mentioned that doesn't work.

Not sure any more of all the other things I've tried, but nothing is working.

Texted and emailed my computer tech guy and he's obviously not working, either.

All of these things I have tried multiple times in various combinations, with no luck.

The only thing in the disk permissions list that looked suspicious was this message:

Group differs on "Library/Printers"; should be 80; group is 0 (repeated for various sub-directories (Icons and PPDs))

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Aug 24, 2014 5:53 PM

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Answer 1

NYCtherapist Author

Level 1

14 points

Sep 5, 2014 12:48 PM in response to NYCtherapist

Problem solved!!!

The one thing that bothered me from the beginning, was the lack of printer showing up or even being able to get one to show up. If the cable or printer was malfunctioning, I should at least have had this, a printers window that showed the printer and that it was offline:

As you know, I couldn't even get that.

With my suspicion that some kind of address corruption had occurred, re-installing the software should have fixed it, but it didn't because the problem also affected and prevented the reinstall.

The issue is mac related: On a PC, uninstalling the software would have been necessary for a reinstall. On a mac, it is not. I finally dug deeper at the Epson website and found their instructions regarding uninstalls and that you didn't need to uninstall, but if you wanted to uninstall, there was separate software to download.

So, I downloaded the Epson uninstall software and ran it. I re-plugged in the printer and cable and the system automatically recognized the need to install and put me through the paces. THAT, I am happy to say, finally fixed this problem. I didn't need a new cable, but I rather like the flexibility my new, 16' cable offers me.

I'm very sorry I didn't think of this solution, first, before bothering everyone. So, I am sorry for having taken up your time, but if this happens to anyone else, we have a solution! Have a great day, everyone. Mine is looking up 🙂

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Answer 2

NYCtherapist Author

Level 1

14 points

Sep 4, 2014 4:44 PM in response to NYCtherapist

My new printer cable arrived and it has not solved the problem, unfortunately, although I suspected that it wouldn't 😟

So, I ...

installed the new cable,
Turned the printer on,
Restored the printers from August 6 (just picked a date)
Restarted the iMac
Checked the USB section of System Information:

Went to system preferences/printers/add and I have the same problem:

I am currently depressed and baffled. Dealing with limited funds and a disability, so hoping someone can help me find and fix whatever went wrong. All I know is that it started the day I got a printer jam that wouldn't let go, and the printer and printer cable appear fine. It's just the link between what the system sees and what's there that is corrupted, somehow.

Thanks.

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Answer 3

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Aug 25, 2014 4:34 PM in response to NYCtherapist

This view explains why you cannot add the printer. With it connected by USB cable directly to the Mac it should appear under one of these busses. The fact that it isn't showing indicates that either the USB cable is faulty or the USB port on the printer is at fault. Given the cables are cheap and the easiest to replace, I suggest getting another USB printer cable and connecting it between the printer and the Mac.

Edit: Meant to add the following image to the reply showing the view of a USB attached printer to a Mac.

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Answer 4

DelTech

Level 1

15 points

Sep 4, 2014 7:02 PM in response to NYCtherapist

I have experienced situations where the installation method was actually backwards. Instead of taking a Wi-Fi capable printer and plugging it into USB for initial setup I have had to first use the Setup/Wifi utility software that came with it to configure it that way over Wi-Fi.

May I suggest printing a network report on the printer and posting results?

Also, while you are at it, how are you connected to the internet? Through a home router?

Set up your printer's Wi-Fi connection up from the control menu on the printer. Here is a link how to do that:

Connect Your Epson to Wi-Fi

If that doesn't work:

Do you have a router with an empty ethernet port?

If you do then run an ethernet cable from your printer to your router, and configure the network settings on the printers control panel to match those of your Mac. (Most likely DHCP if using a basic home router)

Also, can you determine what version of driver that is on the CD?

LATEST EPSON DRIVERS FROM APPLE - DMG
Here is the latest Epson Driver Package from Apple

SUPPORTED PRINTERS

And Here is a list of supported Printers

May I suggest uninstalling any drivers first using the Epson Un-installer?:

(I understand nothing has been installed yet or so it seems, but this might clear up a corrupted file somewhere who knows?)

Epson Un-Installer

I have had moments also when I needed to install a driver from an older OS X version.

Here is the link to the 10.8 Driver if you want to try that (At your own risk of course)

Epson Mac OS X 10.8 Driver Combo

Hope something here has helped, keep me updated!

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Answer 5

NYCtherapist Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 24, 2014 7:20 PM in response to Linc Davis

Printer is USB connected, directly. No modems here.

Printer still works. Can print a status page. No error messages at all.

Have had this iMac since 2011 with no problems.

I don't do anything wi-fi.

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Answer 6

Aug 24, 2014 6:03 PM in response to NYCtherapist

Are your printers turned on? Some printers need to be attached rather than using wi-fi for the initial setup.

Have you tested in a new User?

CREATE A NEW USER

Go to System Preferences --> Create a New User in Users & Groups

Switch to the New User by logging out under the Apple in the Menu Bar.

You can skip the Apple ID setup. Select Don't Sign in > Continue > Skip

Can you add printer in new User?

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Answer 7

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Aug 24, 2014 7:40 PM in response to NYCtherapist

There is an application on your Mac called System Information (Applications > Utilities). With this open you will see in the left column an entry called USB. With this selected, the top right pane will show all the USB busses on your Mac. If the Epson and its USB cable are functioning correctly it should be listed under one of the USB busses. If you don't see it then try another USB printer cable.

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Answer 8

NYCtherapist Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 25, 2014 4:12 PM in response to Linc Davis

I have no means, that I know of, to test my printer any other way. One computer. One printer. One me.

It has been suggested that my cable is bad. Could be, I suppose. I will look to see where I can buy another one, asap. In the mean time, my mind has trouble connecting a cable malfunction to the OS X not seeing any printers, despite my restoring or loading them. Wouldn't be the first time my mind couldn't connect something. 😮

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Answer 9

NYCtherapist Author

Level 1

14 points

Aug 25, 2014 5:45 PM in response to NYCtherapist

I'm sorry for not responding to those that asked the obvious: Is my printer on. Yes. From the beginning, printer was on and cable connected, completely. On both ends. These are the things I always check first. I used to be computer support for customers. I know what it's like to head to a job and show the customer that the equipment was never plugged in or turned on.ℹ😝

A new cable is on order. Will have to wait until it arrives to determine if a working cable will magically fix the OS X refusing to display any and all printers, no matter what drivers I load or what's in the library.

Tried Radio Shack for a printer cable, but they only had one and it was too short.

Time for me to learn patience. 😐😢

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Answer 10

NYCtherapist Author

Level 1

14 points

Sep 5, 2014 9:45 AM in response to PAHU

Okay. I was not seeing what you were seeing regarding the USB information. However today (I have all day/evening to try and fix this,) I plugged in my camera and turned it on, and I see the camera in the USB information display. So, I'm going to check each USB bus to make sure each one works with the camera and will get back to you.

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Answer 11

NYCtherapist Author

Level 1

14 points

Sep 5, 2014 10:08 AM in response to PAHU

There are two USB busses and 4 USB slots.

When I test each slot with the camera, each one works. Also, I can see that slots 1 and 4 are on the same bus(1) and slots 2 and 3 are on the second bus.

Therefore, the USB busses are working.

However, when I plug the (new) printer cable in, it does not register in the USB information any more than the printers register in system information/printers, despite that fact that a) the printers are in the printer library and b) the printer is plugged in and turned on.

So, whatever is wrong, it is peculiar (I usually only have peculiar problems, if/when I have them.)

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Answer 12

NYCtherapist Author

Level 1

14 points

Sep 5, 2014 10:54 AM in response to DelTech

DelTech, I'm not doing an installation, so I'm not sure that you've seen all the posts here. We have some kind of anomaly that happened during a printer jam that took me too long to resolve. Despite my attempt at reinstalling the printer just for the heck of it and it not working, I may attempt a full uninstall, anyway. I doubt it will make any difference ... I think something happened in the OS, honestly. As for wi-fi, I don't do wi-fi and don't want to add that to this equation at this time. Wi-fi or wired, the OS cannot see or add printers.

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Answer 13

Sep 5, 2014 3:32 PM in response to NYCtherapist

I'm very sorry I didn't think of this solution, first, before bothering everyone. So, I am sorry for having taken up your time, but if this happens to anyone else, we have a solution! Have a great day, everyone. Mine is looking up

Don't apologize for asking for help. Your solution can help others that have the same issue. Glad it's now fixed.

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