The case of the; Missing Printer Driver

Mr Warren: Just went through this yesterday after the AppleCare tech told me "You won't lose anything when you do the archive & install of your system . . . ." Six hours later I was back where I was before . . . 10.3.9 . . . and my Epson printer could not be added in Printer Utility. Fortunately I remembered that when I had this problem three years ago when the AppleCare tech said, "Don't worry, you won't lose anything when you do an Archive & Install using your start up disc . . ." that I found a program called Printer Setup Repair at Fixamac.com at this link <<http://www.fixamac.net/software/psr4/index.php>> It was shareware then, now you get 7 days to use it--should be enough time. I was so wasted by the fact that I had been snookered into the old "archive & install" method to fix all issues that I didn't read the instructions of it I just clicked on whatever was there. . . and I got the updates from the Epson support website --we need --PrinterDriver v 1.8aA & I got the Epson Easy Print3.0cA. And THEN you can add the printer in Printer Utility. Minutes later I was right back where I was 6 hours before that . . . 10.3.9 with the ability to print things . . . . It is an awesome world . . . .

iBook G4, 14, 933 MHz, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Mr W: Just realized that the Epson printer driver I mentioned is for my C84. You would need another one, but try the Fix amac thing, for some reason Panther didn't think anyone would need to print things??

Mr W: I'm in a bit of a rush this AM, but When you said EVERYTHING disappeared, what does that mean? If you just re-installed your system & in panther it seems that at that point there are NO settings to back-up--so nothing would happen. As I said, Sat. I was in a rush & didn't read the Fixamac instructions as I should have, that utility is the key you need to turn the lock to get Printer setup utility to recognize some script somewhere, God bless them; but I went through all the steps/window buttons they offered before I re-started & then I used Printer Util set-up that comes with the system to ADD the printer with the updated Driver from Epson. Some of the button/features in the Fixamac thingie don't work unless you pay them--but what you & I need is there . . .

BUTTTTTTT, I noticed in your first post that you said that you used Install Disc #1 to check your system--two things, to use Disc Utility from disc restart holing C or Option key down, then you go thru the first couple of windows to set language & then click on File or Edit in the Menu bar by the Blue Apple Icon to choose "Disc Utility" and then you go thru that process when Disc Utility launches--which is NOT re-installiing your system you just need to be OUT of your Mac HD to run repairs on it AND Two, you didn't mention using the SECOND install disc to re-install your system--frankly I have no idea what is on that disc & whether or not you need to do that if you are doiing the 1039 Combo update process, but if you didn't install the second install disc--there may be a GAP instead of a MAC. May not be back to this thread until tomorrow, take care, work carefully.

iBook G4, 14, 933 MHz, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Mr W: Fast reply to your last post: First, I am not a "pro from Dover" like some of the fellows with thousands of postings, I'm a guy somewhat like you who deals with GUI issues--clicking on things until they work. But I just kiinda did what you did, so it's fresh in my mind--sorta . . . . Also, I'm not following or commenting on the Ali Brown stuff with the .PList files--that may be another way & it may work; on that issue, when you take .plist files out of their folder & trash them & then re-launch the program they came from a NEW .plist file is made & hopefully it solves the problem. And--also when restarting all windows disappear--that is normal.
But winding back into your first post--if you only did a Disc Repair with your STart-up Disc you should not have lost anything & whether it is 1032 or 1033 should make no difference & you should not have had to re-load 1039 combo. Somewhere in there some wires got crossed & things became unclear. But from where you are if you did not reinstall your system with your startup disc & then you installed 1039 combo . . . see what I'm saying, I can't be with you.
Simply though--if you go through the Fixamac program & do the various operations, download the printer driver updates for 1039 for your printer &&& while you are doiing all this the PRINTER IS TURNED ON & CONNECTED to the computer--then when you go to Printer Set-up Utility it will recognize your printer & you can add it. Read the instructions with the Fixamac thing carefully for all the details that may apply. It worked for me. But I can't tell if you need to add the second iinstall disc or where you are in that tangled web. Coomputers can't thiink for us yet, they only do only what we tell them.

iBook G4, 14, 933 MHz, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

OK. After you download the priinter driver you have to install it. Have you installed the driver?? Double click on the .dmg file and go thru that installation process & re-start the compuetr & then the computer can recognize the driver. Then if you have gone thru the Fixamac thing, then Printer Setup Utility can ADD the printer to your list. Even if you have installed the new driver but do not do the Fixamac PSR deal --Printer Set-up U will say "Driver not installed,' that's why you need the Fixamac program. So, if your system is ALL up to date you still won't have the printer. It seems like you should have enough .dmg files from epson. INstall one. Do the fixamac deal, add the printer to the list. Your are almost there.

Mr W: That's probably the best idea at this point. It wasn't clear how you got from disc repair to install system, so something got MIXED up. If you haven't done it--"Archive & Install with Preserve all settings" buttons should be checked & then there are two install CD's, you are prompted to install the second CD.
And, the questioon is, at this point are there settings to preserve? The A & I deal creates a folder in HD/previous systems folder with all the previous information--on Saturday mine was 2 GB. Ostensibly the computer can "go into" this folder to find stuff--but if after you get everything back to normal--printing, etc--and that is OK, I am planning to open all the programs I would possibly need & if all running well I will move that folder "previoussystems1" I think it called it, to the desktop & then re-open all programs I think I might need. If everything works fine I wil trash that folder . . . .

On the printer driver thing/issue that really should have been "fixed" by Apple in an update. The OS has drivers for all manufacturers & we should be able to plug ina printer & start printing. We should not have to have a program to get the computer to see something so basic as a printer--between Epson & apple it should have been fixed, yes? Don't know if all of this will fix your original problem in Appleworks, of course Apple doesn't support AW, but there is an AW forum at this site. My problem with a crashing program was not fixed by all my time spent re-installing & Fixamacing, etc. Take care. eep

iBook G4, 14, 933 MHz, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Hello Warren!

I can't seem to locate a compatible driver on this page Epson Stylus CX6400, Drivers & Downloads, so which driver did you install?

ali b

Mr P: Well I understand your hesitation to re-install the system, still not clear if that is a non-issue. Hopefully you'll get a chance to take a deep breath & focus . . . . From what you said to Ali about the driver it would not be the right one. It should say something like OS 10.3x, the x being for any of the the 10.3 systems that are out there . . . nine of them . . . . Or 10.2x - 10.4x, so that the three system is covered. So either there is no update for that printer and/or you need to get the original driver disc & install it to get any kind of reaction from your printer??? Probably best to call Epson at this point. Also there should only be two (2) install CD's for our system--there are a number of other discs for applications, restore--but 2 install disc's.