TVCH FORUMS HOME . JOIN . FAN CLUBS . DONATE . CONTACT . CHAT  
                  Quick Links   TOPICS . TREE-VIEW . SEARCH . HELP! . NEWS . PROFILE
Archive through August 21, 2008

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: July 2008 - Sept 2008: All Things Technical: The Help Desk... : Computer Problems? Ask Here : Archive through August 21, 2008 users admin

Author Message
Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Monday, August 11, 2008 - 2:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
HP, the truth is, these printers/all in ones are not really made to last. If you got two years out of yours, that's pretty much expected life under reasonable workloads.

Personally, I've not had any trouble with the HPs, and I have several models, from my all in one to a Photosmart, to a high end 5500 laser printer.

Rissa
Member

03-20-2006

Monday, August 11, 2008 - 3:05 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Rissa a private message Print Post    
I am with Karuuna on the HP's. I have two all-in-ones, one lower-end.. one higher. Both are about 3 yrs old and I realize I am on borrowed time but I have been very pleased with their performance and will probably go with HP again when I replace them.

I went to cnet.com for you and HP's do rank quite high for the multi-function units. Are you looking for another all-in-one this time? Anyway, check out CNET.com and dig through their reviews. Also can try this link: Printer Finder... will ask you a series of question and tell you the best printer for your intended use.

Bombaycat
Member

07-21-2007

Monday, August 11, 2008 - 3:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bombaycat a private message Print Post    
I just bought one of the HP Photosmart all in one printers. Most of the 50 reviews I read were 5 stars. Also according to the specs and some of the reviewers it works with Windows Vista.

Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Monday, August 11, 2008 - 5:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
I knew I saw a good deal on a printer today. It was at bensbargains.net. By now it is on page 2. You have to hit the small Next at the bottom right of the page.

quote:

Staples.com has the Samsung CLP-300 Color Laser Printer for $250 - $10 code 82056 - $150 rebate [Exp 8/16] = $90 with free shipping.




There was also a Samsung color laser multi-function printer, but you can't beat $90.

I suppose like all printers the cartridges for this one are sky high.

I have a Brother black and white laser printer I bought for the then astronomical sum of $250 in 1998. I have never had to do anything to it except buy a new cartridge every year or so. It still works fine. I don't print all that much stuff either, though.

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Monday, August 11, 2008 - 7:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Well, we had time to read the first 3 or 4 responses (thank you and sorry I had no time to get back and answer your logical questions, Rissa)-- and then had to go buy one. I know that is probably not the smartest way to make a decision. But given the constraints we were up against, and then reading your comments WITH Ed, we were able to:

* Acknowledge the truth about the lifetime of printers [we remember now we'd been through this before and were astonished to learn back then that very few businesses even offer the service (fixing home printers) --because they are so cheap to replace.]

* Be swayed by the support here for HPs. Ahem, my initials, too! : ) So I was able to convince Ed they really do make a reliable printer.

Here's my 2 hunches on what I think caused the problem. And don't laugh at me for my stupidity in doing either of these two things, please!

1. I use too much Gold Bond Powder in my room. (I stopped using it in the bathroom cuz I made such a mess there. So I started standing on a towel in my room, and then tossing the towel in the wash.) The tiny particles, of course, float in the air. So it could have been that powder killed the printer.

2. I bought a 3-pack of ink for my printer. It contained 2 of the larger black ink cartridges and 1 smaller sized color cartridge. I didn't realize that til I opened the color. I figured it was okay to install the different sizes cuz they came in the 3-pack and were among the "right" cartridges for my printer. Doggone HP for packaging them that way for sale to morons like me! The techie I worked with today (iyogi--a great support group based in India) told me that using 2 different sizes simultaneously is a no-no. So that could have been the impetus for a mechanical problem developing from the weight variation over the past couple of weeks.

Anyway, here's what we bought. (I liked my old 2610 better . . . the material used for the bodies of these things looks much cheaper to me. Gonna install it now.

We purchased an HP Officejet J6480 All-in-one. It was $149.

But duh, we didn't realize it was wireless. Now these next questions will really reveal my complete ignorance.

Okay, so it has wireless capability. But it didn't come with a "wireless USB accessory" that is shown in the directions for setting up wireless communication.

I have a 2002 Dell Dimension --4550. It isn't wireless.

And I don't have that accessory mentioned above.

So here are my questions:

Can I still hook this up this new printer to my non-wireless computer? And can I use my standard USB cable? Can I skip the wireless thing--and get the accessory later?

It appears (from the directions) to me that I don't have to use its wireless capability til I am ready. But the directions don't explain how to just use a regular connection. I can figure it out, but just don't want to kill the thing. Yes, it has a CD. No, I haven't started that yet. Because the printed directions said to make sure you have that accessory before starting.

Now if no one is around who can answer my question, don't worry. I will just contact iyogi and have them help me with this. Just trying to get a quick answer. I have 5 overnights in a row starting tomorrow at 6 and need to print my forms!!!! (I know I can send them to Staples to print, but I want the ability to personalize each form. I only have 8 customers of my own right now, but also still do Fetch (pet sitting franchise) work --and that accounts for 5 more customers.) So there are a lot of forms to print.

Thank you all!!

Rissa, to answer your question:

I mainly print documents for my business, which are one-sided but use color. I also scan pictures and insert them into my documents--for the pet report cards. I take pix of all the pets I sit for and share them with my customers; I also insert them into each personalized report card I print for use during their scheduled visits. (Completing the rest by hand). I also do some VERY basic bookkeeping that I will want to print at some point. (I expect to buy QuickBooks very soon, so will want to print whatever documents it produces.)

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Monday, August 11, 2008 - 9:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bob2112 a private message Print Post    
Herckleperckle: Just connect it using the enclosed USB cable and the printer should be detected. You can load the extra software off the CD to control the scanner. You have other options to plug it into a network or set it up as wireless, but those are more complicated setups. If you need to print right away, the USB connection will get you there the quickest.

Mameblanche
Member

08-24-2002

Monday, August 11, 2008 - 9:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mameblanche a private message Print Post    
I have an HP all-in-one officejet and I've had it for YEARS! Hope I'm not jinxing myself here. :-)

Herckleperckle
Member

11-20-2003

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 11:04 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Herckleperckle a private message Print Post    
Bob, you were right, and the CD provided more connection options than the written manual, so once I put the CD in, I was good to go! And yes, I had to print immediately. Thank you so much!!

It's working beautifully. And I finally hooked up the fax on this one (never did on the old one). It was easy! Ain't modern technology amazing! (The CD did the work; I hardly had to do anything.)

Good to know, MB. You probably don't print a ton. Ed and I had been really demanding a lot from the printer for the last six months, in particular. So . . . I got my money's worth.

Mictay
Member

09-29-2006

Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 5:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mictay a private message Print Post    
Has anyone ever heard of an emta cable modem?I have two computers in my home and I only have one modem which is through my cable and my computers are to old for A wireless connection I think?So Time Warner Cable has on their website the emta modem is compatible but I can't seem to find one.Or am I missing something?

Mictay
Member

09-29-2006

Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 5:24 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mictay a private message Print Post    
Another thing I just thought of,can i use two different modems in my house?

Mack
Member

07-23-2002

Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 5:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mack a private message Print Post    
EMTA modems are for folks using their cable connection for both voice and data. EMTA stands for Embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapter and a major provider is a company called ARRIS though there are others. You mentioned one of your computers is too old for a wireless connection. Many older computers, I know I have one, didn't come with a wireless card so it's hardwired into my wireless router. I could add a card or external device to make it wireless but since it sits literally right on top of my router there's no particular benefit.

Mictay
Member

09-29-2006

Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 5:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mictay a private message Print Post    
I just found A wireless router on walmart website and it said my os was compatible,but besides the router would I have to buy anything else like a wireless card or something?

Mack
Member

07-23-2002

Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 6:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mack a private message Print Post    
Yes you'd need to get a wireless card or external wireless device for the computer without wireless capability. Personally I use an older WRT54GS Linksys router, which works just fine, and a hardwired connection to our two computers in our home office. The third computer is a laptop with built in wireless and I can use that any place in the house or on the patio. If you do go with a wireless router make sure you set up the security. It's not a huge issue but I feel better knowing somebody would have to do some serious work to break into my wireless router and then would have to deal with the software firewalls on each of the computers.

Rissa
Member

03-20-2006

Thursday, August 14, 2008 - 1:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Rissa a private message Print Post    
Afternoon all!! I am trying to hook up an older computer in my daughter's room. Its not ancient... 5 yrs old, has been updated with XP a couple years ago. About a year ago my dd wanted it out of her room to make more room but now wants it back for her games (not internet!). Got it all hooked up, turned it on and I am getting a password prompt for Username: Rain Drop. DD's all claim no knowledge of the username Rain Drop or the password. The hint says: What I want to do in High School and I have tried every sport, subject, etc I can think of. LOLOL

Question is: Is there a way around this? If I reformat the whole system and reload XP, would this help? Really REALLY don't want to spend my evening doing this but having a computer we can't even initialize is worse, right. LOL

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Friday, August 15, 2008 - 8:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
This morning when I type in the address for a site I've gone to many times or use a bookmark for a page in it, the site comes up briefly, the pfishing filter comes on, and the page goes blank (white). Page never comes back. I turned the filter off, but same thing still happens. How do I get site to stay?

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Friday, August 15, 2008 - 10:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
Couple hours later...it's OK now???

Grumpy
Member

02-08-2004

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 10:45 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grumpy a private message Print Post    
Can anyone help? I am ready to chuck this computer out the flippin window!! I got adaware pro alittle over a year ago and I still have had to restore 3 times cuz I cannot seem to get rid of the malware or viruses I get. Adaware says I got some kind of engine malware, and an infected cookie. The Adwatch goes off constantly saying my ie, rundll32, ftcmn(something like that) is trying to modify or change the registry! I dont know what the hell, so I block it, and then then I tried to allow it and it STILL goes off! My home page keeps going to MSN instead of Yahoo, Every time I open IE I get the IE 7 download page or save my settings and choose a default search like Google. What is going on? Webroot, and Norton dont find crap, and Adaware aint working worth it either. My computer is sooooo sloooooowwww. I could have restored it faster than it works, but I dont want to lose all my game settings and levels, please help. Thanks so much for any help

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 3:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
I don't have a problem -- just how do I...? I've got a PC/Windows/XP. I found a picture in a PDF document I want to save. How do I do that? I've got no clue.

Grumpy
Member

02-08-2004

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 3:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grumpy a private message Print Post    
did you try to put the cursor on the pic, right click, click on "save picture as"? then wherever you put the pic it should be found.

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 4:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
It doesn't work like that in PDF. Very different. Don't know how it works...so my question. I did try something. Was able to copy picture. So when I pasted it on a Word page, it did paste but the page popped up in an e-mail form without an address??????? I was still able to simply print the picture which I also wanted to do. But how do I save it in My Pictures? There must be a way?

Ktbb
Member

08-10-2003

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 4:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Ktbb a private message Print Post    
What is the best program to get rid of a malware. We have tried spybot, norton, and spysweeper. Adaware is the only one that found it, and it screwed up adaware so that it wouldn't even run. We redownloaded adaware, but the computer is now so slow, it takes 7 hours to run any virus scans.

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 5:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Colord, the only way I know you can do that is to take a screen cap of the picture. Maybe someone else can help.

Ktbb - what malware is it? There are often specific fixes you need to download to rid yourself of some. I've also had the problem with Adaware.

Have you tried Housecall? it's free also. I use their paid program PCCillin and it's been much better at preventing these issues.

ETA: Here's the link:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Colordeagua
Member

10-25-2003

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 6:06 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Colordeagua a private message Print Post    
After messing around, I was able to paste the photo onto a Word page and then save it as a Word document. Guess that's good enough.

Grumpy
Member

02-08-2004

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 7:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Grumpy a private message Print Post    
KTBB posted on behalf of me, GRUMPY. The malware was some kind of "engine malware". something engine malware. I keep getting error 1814, and now 6000. I uninstalled adaware, then reinstalled it. It then found a cookie that was apparently infected. I dont remember what exact name of malware, but I am trying to find it.

Karuuna
Board Administrator

08-31-2000

Thursday, August 21, 2008 - 8:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Karuuna a private message Print Post    
Grumpy from your post above, you may want to try downloading a program to fix your rundll32.exe file. Many viruses infect that file and it is pretty integral to your system (as I understand it).

I wish I could be of more help. If nothing else, I know a great computer tech in the area.