Wireless Print server, Linksys problem

[Joe Bob]

I bought the wife a used laptop. Has Vista and I use a WIFI, wireless print server. The software loads and works on MY laptop using Vista Office but it did an incomplete load on the Vista Home on the wife's.

The icon for the printer is on the lower task bar near the time, but shows the printer as "offline". I can't see the program in the Control Panle, so I can't uninstall and do a fresh install. Linksys is not helpful as the router is out of warranty. It's a WPSM54G BTW.....I do a diagnostic after right clicking on the icon and I get stuck halfway thru.....

Anyone know how I can find the remnants of what's on there and nuke it?

[ruf-porsche]

Turn off any firewall you may have on the computer.

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by ruf-porsche

Turn off any firewall you may have on the computer.

Then what? I did that and still can't find the program to delete or uninstall.....

[rcecale]

Mike,

Have you tried just popping the software CD back into the laptop and attempting to install it again?

Also, If that doesn't work, you may be able to download a newer version of the software from the printer's manufacturer's web site. What kind of printer is it?

Randy

[John Rogers]

Here you go Mike, try these steps:http://www.ehow.com/how_2138298_windows-vista-using-startup-repair.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

[ruf-porsche]

Are you adding the printer as a standard TCP/IP port?

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by rcecale

Mike,

Have you tried just popping the software CD back into the laptop and attempting to install it again?

Also, If that doesn't work, you may be able to download a newer version of the software from the printer's manufacturer's web site. What kind of printer is it?

Randy

Yes....no joy.

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by ruf-porsche

Are you using adding the printer as a TCP/IP?

I tried a work around as above that came up on a Cisco/Linksys search. It killed everything. I couldn't even get it to print with a USB hook up.

Setting up LPR Printing was not a good thing. I was able to dump that and get back to where I was. Which is the icon on the lower tool bar, printing with a USB only, and no trace of the software on the Control Panel.

This was the link
http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/linksys.cfg/phpenduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=16329

[Joe Bob]

Spent two hours today doing bills and chatting online with the Linksys tech support.....they don't know what the fuch to do either.....

[MysticLlama]

Does it have a reset button on the actual print server? That's what I look for when I have trouble with a wireless router or similar and need to start from scratch.

[Joe Bob]

It's NOT the server....it's the software on ONE laptop.

It's hung up and I can't delete it because I can't find the drivers or the software, neither can tech support. The server works fine on the other laptop and 3 PCs.

I can't reload it, can't delet it. I don't want to have to reformat the HD which is what they suggested.

They gave me a case number and will have the big fat head gurus call me after Christmas....yeah, and Monkees will fly out my butt.....

[968rz]

Enter Safe mode remove all printers and print drivers (and software) reboot and try again with the newest version you can get (download?).

[Joe Bob]

Would I need to reload via my Recovery Disc? Kinda of drastic to nuke one chickenschitz program....

[MysticLlama]

Ah, I wasn't following quite well enough.

In Device Manager in the laptop, you can go to (I think) View-> show hidden devices, and if it's a device, delete it that way. Sometimes devices that aren't working properly will be hidden.

Usually print servers don't work like that though, so that doesn't strike me as something that'd remove the software, but worth a try.

If you still have the uninstall option in Add/Remove Programs, but it fails every time, see if there is a "support information" link in there, sometimes under that will be a hidden repair button and that will help. (Though support should have known that if so)

As far as removing the software, it can often be done the hard way if the uninstaller is stuck.

Delete all of the folders that the installer adds (look on the other computers to see).
Delete all of the devices you can find in device manager.
Search for anything with Linksys in the name on the hard drive and delete is (assuming you're not running a Linksys wifi card too or something on that laptop). And then back up all of your files and stuff you might want, run regedit and do a search and remove all of the keys referencing either Linksys or WPSM54G.

Sometimes when uninstallers blow up like that and won't reinstall, it's on particular file or registry key that prevents it from reloading.

[MysticLlama]

Oh, duh, and here's one more option:

If it works on the other machines and you have one that's on all the time, share it and add the shared printer as a new printer on the laptop and use that. That should avoid any router software altogether.

[ruf-porsche]

Originally Posted by MysticLlama

Oh, duh, and here's one more option:

If it works on the other machines and you have one that's on all the time, share it and add the shared printer as a new printer on the laptop and use that. That should avoid any router software altogether.

This solution will require that the share computer be on in order to print, where as a print server will eliminate the need to have a computer on in order to print.

[Joe Bob]

The Linksys shows up in the Device manager on the machine that works under USB devices. Whether it's hidden or not.

In DM the Linksys doesn't show either way....

[slodave]

You want me to drive up an fix it?