Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Can't add printer

shieldyoureyes

shieldyoureyes

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Nov 1, 2005
277
0
Uppsala, Sweden
I'm trying to add a printer, but when I go to my Printers and Fax Preference Pannel and click the plus button, it takes me to the Printer Setup Utility. When I try to add a new printer from there, nothing happens. I click add printer and nothing happens.

Any ideas on this one?

and yeah, it tried repairing permissions.

thanks in advance for any help.
 
shieldyoureyes said:
I'm trying to add a printer, but when I go to my Printers and Fax Preference Pannel and click the plus button, it takes me to the Printer Setup Utility. When I try to add a new printer from there, nothing happens. I click add printer and nothing happens.

Any ideas on this one?

and yeah, it tried repairing permissions.

thanks in advance for any help.
Click to expand...

What kind of printer are you using, and what version of OS X?
 
Opps! forgot to mention that! I'm running OSX 10.4.6 on a powerbook G4.

The printer is a Dell A920, a relabled Lexmark 1150X, which I have the drivers installed for.

The printer is not the problem, the problem is that when I click the button to add a printer, it does nothing.
 
OK, thanks.
I'm using a Powerbook @ 10.4.6 as well. When I do 'add printer' from the printer setup utility, it takes me to a printer browser. I'm assuming this is the point you have troubles? Other than repairing permissions, have you looked for the .plist file and moved/renamed it? Does this behavior extend to other user accounts as well?
 
Yes, it is not bring up the printer browser. I have not looked for the .plist file or moved/renamed it. I only have 1 account on my laptop, so I haven't checked to see if it would do this on other user accounts yet. I guess I could make one...but would rather not.
 
it doesn't really hurt to make a dummy account to do this troubleshooting, you can always delete it with no harm afterwards. It would point to a preferences problem, most likely, and save you from necessarily having to reinstall software.
 
I looked for the .plist file on my laptop, but didn't find it amongst the 600-odd files there. It's getting late here in my neck of the world, so best of luck with your problem. Someone else will likely be along soon to help out.
 
Thanks a lot for your help...I appreciate it!

I'll make up another user account and check that out

EDIT: Just made a new user account and had the exact same problem.

Any one else have an idea?
 
My friend has this exact same problem on his iBook - it just would not get to that same window no matter how many times you clicked!

In the end, Apple themselves suggested a complete re-install of his OS :eek:
 
This may be way off so bear with me, but try these things:

Turn off your computer and your printer. Disconnect them. UNHOOK YOUR INTERNET ETHERNET CONNECTION. Reconnect your printer. Turn your computer on. Turn your printer on. Go to Network under System Preferences and select "Built In Ethernet" from the "Show" submenu and click the AppleTalk button and make sure it is clicked as being active and have the configuration say Automatic.

Go to Printer Setup Utility and go to Add Printer. Your area of choice should be your local AppleTalk zone. See if your printer now shows up in that window. If it does, add it and you are done with printer setup. If that happens, reconnect your internet ethernet connection and you are done.

If the above does not work, then I do not know how to help you.
 
Go into a document (anything) and go "Print", and see what shows up in the printer place. If it says "No printer selected" go to the add printer place, and just fiddle around, until the name of your printer appears in the print window of your document. Make sure the printer is turned on.
 
Thanks for all the advice. After spending 3 hours on the phone with apple, I ended up having to reinstall the OS. Pain in ass, but it worked.

Quick question: Its ok to delete my previous system now, right? yeah? cause its 7GB.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back