Re: printer problems {again}

[Harry Binswanger hb@xxxxxxxx]

        
--I turn on the computer and it goes through its initial, fast
DOS-looking startup (I don't know the name for this), and then this shows
up: C:\>pause, and right below that, it reads: "press any key to
continue." In other words, the C: prompt with "pause"
turns up immediately, before I've touched any key other than the button
to turn on the computer. If my memory serves, this never happened before
in all the years I've used this. 


It's undoubtedly something in your autoexec.bat file. Take a look at
that, and change it. If you can't use Xy to edit it, use EDIT, which
comes with DOS and Windows 3.1 Or even simpler, at DOS rename it:



REN AUTOEXEC.BAT AUTOEXEC.SAV



(Caps don't matter.)



Then restart your computer. Should be no problem.



         
--Next, I "press any key" and I get Windows'
"Start-up" window. Using the keyboard (rather than a mouse,
which I don't have for this setup),  I then hit: Alt F (for file); X
(for exit Windows), and Enter (for OK to "This will end your Windows
session."


I never used Win 3.1 much, but I'm fairly sure you don't need to do that.
You only need to get a DOS box (C: prompt) within Windows.



          
--Normally at this point, I call up a file from the disk on A: (could
also do it from C:), and I write out "ty" or "type"
and the printing begins. However, for the last few days, it reads
"printer error" and simply won't
print.


Try printing from DOS itself, using either the PRINT command or COPY
 LPT1



If you can, there should be no problem (other than some setting in Xy) in
printing from Xy. At least you can file back on using TYF in Xy, then
printing the file produced (by default, FO.TMP) from DOS per above. If
you can't print from DOS, the problem has nothing to do with Xy but with
how the computer is trying to talk to the printer (check, e.g.,
cables).



 And
as I said, the other new weird thing is that when I try to quit, either
in C: or A:, it insists that I have a file open when I don't.


That's apparently a separate, and minor, problem.



           
I hope I described it a little better this time.


Yes. It's very likely your autoexec.bat file.



It
just seems as if something is stuck. Is there perhaps a directory or file
I need to delete? Should I unplug and replug the entire works?


           
Any help is very much appreciated, as I need to start making printouts
this week. Thanks. 


Another thing it could (conceivably) be is your CMOS setting, which you
can change by hitting some key or other on boot-up (very early in the
process). There should be some notice on the very first boot-up screen,
like "Hit del to enter CMOS."



Good luck.







Harry Binswanger
hb@xxxxxxxx