Hello,
My printer is an Epson Stylus CX3600, the computer a Packard Bell laptop (XP). Either the printer is put on LPT1 in the printer properties, either it is put on USB1 but in the device manager it appears as USB MPF with a yellow question mark behind it. I need that printer because I'm looking for a job.
Thank you for your help,
Françoise

have you installed the epson printer software from the cd?
i have had a few problems installing my old epson c42 plus i just re-installed the software and it worked (sometimes it needed installin twice on mine)

Yes, I tried with the CD, uninstalled, tried by loading the drivers from the Epson site, uninstalled, and so on... Someone told me the problem only exists with XP, older versions of Windows accept Epson printers. But what can I do ?
Thank you for your answer.

my computer is xp and it accepted my epson what happens when you try to print?
also, is the epson set as deafault?
(Start>Controll panel>printers and other hardware>view installed printers and fax machines your Epson should have a tick next to it)

Sometimes when I install, I find the printer in the installed printers list. When I try to print, I have a Epson box who tells me the printing process is started, but nothing happens. Sometimes, as of now, I don't even find my printer in the installed printers list.
To be quite frank with you, I should tell you that I'm a smoker. I hope you will go on helping me all the same.

To be quite frank with you, I should tell you that I'm a smoker. I hope you will go on helping me all the same.

Yes of course, ill have a look on for something to help you now

Thanks a lot.

i found this:
You can diagnose most problems by checking the LCD status display panel for a message. If a problem occurs while you're printing, you'll see an error message in the progress window on your computer (Windows only). Follow these guidelines when you see an error message in the LCD status display panel:



Message Problem and Solution:



(An unknown printer error has occurred)
Turn off the Epson Stylus Scan and contact Epson Helpdesk.



(The used ink tank is full)
Turn off the Epson Stylus Scan and contact Epson Helpdesk.



(Scanner Error)
The transportation lock may be locked, or the fluorescent lamp may need to be replaced. Make sure the transportation lock is in the unlocked position, and then turn the Epson Stylus Scan off and back on. If the Epson Stylus Scan still doesn't operate properly, contact Epson Helpdesk.



(ADF Jam)
No paper is loaded, or paper is jammed in the automatic document feeder. Load paper in the automatic document feeder, or turn off the Epson Stylus Scan and remove the jammed paper.



(ADF Cover Open)
Either the automatic document feeder is not flat against the document table, or the cover at the back of the automatic document feeder is open. Close the cover, or gently push down on the automatic document feeder until it rests on the document table.



(Paper Jam)
Paper is jammed in the Epson Stylus Scan. Press the load/eject button. If the error doesn't clear, remove the jammed paper from the printing area. Check that paper is loaded in the sheet feeder, and then press the load/eject button to resume printing or copying.



(Printer Paper Out)
There's no paper loaded in the sheet feeder. Load paper into the sheet feeder, and then press the load/eject button to resume printing or copying.



(Black Ink Out)
The black ink cartridge is empty. Replace it.



(Color Ink Out)
The color ink cartridge is empty. Replace it.



(Maint. Cover Open)
The Epson Stylus Scan won't operate if the maintenance cover is open. Close it.


Dont know if its relevent to your problem

Can't find anything else, I'll keep looking for you

Here are a bunch of ideas:

Turning a printer off and then on again clears the printer memory, which can solve a number of problems.

Turn your printer off, wait 10 seconds, turn it back on, and then try to print your document.

Is printing paused?
To determine whether printing is paused

Click Start, click Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Printers and Faxes.
Right-click your printer.
If Resume Printing or Use Printer Online appears in the menu, click this command. Then try to print again.

Is the printer port set correctly?
Make sure that you are printing to the correct port or shared printer path.
To verify which port that you are using for a local printer


Click Start, click Control Panel, click Printers and Other Hardware, and then click Printers and Faxes.
Right-click the printer that you want to use, and then click Properties.
On the Ports tab, in the Print to the following ports list, click the correct port.

The most common printer port setting is LPT1. However, some printers require a different port. To determine which port your printer should use, see your printer documentation.

have you got atleast 120mb of hard-drive space?
(Click Start, and then click My Computer.
Right-click the icon of the hard disk on which Windows is installed, and then click Properties.

The General tab shows the total amount of free space on your hard disk. 1 gigabyte (GB) of space=1024 MB.)

If none of those work try a different usb cable

if that doesnt work try this:

Can your printer perform a self-test?
A printer self-test verifies that your printer is working correctly. If you are not familiar with this procedure, see your printer documentation for instructions.

If the self-test is successful, your printer hardware is working correctly, and you have a problem with your computer or the connections between your computer and your printer.

If the self-test fails, there might be a problem with your printer.

Hello Mike,
Thank you for all the ideas. I'll try what they do. Now, when I ask the computer to install the printer, I get the box "New material detected" and it wants to install "BUS SM controller" but it needs to find an update and cannot find one. Is that relevant to my problem ? I'm afraid you spend a lot of time helping me. It's very kind of you but I don't want to be a nuisance (maybe I don't explain myself right but my mother tongue is French, so excuse me).
Françoise