Computer n00b question

[RacinM3]

OK, so I installed a remote hard drive on which to keep my iPod music. To do so I had to upgrade to a new USB 2.0 port card. Everything works fine, except now printing ANYTHING is a PITA. When I print, from the moment I hit "print" until the printer does it's thing and completely finishes, I literally cannot use the computer. Even moving the mouse cursor is nearly impossible while the printer is going.

I can multi task any other time. It's only when the printer is in use. It's very annoying. I still have my old USB connections (It's a Dell, so it has the USB ports on the front as well.) I've tried every port and still the problem is there.

Windows XP Home edition.

[racer2c]

You could see if the manufacturer of the printer has newer drivers you could download. Printing is a system taxing procedure. It also depends on how much RAM you have and what printer it is.

[Dirty Sanchez]

http://130.89.160.183/jig/fora/dude-owned.jpg

[pfc_m_drake]

Who manufactured your USB 2.0 add-in card?
What type of printer do you have?

I'll assume that your printer is connected via USB cable. If you have the option, you may try connecting it to the printer port instead. If that's not an option or if it doesn't help, then I would:

1) As Racer2c suggested - grab the latest drivers for your printer
2) Check for updated drivers for your USB 2.0 card as well.

Hopefully you're running Service Pack 2 for WinXP - if not you may want to consider upgrading. Remember, back up first.

[Wabbit]

Turn on print spooling. It will return control of the computer to you while it prints in the background.

[devilmaster]

http://www.mnsi.net/~smicalef/opus1.jpg

[dando]

Steve, ya beat me to it. The latest Opus strip is an instant classic. :thumbup: :thumbup: :rofl:

-Kevin

[nrc]

Maybe this guy can help...
http://www.neowin.net/forum/uploads/post-59416-1105987532.jpg

Seriously, make sure you have the latest drivers for your USB card and your printer. If that doesn't fix it, remove the USB card and see if printing is normal again through your old USB. If so try plugging your USB2 card in a different slot, maybe the the interrupt it's getting assigned is conflicting with something else and sometimes using a different slot will cause it to be assigned a different interrupt.

[Hard Driver]

I second to check the spooling settings.

If that doesn't work update your printer driver. Some low end printers use the PC printer driver for all the printer calculations, but that would not have changed from adding a USB port.

[RacinM3]

thanks guys. I just re-installed the printer software and it cleared it up.