Hi.I use windows XP with ie6, and have plenty of memory. We recently bought an Epson Stylus C42UX instead of buying ink for the lexmark (much cheaper) Well..... My son installed the Epson, and the printer worked well for a few minutes, and then the computer went totally wacky. It started freezing, and restarting repeatedly on it's own, so much so that it was impossible to use.
I was out when this happened, and assumed it needed a driver--getting one from the epson website, and it made no difference. I uninstalled the printer from add/remove, and still no difference. System restore would not complete (page would not come up that said it was successful). I tried this in safe mode as well. I got brave and tried a "dirty install" (first time ever), and it got to the part just after putting in my windows #, and kept re-starting on it's own. At that point, I had to take it to the shop, and they reformatted for me. Now it has been at home for a couple of days, running fine, and the kids need the printer. My son installed it again...with the same results!!! GRRRRRRRR. This time, after using add/remove, I did a search and the files were still there (didn't think of that last time--just assumed they was gone) I manually un-installed all but one file, got rid of the stubborn one in safe mode--did a successful restore in safe mode, emptied my temp files--Yippee, I actually fixed it!! Now......... We need a @$*@() printer again--any suggestions on how to get this one right? I know when he installed it he followed the instructions carefully (he says, so I believe). He had to get the driver off the software that came with it- maybe this stage can be skipped and I can try the one from the epson site? I don't know if this is possible. Please excuse my long windedness, I don't know alot about computers, and wanted to be thorough. Thanks,

Jan

The fact that it happened twice pretty well ties the problem to the printer, so it has to be a driver problem. Try it with a different driver, making sure it is specifically an XP driver. If it still acts up, you now know how to fix it.

If the printer just won't work, take it back to where you got it and exchange it for a different brand. It must still be under warranty.

Thanks Shelly.I'll try the one from the epson site.If it doesn't work this time, it is going back to the store for sure!!!

Jan

XP/IE6/OE6

What I would try doing is disconnect the printer ,remove all references to it in add remove (control panel).
Reboot,then shutdown and connect printer,start computer and let XP see if it will install its drivers for it. You may not need Epson drivers at all. It's worth a try.

That's a good idea too. XP has good drivers for any hardware that is not too new a model to have been included.

I would download a fresh copy of the latest Epson drivers and then contact Epson technical support. Have them walk through the installation with you. I have had good luck with their techs.
Obviously, unless there is a problem with the printer itself, it should run just fine under XP. I would not install older drivers for any Epson products. When they issue new drivers there is usually a very good reason.

Hi. Well, I got the newest driver from Epson first this time, before installing the printer. Then I skipped the ..Download Driver... from the cd. All seems well this time, even after the morning reboot! Thank you all for your input.:)

Jan