Hi, This is my new printer and I printed from the PC before but now it comes up with a message on the screen - cannot communicate with the printer. I have checked everything I know. If someone could let me know what I should be looking for would be great. Thank Liisa

Do you receive any type of error message? It seems for some reason your wireless printer is not communicating with the PC/laptop. Also, printing and faxing each require different forms of communication. In printing, you PC is just telling the printer to print what is on the screen; faxing requires the use of a phone line that needs to be set-up properly. Although the wireless setup btw the printer and PC must be working first.

Try uninstalling and reinstalling the software with the printer not plugged into the PC until the software is installed. Also, reread your manual carefully for insights about your issue.

Have a look at your printer software settings. You may have it set to black and white only. There may also be a driver that was missed during installation to allow colour printing. Try reinstalling the software.

A quick fix for most communication errors can be achieved by resetting the printer and/or rebooting the PC. Simply disconnect the printer from your computer. Reboot your pc. Unplug and re-plug the printer into the power source to reset it. When the printer turns on, reconnect it to your computer. Then try to print again once the computer fully recognizes the USB connection.

If that doesn't help, try the steps below:

1. Disconnect the printer from your computer.

2. Unplug and re-plug the printer into the power source to reset it.

2. On your computer, go to Control Panel > Printers and Faxes.

3. Delete the Lexmark print object.

4. Reboot your pc.

5. When your pc turns on, reconnect the printer.

6. Wait until your pc fully recognizes the USB connection. To check, go to Control Panel > Printers and Faxes. If you see a new Lexmark print object in the list again, then try to print again.

You may also try to update your printer driver by visiting the Lexmark website at . Select your operating system, download and execute the file.

If the problem continues, please contact Lexmark Technical Support Center for additional assistance.

A quick fix for most communication errors can be achieved by resetting the printer and/or rebooting the PC. Simply disconnect the printer from your computer. Reboot your pc. Unplug and re-plug the printer into the power source to reset it. When the printer turns on, reconnect it to your computer. Then try to print again once the computer fully recognizes the USB connection.
If that doesn't help, try the steps below:

1. Disconnect the printer from your computer.
2. On your computer, go to Control Panel > Printers and Faxes.
3. Delete the Lexmark print object.
4. Reboot your pc.
5. When your pc turns on, reconnect the printer.
6. Wait until your pc fully recognizes the USB connection. To check, go to Control Panel > Printers and Faxes. If you see a new Lexmark print object in the list again, then try to print again.

You may also try to update your printer driver by visiting the Lexmark website at http://bit.ly/aNGYmW.
If the problem continues, please contact Lexmark Technical Support Center for additional assistance.

MESSAGE IS BEING DISPLAYED ON ACTUAL PRINTER 'STATUS SCREEN' BOX, NOT ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN.
ANOTHER ANSWER: It can be a communication issue from a network/computer or a hardware/connection problem. When does the error come up, i.e. when sending a print job or when printer is booting up or sitting idle? Get the exact error message. You can also contact Lexmark technical support(under warranty) or your local authorized service provider for professional assistance. Thanks.

It could be a communications error message, the printer is not communicating with the computer.

Disconnect and then reconnect the USB cable.

Disconnect and then reconnect the printer power cable.

Restart the computer.

Remove and reinstall the printer software

If your printer does not function properly or communication error messages appear when using your printer, you can remove and reinstall the printer software.

1. Click Start®Programs or All Programs®Dell Printers®Dell Photo AIO Printer 962®Uninstall Dell Photo AIO Printer 962.
   
   
2. Follow the instructions on the computer screen to remove the printer software.
   
   
3. Restart your computer before installing the software again.
   
   
4. Insert the Drivers and Utilities CD, and then follow the instructions on the computer screen to install the software.
   
   

If the installation screen does not appear:

1. In Windows XP, click Start®My Computer.
   
   

In Windows 2000, double-click My Computer from your desktop.

1. Double-click the CD-ROM drive icon. If necessary, double-click setup.exe.
   
   
2. When the printer software installation screen appears, click Install or Install Now.
   
   
3. Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the installation.
   
   

Communications error message
The printer is not communicating with the computer.
Communications error message
The printer is not communicating with the computer.

I had the same problem after I accidentally pulled the power cord out of the printer - it turned out to be the firewall on my PC, when the printer reconnected to the wireless network it got a new IP address and the firewall was blocking incoming messages from it.

Hi Bluff3627,

Thanks for the posting in FixYa.

Is it attached to your PC in Network through LAN Cable?

Does any flag shown in the Device Manager list?

Try this -->

Go to Start -->Printers and Faxes..

Now, right click on your Printer icon and select "Properties".

Click on the "Port" tab along the top..

What port does it say you are using??

Try after unplug and replug the cables.


Regards
Ellin

Did you delete all printers before instaling drivers so that you would have a clean printer install .

delete all printers first from control panel via printers and other hardware. then reload printer drivers for this printer.

No Communications Error When Trying to Print or Scan ID:ENUS27546
What you will see A"No communication" dialog appears when you try to print or scan. What to do Make sure the correct port is selected in the Properties screen. To do this:

1. Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel.
   
2. Double-click on the Printers folder.
   
3. Right-click on the printer icon and select Properties.
   
4. In the Properties screen, click the Port tab.
   
5. Ensure that the printer port is set to one of the USB port options; see below.
   
   
   Click here to view an enlarged version of this image.
   
6. Select the port and click OK.
   
7. You may need to reboot the PC for the change to take effect.
   

NOTE: The printer icon may not be displaying in the notification area (the "systray"). Once the port is correctly selected, the icon should appear there.