Not sure if anyone can help with this odd little error that keeps recurring, but over the years since Windows Vista and now Windows 7, I have occasional issues with my computer finding my printer when it is switched on. All drivers and software are fully installed and up to date (albeit quite old drivers now) and my printer is fully listed as Windows 7 64-bit compatible.

It can go for days working fine and then all of a sudden it just won't find the printer, with the usual solution restarting the printer again and again or the computer itself. Wednesday I couldn't get it going at all despite restarting both computer and printer a number of times, then Thursday it worked first time.

Having googled for a solution I am unable to find anything. The current printer is Epson Stylus Photo RX640, but I did have a near identical problem with my previous HP, so pretty sure its not the printer at fault. Connection is via USB.

Long shot this I know, but there are a lot of technical bods on here I know. Any thoughts are appreciated.

All that i can think of from what you say is the actual usb port or maybe the cable itself.(im sure youve tried that though ) Im guessing you dont have any other problems with stuff via usb?

No other USB issues at all, and I have used another cable in the past and had the same issue. I did think that this was a Windows occasional fault really. I remember a lot of scanners and stuff just wouldn't work once Vista came out. However this printer is much newer and should not have the same problem.

Thanks for the thoughts though Swampy, and also while I write I have hit it with a stick so there is no need Bed...

you could try uninstalling the drivers, with it unplugged, and reboot then plug it in and let windows try and identify it.



edit: i know this advice might sound silly but it has fixed same issue for me with both external HD and a camcorder. it did not fix the long term problem of why it happened in the 1st place (happened again to both eventually) but it was a way of getting the things temporarily recognised and working

Thanks bfox, shall give that a try next time it fails (worked fine today ). If I ever uninstall trying to get it working I usually use the drivers of the Epson site.

Well silly or not bfox, it may just have worked (fingers very crossed). The printer stopped working again about three weeks ago now and I did the "silly" thing above and it seems to have worked. Not failed at all in the three weeks and the install of the printer was different to how it was when I used the Epsom drivers/software, but it is still functioning the same with all the Epson settings. So, thanks bfox, problem may be solved.