graifer@net1.ucsd.edu (Dan Graifer) (05/23/87)
I am having some trouble with my ImageWriter II. (In case it matters, my
page setup dialog says v2.3). The print quality I get in "Best" mode has
gotten very bad. I have cleaned the print head, put in a new Apple
brand ribbon, and checked that the paper thickness adjustment is all the
way up. I have looked to see if there is any adjustment screw for print
head/platten distance, but can't see one.
The printout looks like I am using an old ribbon, or using Faster mode with
the printhead pulled back: about 1 in 10 pixels faint or missing.
The printer is about a year old, and out of warrantee. Any ideas, or do I
go enrich my Apple Dealer?
While I am on the subject, I've noticed that in "Faster" mode, the printing
is not bi-directional, although the "Best" mode prints two passes at each
line, one in each direction. Is this the proper behavior? It sure seems to
slow the "Faster" mode down.
One final note, I've been using SuperSpool on my Mac+, but not using it
doesn't seem to make any difference.
Thanks in advance for any advice...
Dan Graifer
graifer@net1.UCSD.EDU
Disclaimer: Nobody ever listens to me anyways; Why should they start now?mfader@eeserv1.ic.sunysb.edu (Michael Fader) (03/22/91)
In article <MULLIGAN.91Mar20011006@harlie.pa.dec.com> mulligan@decwrl.dec.com (Geoff Mulligan) writes: >I have a Mac IIcx with and Imagewriter II connected via the printer >port. > >When I try to print anything, the first few lines are printed >correctly and then it starts printing gibberish. This happens no >matter if I am printing in draft, faster or best. The printer was >working just fine and I don't think that I have changed anything. > >I have tried reinstalling the Imagewriter driver and turning all my >inits off. This doesn't correct the problem. > >I am running Finder 6.1.5 and system 6.0.5. I have installed >Imagewriter driver version 2.7 and I have ATM installed. > >Does anyone have any idea what is wrong? > I posted some suggestions about printing problems a few weeks ago (don't know if you read it, but you've already tried two of the solutions -- reinstalling the printer driver and removing INITs). Anyway, in my previous posting I forgot to mention (someone reminded me via email) that most if not all of the Imagewriter "hex dump" problems can be avoided by not touching the 'Select' switch WHILE THE UNIT IS POWERING UP (so, to borrow a phrase from the MacUser 'Help Folder' where the problem was discussed [or was that in Macworld?], "Keep your fat thumbs away from the 'Select' switch when turning on the machine."). It sounds like you have a different problem, since a hex dump is gibberish throughout; it doesn't start out OK for a few lines and then start printing garbage. Two ideas: 1) You didn't say if this happens with EVERY word or text processor. Have you tried any others? How about printing from graphics programs? The problem may still be in software. 2) I'm not a repair technician and I don't have my Imagewriter II Owner's Manaul handy at the moment, but I remember that the IWII has DIP switches that allow you to configure it for use with different computers. I think some of the DIP switches control its baud rate (see the owner's manual, probably in the Appendix). The only mechanism I can imagine by which the IWII would REPEATEDLY function OK for a few lines and then degenerate is as follows: The Imagewriter printer DRIVER on the Mac expects the IWII to be configured for a certain baud rate, so it sends output through the Mac printer port at that rate. Your IWII DIP switches were for some reason set to a lower baud rate. The IWII has a small input buffer which captures the first few lines correctly, even from a Mac operating at a higher rate. The buffer is filled quickly, and the overwhelmed IWII communications controller can't keep up anymore; it starts "missing" characters. This is just CONJECTURE on my part, but the point is the same: check the IWII Owner's Manual, and see what it says about the proper DIP switch settings for use with a Mac.