wnn@ornl.gov (Wolfgang N. Naegeli) (08/21/90)
I am afraid my old LaserWriter (with Postscript v.23) may have developed a
hardware problem.
I can no longer print MacPaint files or documents containing bitmaps.
The first attempt to print such a document after turning the printer on
results in the
following message:
Error:VMerror; Offending Command: imagemask
and on the second and subsequent attempts:
Error:Limitcheck; Offending Command: 0
sometimes the Offending Command is "8" or something else.
In all cases the application gives me a message like:
Unable to print page; 8133/18:5; A Postscript Error has been
generated by the Laser Writer Driver. The document is OK but
cannot be printed.
The above example is from Canvas 2.1. I have also tried to print the same
bitmap from DesignStudio, which even lets me specify a PostScript v.23
LaserWriter, and GlueQall without success. I have recently tried both
LaserWriter software 6.0.1 and 5.0.
Often the same file will print OK on a LaserWriter Plus, with essentially
the same system configuration and application versions, though
occasionally we run into "Limitcheck" errors with the LW+ as well. My
Inside the Apple LaserWriter manual (it may not be the most recent
edition) does not explain these situations.
In my most recent tests, I used System 4.1/Finder 5.5 with LaserWriter
driver 4.0, and Canvas 1.02m. I am pretty certain that I used to be able
to print with that combination in the past, but now the same thing happens
as with the newer software.
Another observation that suggests to me a serious firmware/hardware
problem is that the printer no longer will print any screen fonts. I may
get a message that a bitmap is beening generated since no laser font could
be found, but when the page is printed, it is blank, or at least those
parts of the page for which I used non-outline fonts are blank.
I don't have any problem printing pages with any mixture of Helvetica,
Times, Symbol, or Courier in any combination of sizes, styles, leading,
kerning, etc.
Is there any diagnostic software for the LaserWriter that could help me
pinpoint the problem? I am not much inclined to haul this printer off to
the local Apple dealer, because they have given me poor service in the
past, because I can't to it with my back and would have to get someone to
carry it, and because I can't justify an expensive repair. So I'd like to
get an idea what's wrong and how much it would cost to fix it, before I do
much more about it.
Can someone please help me or give me a lead?
Wolfgang N. Naegeli
Internet: wnn@ornl.gov Bitnet: wnn@ornlstc
Phone: 615-574-6143 Fax: 615-574-6141
QuickMail (QM-QM): Wolfgang Naegeli @ 615-574-4510
Snail: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6206