computer hangs on restart while printer is on.

Question

My computer a Dell Dimension 4600 XP Pro / sp2,  hangs on restart when the Epson Stylus CX 4800 All-In-One printer is turned on.   This issue has been reported on the Dell Dimension and the Sony Vaio  computers, though it may also occur on some other computers.   When the BIOS of these computers sends the query during bootup to the Epson multi-function device, the query is ignored by the Epson product which causes the computer to hang during its boot. This problem has been reported on some Dell computer systems using the Phoenix BIOS PLUS v.1.10 A06 ROM chip and on some Sony Vaio systems using the Award Medallion BIOS v.6.0 ROM chip. The best thing we can suggest to do would be to contact your computer vendor for a possible update\resolution for this issue.   They said we could do a work around thing by turning the printer off. then on again when we needed it. Come on, you for get about it being on. then start trouble shooting then remember the printer when everything you have tried doesn't work. it also cause problems with other things but they are in the far corners of my mind at this time.   Is there a fix for this or what?

fireberd · Answer

There is a known issue with the BIOS, if the USB is NOT set to "no boot" (I don't remember the exact wording in the BIOS). With the BIOS set to USB Boot, when you start the PC, the BIOS will attempt to boot from whatever USB device is connected. It will have to go through the "time out" (no response) cycle before continuing. The "time out" cycle can be several minutes (have you left the PC on and waited to see if it will boot up) before the BIOS determines the time out and continues on.

Could this be your problem?

clrs94 · Answer

I also reset the bios back to what it was befor I made the change.

clrs94 · Answer

one more time that was a 2.8GHz I am sure everyone knew that, do they make a 2.8MHz I used a 400 MHz once

clrs94 · Answer

Thank you for your input. I attempted to make the changes you recommended to the bios, but the closest I could come to what I imagine you were talking about was (press F2 to enter setup) the “Hard Drive Sequence” selection. Where I found; 1) USB Device (Not Installed), and 2) System BIOS Boot Device.. Number two was the one that was selected when I checked. I made the switch to number one and turned on the printer then attempted to reboot.. “Nada” nothing, no dice, no way, I waited 3 minutes. So I turned the printer off. The computer started up no problem.

Curious I checked the device manager and to the right of “Other Devices” was a yellow question mark and under that was USB Devices and another yellow question mark. I deleted the other devices and refreshed the situation and the other device came back with the yellow question mark with the USB device yellow question mark.

This problem is on my wife’s computer a Dimension 4600 a P 4, 2.8MHz XP Pro, I on the other hand have a Dimension XPS R350 P II. Runs like a top with XP Pro.

Unless you have other recommendations I am going to remove the printer and re install.

I am at the point where I refuse to use her computer, it is ugly and it only has 3 expansion slots.

Oh yeah Thanx for your help, I hope.

Larry ::smileysad:

fireberd · Answer

Here's what I found from an earlier post (I did a search on this forum section for USB no boot).

"Go into BIOS setup, and scroll down to the "Legacy Select" option. You'll find a "USB Emulation" option on that menu. Change it from ON to NO BOOT"

clrs94 · Answer

Looks like I gotta name my first born after you;   Hope the others kids don't pick because of the weird name 'pedal'   thanx a bunch. ( I might even get lucky tonight when my sweetie sees i fixed her computer):smileyvery-happy:

fireberd · Answer

ROTFLMAO.  Thanks for the feedback and glad it's working.

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