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From: mfader@eeserv1.ic.sunysb.edu (Michael Fader)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware,comp.sys.mac.misc,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Imagewriter II problem
Message-ID: <1991Mar21.165826.22880@sbcs.sunysb.edu>
Date: 21 Mar 91 16:58:26 GMT
References: <MULLIGAN.91Mar20011006@harlie.pa.dec.com>
Sender: usenet@sbcs.sunysb.edu (Usenet poster)
Distribution: comp
Organization: State University of New York at Stony Brook
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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.