Mac OS X 10.3.7: Printing Problems; workarounds

A handful of readers have reported problems with print and fax functionality after upgrading to Mac OS X 10.3.7. One reader writes:

"The upgrade to 10.3.7 (using all recommended procedures) broke my print and fax preference pane. Clicking on the icon results in hang at "loading print and fax..." message at top of preference pane window. Various general and specific permissions repair utilities don't fix. It is user specific - normal behavior using my troubleshooting account. Printing itself seems unaffected, just access to the print center from the preference pane in a specific user account."

Reader Joshua Towle notes an inability to disable fax answering:

"Currently I own a 1Ghz Dual Processor Desktop G4 running 10.3.7. The 'receive' option on Print/Fax System Preferences is set to off; however, when I dial my home phone number, the fax software answers the line after 2 rings. I cannot shut off the fax answering service."

Several MacFixIt readers have been unable to properly print to their Hewlett-Packard branded devices after applying the Mac OS X 10.3.7 updater.

MacFixIt reader Michael Diehr reports a five-step solution that may work in similar situations:

1. Use the HP Uninstaller (located in the HP folder). Diehr writes "It seemed to hang, but I let it run for over an hour, then finally chose 'Quit' from the dock menu (hold down the mouse button). It then popped up a window claiming success."
2. Re-download the driver specific to your printer from HP's Web site.
3. Download Pseudo.
4. Mount the HP installer image, then Drag and drop the Installer program onto Pseudo -- this will launch the installer with admin privs.
5. Follow the installer.

This fix has been confirmed for the HP OfficeJet D series and other printers.

MacFixIt reader Matt reports that he was able to resolve a specific printing issue under Mac OS X 10.3.7 by performing a PMU reset:

"I seem to have stumbled on a fix for my printing issues that developed after upgrading to 10.3.7. My wife had the same issues on her iBook G3, that I had on my Powerbook G4.

"We both did a PMU reset (shift control option power with computer off... Wait some seconds then power on) and now we can print fine.

"It was quite odd. I tried to print a text file after the update and it just hung at the 'printing screen.' After I did a PMU reset and logged back into the PBG4 for the first time after the PMU reset, my networked printer fired up and printed the item I sent from 2 days ago!"

Resources