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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Imac Os 9.1 Cannot Open Port Error:255
IT4Mom - Jul 24, 2005 - 12:42 pm
I recently tested a memory stick in my Mom's imac (crt-os 9.x, Mom is 80yrs old.) Then, I returned home, 300 miles away. Now Mom cannot print to her epson laser printer. Ugh. I am PC/Unix literate and do not know much about the "Chooser."
Mom lives in a rural town, 200 miles from the nearest MAC store. She has a dial-up/ not broadband connection.
The error that she sees is:
cannot open port error:255.
she claims that the imac and the printer are connected and that the light is on the printer.
When she goes to the Chooser to setup the printer, she is not able to connect the printer to the USB port.
My ideas are
1) that the OS is messed up.
2) that the OS still "sees" the memory stick and that I need to explain to Mom how to get the OS to forget about the memory stick ( which is now in my hand 300 miles from the MAC)
3) that Mom has forced the connector into the usb port in the wrong orientation
4) that she will need to get some sort of OS patch to correct the problem.
Mom lives in a rural town, 200 miles from the nearest MAC store. She has a dial-up/ not broadband connection.
The error that she sees is:
cannot open port error:255.
she claims that the imac and the printer are connected and that the light is on the printer.
When she goes to the Chooser to setup the printer, she is not able to connect the printer to the USB port.
My ideas are
1) that the OS is messed up.
2) that the OS still "sees" the memory stick and that I need to explain to Mom how to get the OS to forget about the memory stick ( which is now in my hand 300 miles from the MAC)
3) that Mom has forced the connector into the usb port in the wrong orientation
4) that she will need to get some sort of OS patch to correct the problem.
philippe99 - Jul 24, 2005 - 2:42 pm
Hi Katie
Welcome to macosx;com
> 1) that the OS is messed up.
> 2) that the OS still "sees" the memory stick ....
The only solution to be sure of this is to unplug the mac AND the peripherals from their prots AND for the electrical outlet. Let them in peace for night.
Replug the Mac to the electrical outlet, plug the printer in the usb port and in the electrical outlet; power on the printer
What going on ?
>3) that Mom has forced the connector....
Do not believe. The USB plug is designed as a male-female combined key so that only a female-male plug can connect...otherwise the plug is really damaged
> 4) that she will need to get some sort of OS patch to correct the problem.
Well, we are not at this level of incident.. ;-)
My basic question: was the USB flash drive plug into the same port the printer is connected to ?
Is it possible to connect the printer into the other USB port of the iMac ?
Well, of course, I understand how difficult will be to pilot your Mom from 300 miles away and therefore please feel free to tell me back if my request is nearly impossible to be applicated .
Regards
Philippe
Welcome to macosx;com
> 1) that the OS is messed up.
> 2) that the OS still "sees" the memory stick ....
The only solution to be sure of this is to unplug the mac AND the peripherals from their prots AND for the electrical outlet. Let them in peace for night.
Replug the Mac to the electrical outlet, plug the printer in the usb port and in the electrical outlet; power on the printer
What going on ?
>3) that Mom has forced the connector....
Do not believe. The USB plug is designed as a male-female combined key so that only a female-male plug can connect...otherwise the plug is really damaged
> 4) that she will need to get some sort of OS patch to correct the problem.
Well, we are not at this level of incident.. ;-)
My basic question: was the USB flash drive plug into the same port the printer is connected to ?
Is it possible to connect the printer into the other USB port of the iMac ?
Well, of course, I understand how difficult will be to pilot your Mom from 300 miles away and therefore please feel free to tell me back if my request is nearly impossible to be applicated .
Regards
Philippe
IT4Mom - Jul 25, 2005 - 10:52 pm
Phillipe,
Such a clear and wonderful reply! Thank you.
>3) that Mom has forced the connector....
Do not believe. The USB plug is designed as a male-female combined key so that only a female-male plug can connect...otherwise the plug is really damaged
This is interesting:
By viewing page 23 of this:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iMa...UserManual.PDF
and asking Mom to describe what she saw, we discovered that she had connected the printer to the ethernet cable. I will know tomorrow whether or not she is able to print.
Katie
Such a clear and wonderful reply! Thank you.
>3) that Mom has forced the connector....
Do not believe. The USB plug is designed as a male-female combined key so that only a female-male plug can connect...otherwise the plug is really damaged
This is interesting:
By viewing page 23 of this:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iMa...UserManual.PDF
and asking Mom to describe what she saw, we discovered that she had connected the printer to the ethernet cable. I will know tomorrow whether or not she is able to print.
Katie
philippe99 - Jul 26, 2005 - 1:51 am
> we discovered that she had connected the printer
> to the ethernet cable
Despite, I think it is physically impossible to firmly secure an USB plug into a Ethernet plug..I mean on the Mac side..in Os X ..well, for OS 9 machines, one can be confused with the phone line ..... but yes, perhaps..on the printer side, but I could not image ypur printer is Ethernet-ready ????
No, rigth, I think your Mom put it in he phone line plug
So, posts back. For my personal records, I am interesting in recording the solution.
Regards
Philippe
> to the ethernet cable
Despite, I think it is physically impossible to firmly secure an USB plug into a Ethernet plug..I mean on the Mac side..in Os X ..well, for OS 9 machines, one can be confused with the phone line ..... but yes, perhaps..on the printer side, but I could not image ypur printer is Ethernet-ready ????
No, rigth, I think your Mom put it in he phone line plug
So, posts back. For my personal records, I am interesting in recording the solution.
Regards
Philippe
IT4Mom - Jul 26, 2005 - 4:46 pm
Hi Phillipe,
Mom truly believed that she had connected the printer to the computer. She believed that the connection between cable and socket was tight..
Anyway, happy story... Once the usb cable from the printer was connected to the usb port on the Imac, printing worked.
Her internet connect is via the phone line, that socket was taken by the phone cord.
For a novice, the 2 imac usb ports seem to be one.. Especially if your eye sight is not so good.
Thankyou for your help.
Let's close this.
Katie
Mom truly believed that she had connected the printer to the computer. She believed that the connection between cable and socket was tight..
Anyway, happy story... Once the usb cable from the printer was connected to the usb port on the Imac, printing worked.
Her internet connect is via the phone line, that socket was taken by the phone cord.
For a novice, the 2 imac usb ports seem to be one.. Especially if your eye sight is not so good.
Thankyou for your help.
Let's close this.
Katie
philippe99 - Jul 27, 2005 - 2:37 am
Happy your Mom is able to surf again.
It is so great that an 80 years old people uses the technologies her sons have designed.
It is a example for all of our boys which daily claim: "The life is so borrying me"
Big kisses to your Mom and have fun with Mac
Thank you for using macosx.com
Philippe
It is so great that an 80 years old people uses the technologies her sons have designed.
It is a example for all of our boys which daily claim: "The life is so borrying me"
Big kisses to your Mom and have fun with Mac
Thank you for using macosx.com
Philippe
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