Symptom
A printer connected to your computer is not available in the Chooser.
Solution
Note: The order in which the following steps are presented is designed to be most useful when at least one of the following is true:
- You have attempted to install Macintosh-compatible drivers for the printer.
- The printer previously appeared in the Chooser of the connected computer.
- The printer is an Apple model for which drivers are part of Mac OS 9.
Follow these steps:
1. Check with the printer's manufacturer that it is compatible with the version of Mac OS you have installed. Check the documentation included with the printer, or the outside of its box. If necessary, see the manufacturer's Web site.
2. Disconnect everything from the computer except for the power cord, keyboard, mouse, printer, and monitor. This helps isolate the cause of the issue.
Note: If you are troubleshooting a network printer, create an isolated network consisting of a computer and the printer, using a crossover cable or a simple hub.
3. Verify that all cables are connected properly. You may need to disconnect and reconnect to be sure.
4. Use the keyboard and mouse that came with the computer.
5. Make sure that the printer is turned on and not in an error state. See documentation included with the printer for information on identifying an error state.
6. Choose Apple System Profiler from the Apple menu. Check here to see if the system recognizes that a printer is connected. If the printer appears here, the issue is probably software related. If the printer does not appear here, the issue is probably hardware related.
7. Make sure the latest printer driver software is installed. Check the Web site of the printer manufacture, and download new software if available.
8. Check for an extension conflict. See technical document 30929: "Mac OS: Extension Conflict Troubleshooting/Extensions Manager Features".
9. Try different or known good cabling.
10. Try the printer on a different compatible Macintosh computer. Be sure to install appropriate drivers on the second computer if they are not already installed.
11. Perform a clean installation of the system software using the Mac OS CD that came with the computer. (You must use the system software CD that came with the computer, or a later version, in order to get the correct version of the Mac OS.)
12. If after performing all of these steps the printer is recognized by a different Macintosh, and still is not recognized by the first computer, the first computer will probably need to be evaluated by an Apple Authorized Service Provider.
13. If the printer is not recognized in the Chooser of any Macintosh computer on which appropriate drivers have been installed, contact the manufacturer of the printer for further troubleshooting.
Related documents
58027: "
iMac: How Printers Show Up In Chooser With USB Adapter"
58028: "
USB: Basic USB Printer Troubleshooting"