[peter the fisherman]

I’ve a problem with printers.
Printers: HP LaserJet 4+ and HP Inkjet 820cxi
They were connected to a Dell P4, will printing a problem occurred and print error came, someone tried reinstalling XP again no luck. Delete the drivers and the printer icons, reboot, but the computer does not auto pick the printers.
So I reformatted the drive and the bingo the auto detects came and installed the printers, they use the 4 + the most, when they use the Inkjet, a few times or there’s a hiccup, it won’t print. The last time it did this I reformatted, without success, because there’s nothing coming from the printer port, dead (tried dos commands nothing), I tried a USB - parallel adapter, at first it didn’t work properly, then it work ok with the 4+ but not with the 820.
So they got another unit, formatted it picked up the printers, again using the 820, the paper jammed and were back to the same scenario, nothing coming from the printer port. What I did notice was that when I was trying to print a test page, the monitor seems to flicker then it stops about 1 – 2 mins it will start again flicker say for 20 seconds then stop I think it’s the 820, is there anyway that the 820 can have a fault and damage the motherboard
I reinstalled XP using the upgrade, still will not auto pick the printers, (I didn’t turn of system restore)
I’ve changed the printer cable to the one I use still nothing.
I am yet to reformat and reinstall, I don’t now why or how it can damage the printer port. Can it be damaged by changing the printers if it is switched on? Nobody tells you the truth.
Here in Ghana getting hold of spares can be very difficult.
Please serious help and advice needed.
Regards
Peter