Win 8.1 x64 - bug with 9-pin dot-matrix printers.

Question

Hi,

Using an Oki ML 280 printer (usb), and the standard driver provided by windows 8.1 x64 (it worked with win 8 but we cannot get it to work with win 8.1).

Seems there is a bug: using ms-word, typing a full text (whole page, arial font), the print preview is wrong (and printing matches print preview) compared to text typed.

Explanation: typed 2 pages of continuous text.

When printing, 2 sheets (ok), but font size is reduced by 30% on preview, and all text stays on "top" of page (using 66% of page), instead of having full page printed.

Problem can be reproduced consistently using word 2007, access 2007 (reports).

Worst: changing dpi in the driver settings doesn't change only resolution, but also the positioning and size of the text, although Arial TrueType Font is used.

This printer worked fine with a Windows 8.0 x64 on the same computer, before the upgrade. 

According to Oki, this problem also occurs with win 8.1 and Epson 9-pin printers, and it is related to Windows that doesn't take into account the printer resolution to draw on the canvas, and not to the driver.

Any hint or patch or bugfix?

Regards.

Answer 1

I have the same problem with the Printer Epson LX-300-II before in windows 8 the printer works good, but after upgrade to windows 8.1 the font when printing in the dot printer appears distortioned, slim and bigger than the normal font.

Please solve this with any patch or fix because this is important for printing invoices with dot printers in windows 8.1.

Regards,

Answer 2

I am facing the same problem and have contacted Espon tech support on 27/11/2013 and was informed that so far Microsoft and Epson have not been able to come up with any solutions. The worst is that Epson cannot commit that any of their dot matrix printer works on Win 8.1. This is a major problem as many businesses used dot matrix printer to generate invoices.

I am very disappointed that Microsoft and Epson has been very quiet on this.

Answer 3

I have the same bug on 2 computers with 2 oki ml321 printers, after updating Window 8 to 8.1. I am printing with ie11 and the same thing is happening. I play with dpi settings on the windows oki driver and everythings is out of scale.

I don't know what to do. I will call oki tomorrow :( All my customers print with oki ml321. I recommended them all to use oki now I am in deep _____

Answer 4

It is NOT a solution.

As said above, the problem concerns Oki.

I told my customers NOT to upgrade to win 8.1. Some are waiting, one of them already switched to Apple.

MS, please provide a solution? Do I have to phone PSS for this?

Is there a way to downgrade from win 8.1 to win 8.0? (8.0 was working fine, and 8.1 was supposed to fix problems, not to add such régressions).

Answer 5

This solution was posted at the TechNet forums: change the driver to Epson ESC/P 9pin V4 Class Driver.  It was originally posted as a temporary fix for Epson FX-880, and I just tried it for Epson LX-300+II.  It improved printing though it's not like before, but at least it's readable.

Hope it helps.

Source: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f311489-66ed-4e03-8f3a-5039e14ac353/printers-seem-to-break-in-81-but-work-in-80-or-earlier