Have you tried this? Go to the Start - Control Panel - Add Hardware and see where it takes you. The first point it makes is to use a manufacturer's CD for installing rather than Windows' Add Hardware Wizard. It is also the path to trouble-shoot hardware.

I can certainly sympathize with your situation...I have been without a printer for many months now because the ink cartridges are so expensive. I have a Canon Multipass 550 which has been a lifesaver in the past...being able to fax, copy and print...then when you do breakdown to buy one...install it and it still says empty cartridge, you really want to scream. But get this...the cartridge isn't the problem...it's the print head...to the tune of $50 or so and this is the third time I have replaced it and lord only knows how many cartridges were full before I wised up! Now get this....those print heads can be washed in your kitchen sink, dried on the counter and reinstalled...I sure am glad I saved the other two, i'll try that next time! But, now...I can't get the printer to print everything on the page....it prints one or two lines of the document, then skips a good paragraph size area and picks up the print again......any suggestions! and of course, it doesn't help that the manual is online and no hard copy is provided...I'm ready to do the old uninstall/reinstall thing and see if that helps! Technology sucks....here today, obsolete before noon the next day! and it wasn't a cheapee either...about $250- $300 smack a roos 2-3 years ago! Even with the cheapees....you spend a fortune on ink, that's were they make the money i guess! So what do I have to lose if the washing dosen't work......blank pages! Congratulations to anyone who can buy Canon Cartridges for $2.00 what is the secret! Here is a link that might be useful: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/wilf.james/cartclen.htm

Before right clicking on the device to uninstall it, click on properties and report back on what the error is. The error will be in a 'code: XX' format. An exclamation point usually always means corrupt driver, or that the device has caused an error (usually due to corrupt drivers). After you uninstall the device via device manager, reboot the computer and it should re-initialize the device and reinstall the driver accordingly.

STOP - DON'T RESTORE! Please go to Power options in the control panel. Is the Power Scheme setting on Home/Office Desk or Always On? If not, choose one of those settings. Additionally, Set the system standby to NEVER. This should remedy your issue. Do Not Restore at this point! The next thing I want you to do is open the device manager. This is found in the control panel - system - Hardware - device manger. Is there an exclamation point on ANY of the devices named? Are there any red X's on any of the devices named? If there is a yellow exclamation (!) on a device, you have a problem with the driver and the driver should be rolled back, updated or re-installed. If there is a red X, the device has been disabled. If a device is disabled you can enable it by right clicking on the device with the red X and then choose enable. Your answer to the problem will most likely be solved in the power options. The power schemes come into play when you are using a notebook or laptop running on batteries. Unless you are super conservative with power consumption, making sure your setting are as I suggest is the best way to go. Let me know how you make out.