Kyocera FD-1550 and Windows 2k - stopped working?

Hello everyone,

I have a nice old and trusty Kyocera FS-1550 laser printer connected to a Win2k SP4 (++ updates) via the parallel port (yes, this mainboard still has one, that is why I choose it). The printer worked fine until very recently, but now it suddenly stopped.

I did not unplug it, nor move the cable - it is still resting the way it was before. Selftest is fine, test page (ordered by the printer status key) is being printed. I can even install the printer easily without win 2k starting to whine. The print service is running, the data seems to be sent, but alas, nothing arrives at the printer.

Now, I checked the latest win updates and there was at least one connected to RPC issues, a protocol or service (whatever) I know being necessary to printing as well.

Uninstalled the two updates again, even removed the /spools/ files and data and had it reinstall. What else is there I can do about this?

I would be very grateful for some ideas about this, as I still have two full packages of toner and dont really want a new printer just due to what I perceive as a software problem.

Cheers,
Claus