bad print pages on 360dpi, ok on plain, Epson 2500 printer

Using an epson stylus scan 2500, with Win XP professional

In several applications recently (word 2000, Publisher XP, Excel 2000), a
job produces
codes and lots of blank paper, or very blurred and distorted printouts if
the paper type
is set to 360dpi inkjet paper. Problem seems to be both network (from an XP
home machine)
and local printing.

Printing seems ok if plain paper selected.

Behaviour seems to change if I turn off print spooling in printer
properties.

Printer drivers are:
EPSON StylusScan 2500 Yes IMAGE 5.1.2600.0 07/01/2001 Epson epsnmfp.inf Not
Available USB\VID_04B8&PID_0106\5&34BDE9D5&0&2
Epson Stylus Scan 2500 ESC/P 2 Yes PRINTER 5.1.2600.1106 07/01/2001 Epson
ntprint.inf Not Available USBPRINT\EPSONSTYLUS_SCAN_2500\6&1DBE3722&0&USB002

These have been unchanged since installation of XP. XP itself has been
patched with
various hotfixes, and includes SP1.

Any ideas from the group?
TIA.

Roger
roger.haxby@ntlworld.com