what are the odds that some motherboard chipset is preventing me from printing?

i've tried cups v. 1.0.5, 1.1.19, 1.1.20; and printing via lpr

i've tried parallel cable directly to my computer, i've tried usb cable directly to my computer, i've tried printing to a network device.

i've tried SuSE 8.2, SuSE 9.0, and Slackware 9.1

i've tried setting up the printer via cups(localhost:631), yast2, and kdeprint.

nothing i've done has worked.

i've scrolled though every log in /var/log and nothing of note.

i need to upgrade this motherboard anyways, but i'm wondering if it's worth trying to forget about fixing the print issue until i get the new one.

ok how did you come to the conclusion that the boards chipset is preventing printing? i personally highly doubt that, but thats just me...
i would say it probably has something to do with the printer itself, and its compatibility...
i know a friend of mine has the exact board (K7S5A) and printing works outta the box with minimal configuration...doesn't have to install anything, cause it just picks it up, and he just uses the control center or whatever to set up some things....
so i am thinking its your printer itself, and how well it works with linux, so post the printer/model and we'll go from there...

it's an Epson Stylus C62.

linuxprinting.org sez it's compatible (cups has model specific drivers as well).

i figured my motherboard was the only variable when the printer is supported (and works in windows).

perhaps the version of my kernel is creating some incompatibility? i don't have the specific version, but i know it's 2.4.x maybe i should try 2.6 ?

i appreciate any suggestions you can offer.

to more specifically explain my situation:
1) printer is set up through cups/yast2/kdeprint (with generic ppd's or model specific ppd's)
2) i click on 'print test page'
3) computer hangs for a moment, then reboots.

i have been able to set up the printer as a more or less line printer. using yast2, using my router's parallel port, i can print a text only page, but that's it. when i try to print a graphical test page, it freaks as above.