in the end the problem was additional ram. took ram stick out and printer now running fine the fault lights for RAM are the same as "no network connection" and "looking for DHCP server".

obviously the printer was only accessing the additional memory some minutes after starting up as the printer would start, print diagnostics pages and allow a page or two to print (from USB or zero config) then die :(

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Mark Secker Computer Support Officer
ph# 61-8-6488 1855 (ECEL) <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
University of Western Australia - CRICOS Provider No. 00126G
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"It takes an idiot to do cool things.... that's why it's cool"
- Haruhara Haruka (FLCL)

Ubi fumus, ibi fumus