The Printer That Thinks Its Printing

wonderfullife_2

Hi
Replaced cartridges, everything fine, printed as normal, now it won't print. It does everything as it should do, shows ink, in the ink monitor, behaves as if its printing, usual noise, etc. but there is nothing on the page.
Epsom Printer 830U, Agggggh
Have you noticed these things always go, when you really really need them.

Any help would be appreciated, as its driving me mad.

Thanks



Merry Christmas
:xmastree:

mickmg

Hi have you made sure you've removed any protective strips from the new cartridges ? Other than that i just got this from the Epsom site ( http://esupport.epson-europe.com/ViewFAQ.aspx?lng=en-GB&ID=KB040100EN&data=02A0FE90E18EB0741379956BF8C65E8C56DE425D18A030803BF1F949ADBDAC69 )

The printer sounds like it is printing, but there is not ink on the paper. What's wrong?

The print head nozzles may be clogged. From the Utility section found in the EPSON printer driver, clean the print heads by performing a head cleaning followed by printing a nozzle check pattern. A head cleaning and nozzle check should be performed as a cycle.

After printing a nozzle check, examine the printed dot pattern to see if there is any improvement. Each staggered horizontal and straight vertical line should be complete, with no gaps in the dot pattern. If there are gaps in the dot pattern, continue with another cycle. Perform up to four cycles if necessary.

If the nozzle check is not printing completely, and if the head cleanings do not help the nozzle check pattern to print completely, try replacing the ink cartridge. You can also turn the printer off and wait overnight this allows any dried ink to soften-and then try cleaning the print head again.

Try replacing the ink cartridges.

Hope you get it going :xmassign:

wobbley

The above poster is spot on. If the printer is not printing in either colour or black then it sounds likely that the 'vent hole strips' have not been removed from the top of the new cartridges. This would cause hydraulic lock and prevent the ink from reaching the print heads.
Another possible cause is.- You've probably heard the joke about 'warranty clocks' on washing machines and the like, that stop them working once the warranty runs out. Well Epson actually do have a form of this. There's a sponge in the bottom of the printer that soaks up leaked ink and an internal electronic counter that tries to guage when the sponge is close to saturation. You can reset the printer's counters with a little software utility but I don't think Epson like customers to know this. You have to be careful though because if you are a 'muppet' like me, you keep reseting the counter and do stacks of printing until the ink actually does leak all over the carpet !

wonderfullife_2

Hi
Thanks for the replies,
I've tried cleaning the heads, etc, nothing happens. It looks like I'll have to get new cartridges and try them.
Wobbley whats the "little software utility" that resets the counter and where do I get it from?




Merry Christmas
:xmastree:

windym_2

I think it could be http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml

wonderfullife_2

Hi
Sorted it out, duff cartridges, had to nip to Staples, they only sell Epsoms, cost me £40, but I had to buy as needed the printer.
Thanks everybody


Merry Christmas

matty_c608

NO WAY!

Are these the cardridges?

http://www.redhotbargains.co.uk/index.php?cPath=21_29_76

They are SOOO cheap, in comparison! They are not the REAL Thing, but I have been using these, with the same Quality, and no problems. You don't feel so guilty printing 'too much'!

They are air sealed and boxed, with plastic protection on, every single one of them!

In future, buy these !

Matt.

wonderfullife_2

Hi
yes I usually do buy the compatabiles, but I needed them today, so I had no choice but to buy Epsom, Staples don't sell the compatabiles for my printer.
Epsom are a total ripoff, but I had to buy them.


Merry Christmas
:xmastree:

matty_c608

Oh okay! Well sorry you had to pay so much for them! They are a rip off!!

fubar_2

I had the same problem on my Epson R300, my solution was wiping the chip on the cartridge with a little meth's, works every time for me.

I use RiDisc

I got them dirt cheap quite a while back purchased 8 complete sets (48 cartridges) for £15 from a car boot sale, I have not had one fail me yet and the print is as good as from Epsons inks.

windym_2

matty_c608 wrote:

NO WAY!


They are SOOO cheap, in comparison! In future, buy these !

Matt.

Not as cheap as HERE :xmassign: