Canon Pixma MP780 "put in cartridge"

  • Thread starter Thread starter kai.lapis
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kai.lapis

After reading many comments about this printer, I bought the MP780
today.

When I tried to set it up, the "put in cartridge" message does not show
up, and "check printer / press [ok]" comes up. The alarm LED is
blinking. When I open the covers, the print head holder stays hidden
to the right, and I cannot install the print head.

I called the Canon technical support, and the lady told me to unplug
the printer, wait 30 secs, then try again. She was not able to help me
solve the problem.

Can someone help me? Thank you very much in advance.
 
When I tried to set it up, the "put in cartridge" message does not show
up, and "check printer / press [ok]" comes up. The alarm LED is
blinking. When I open the covers, the print head holder stays hidden
to the right, and I cannot install the print head.
Click to expand...

Are you sure you removed the tape holding the printhead in place?
 
Yes, I have removed all tapes. The print head holder does move around
when I press ok when the "check printer / press [ok]" shows.
 
Yes, I have removed all tapes.

I'm trying to remember exactly what my mp760 did. I think I plugged it
in, opened the cover, noticed the printhead holder moving to center,
and then installing the printhead followed by the inks. As in, plug it
in while the cover is closed, wait for it to see there is no
printhead... open it, and instlal the printhead. If that doesn't work
i'd try pluging it in while the cover is open and see if the printhead
stops in a place where you can insert the head.

Problem is... I have a hard time remembering exactly what I did... I
just powered it up and put it in... pretty much.
 
I have tried plugging it on with the cover closed and opened. Both
times, it is the same, and the print head holder stays hidden to the
right.

It's weird ... every other Canon printer that I own, I plug it in, open
the cover, and the print head holder slides to the middle. Although,
according to the manual, this MP780 is supposed to do that as well.
 
It's weird ... every other Canon printer that I own, I plug it in, open
the cover, and the print head holder slides to the middle. Although,
according to the manual, this MP780 is supposed to do that as well.
Click to expand...

The only logical explanation I can think of is the printer thinks the
cover is closed. There is a switch to the far right inbetween the lid
and the base of the printer. At least on my mp760 it's thumb sized,
black, and easy to spot. My guess would be either you got another
piece of tape there (not likely) or the switch is kauput. I say this
because of the relative easy of the operation.. and if you can't find
the tape i'd seriously consider trading it in for another printer.

On my MP760 it says in bold friendly letters "cover open" when opened
IIRC. Might be the same on the mp750/780.
 
It registers that I opened the innter cover to the print head holder...
But yes, I might be better off exchanging it with another one.
 
It registers that I opened the innter cover to the print head holder...

The printer has four covers. You have the top lid, a greyish inner
cover, and a black cover behind it. There is also the main lid that
covers everything related to printing... i.e. the paper output.

Top lid is what you pull to access the carts. It's huge and somewhat
heavy as there is a scanner in there, not to speak of the doc feeder.

The inner cover is the grey cover before the black one that you can
open. This cover is for CD printing except there is a darker grey
piece of plastic blocking the path. That plastic comes out if you ever
want to invest in a tray to print on CDs. The manual doesn't cover
this IIRC as CD printing is diabled on north american models.

The black door behind the inner cover is the one that has the marking
in it Y 6 BK 3e BK 6 M 6 C 6... color coated for the labels.

The inner cover triggers nothing related to the printhead, and there is
no sensor on the black door behind the inner door. Open grey door to
print onto a CD... this is not covered in the north american manual.
Black door to make it easer to change a cart, and the lid. The printer
won't print onto paper if that grey door is open.

I really can not be sure, but that black button located just under the
main lid far right, easy to spot as it's thumb sized sounds like it's
either broken, or not hooked up. I can't be sure, I don't know if it a
switch on when no pressure or switch off with no pressure type. I only
know I can press my thumb on it to simulate lid closed and watch it
print.

I've seen oddball connection become loose turing transport... doesn't
happen often but I would trade it in.
 
Since all of you have experience with this printer, I wonder if you would
tell me whether you like it or not. I purchased it, but haven't set it up
yet. I have some reservations about it, especially after learning that it
doesn't come with a fax utility and you must create your faxes in MS Word or
other sw. My HP T45 has a fax utility, fax log and fax address book, all of
which I think I would miss. Please comment. If you wish, I will start a new
thread. TIA.
 
Since all of you have experience with this printer, I wonder if you would
tell me whether you like it or not. I purchased it, but haven't set it up
yet
Click to expand...
My HP T45 has a fax utility, fax log and fax address book, all of
which I think I would miss.
Click to expand...

Well, I have the mp760 which doesn't have a faxmodem at all. The mp780
has a fax modem but the software only support stand alone faxing at
least so far as I'm aware. I woudl have to scan to pdf, then print
from the PDF to the MS-fax device. The MP navigator doesn't permit
printing to any other printer except other canon printers, even
printing multiable prints via EZ-photoprint which doesn't support
anything but a canon printer, so direct scan to fax isn't supported at
all.

I don't know if 3rd party software will help resolve this limitation.
It might be you have to have a fax modem in your PC to fax from your
PC, and use the mp780 for stand alone outbound faxing. At first I
thought this was a design feature to encourage people to buy the mp780,
but turns out it's just as limited in fuction as the non-faxmodem
editions.

Fax wasn't my primary applicaiton so I wasn't worried about it.
 
Hmm. This sounds like a headache. I have e-mailed tech support, but I may
run out to Staples and pick up an HP 7210 since they're on sale. I just wish
HP had individual ink tanks and didn't want a fortune for ink. That's why I
bought the Canon :-(
 
Hmm. This sounds like a headache. I have e-mailed tech support, but I may
run out to Staples and pick up an HP 7210 since they're on sale. I just wish
HP had individual ink tanks and didn't want a fortune for ink. That's why I
bought the Canon
Click to expand...

Work arounds.

Outbound fax can be done with the MSfax device, provided your machine
has a modem onboard. Paper faxing can be done from the front panel,
document faxing done from the PC over it's fax modem. Windows supports
this out of the box but the feature is often not enabled for some
reason.
-Advantage- You are not dependent on anything but a sub $20 device that
you likely already own

You can always invest in some fax software The way I see it the
pricemark of the mp780 is $250 where the HP 7210 is $300. You can
either buy a product that comes with everything you want out of the box
for $50.
For example http://www.rkssoftware.com/mightyfax/download.html
mightyfax is a very minimal fax package for those who want something a
little bit above and beyond microsoft fax support. 30 day trial, $20
price mark. Supports scan to fax. Note, i've not used the product,
only heard of it.

The fax support on the canon MP series sucks. You have every right to
be annoyed. The only reason to get one with a modem on board I can see
is for outbound paper faxing, and inbound direct to paper faxing.
Otherwise, a nice software package that handels fax is not a bad
solution at all.
 
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