Need help from an Epson guru

  • Thread starter Thread starter dernhelm
  • Start date Start date
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dernhelm

I have an Epson stylus color 900 that is giving me a fit.
If I try to print anything the output is nothing but random
groups of red blue and black lines. I originally had this problem
after a power outage. I have tried printing the internal
test pages but get the same type of output. I have tried both
usb and parallel cables without any luck. Its like the printer
accepts jobs but doesn't know how to print them anymore.
Is it possible to update firmware on these things or am
I totally screwed?
 
I have an Epson stylus color 900 that is giving me a fit.
If I try to print anything the output is nothing but random
groups of red blue and black lines. I originally had this problem
after a power outage. I have tried printing the internal
test pages but get the same type of output. I have tried both
usb and parallel cables without any luck. Its like the printer
accepts jobs but doesn't know how to print them anymore.
Is it possible to update firmware on these things or am
I totally screwed?
Click to expand...

If you have them handy, try installing new black & color carts to see
if the problem goes away. But before this, try resetting the printer
itself (covered in a previous thread) or by using the free SSCServe
utility.

This may not apply in your case, but once I tried using one of the
common Chinese cart resetting gadgets on an empty Epson T009 cart, and
after refilling it acted up reeeaal bad, seemed like it didn't know
which color was which--also the head check showed inconsistent colors.
Evidently these resetters don't always do the right thing.

Try reinstalling your Epson driver package--something might have
gotten hurt.

Epsons like the 1270, 1280 and 900 are prone to main board failures
possibly brought about by power outage-induced transients, and if this
is the case (and it will cost you nearly $100 for an Epson repair shop
to find out), you're sunk, unless it's still under warranty. It's
ALWAYS a good idea to buy the inexpensive extended warranty on these
newer, failure-prone Epson printers. Next time consider hanging it on
a UPS, since the internal supply is continually powered up when
plugged in, and thus vulnerable to transients (or just yank the cord
after powering off on the panel).
 
Have you:
Re-installed the printer driver?
Printed the test page (from the "properties" tab in the printer menu)?
Cycled the power on the PC, printer,. etc.?

1. Turn off everything and re-start.
2. If you still have an issue, re-install the printer driver.
3. Try the nozzle check utility

--
******************
Mark Herring
Pasadena, CA, USA
private e-mail: just say no to "No"

*
 
groups of red blue and black lines. I originally had this problem
after a power outage. I have tried printing the internal
test pages but get the same type of output. I
Click to expand...
If you try printing the nozzle check test page from the front panel of the
printer, do you get the same result. If so, it doesn't look good. Probably
damaged logic board due to the power spike.
 
If you try printing the nozzle check test page from the front panel of the
printer, do you get the same result. If so, it doesn't look good. Probably
damaged logic board due to the power spike.
Click to expand...

The susceptibility of Epson printers to powerline transients seems to
be a serious problem. The fact that the internal power supplies in
these printers are continuously powered up (even when the front panel
switch is toggled to "off") means that the supply is always vulnerable
to spikes when the user may think the printer is safely unpowered.

I lost a 1270 to such an event, it's the only explanation. Printer
worked fine for a couple years, turned it "off" one night (a night
with power interrruptions) and the next day it was fried. A mainboard
failure meant the printer was essentially junk.

So your best bet is to power the printer off on the front panel, then
yank the plug on it to ensure that it won't get hit. Either that, or
keep it connected to a UPS. This advice may also apply to Epson
scanners, that also seem to be prone to powerline transient
disturbances.
 
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