SillyDog701

[allen-uk]

Got an ancient Epson Stylus that I want to take down the Oxfam shop, but before I do I want to improve it a bit, by for example putting a full colour cartridge in.

Some burke (not me this time) put an empty colour cartridge in, so the machine thinks it's got a full one, but runs on empty (the black one is okay).

How can I fool the machine into thinking it needs a cartridge change? I've tried turning off the mains, but it always reverts to its 'home' position and the cartridges are concealed beneath the casing.

Do I really have to take the casing off to do it?

Allen.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X Mach-O; en-US; rv:1.7.2) Gecko/20040804 Netscape/7.2

[PaulD]

I can't speak to this specific model, but the (few) ink-jet printers that I've seen have a 'cartridge change' procedure.

"... it always reverts to its 'home' position and the cartridges are concealed beneath the casing. ... Do I really have to take the casing off to do it? "

I very much doubt it.

"How can I fool the machine into thinking it needs a cartridge change?"

Generally, you will 'tell' it that it has a new cartridge.

Do you have the Installation Manual (or similar title) that came with the printer? Does your system have the Epson support programs installed? If so, there may be instructions somewhere embedded within the menus. In Windows one would get to it via Start > All Programs > [probably]Epson.

Start at http://www.epson.com/, and navigate your way (Europe > UK: right column, low > Drivers & Support). I don't find the 840 listed. But for the Model '800+', these instructions MAY give you a clue.

If this doesn't quite fit, check the instructions for other models to give you a flavor of how this manufacturer generally designed for serviceability in it's products.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.0.9) Gecko/20061206 Firefox/1.5.0.9

[Edward]

Flip the lid on the printer, there should be a sticker with instructions on what to do in replacing an old cartridge, in this instance, the empty cartridge can be considered the old cartridge.

If there isn't, Epson's web site should have the documentation available. I had an Epson Stylus Color 640 that went 8 years before it broke down. It's been replaced with an HP DeskJet 3745v.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.2) Gecko/20070222 SeaMonkey/1.1.1

[allen-uk]

Thanks Edward.

As it happens, I'd already done it, by the old-fashioned method of running a job through with loads of 'coloured' bands. Only took about 15 A4 sheets to run the cartridges down from full to empty! Not the most efficient ink-jet machine, apparently, not for colour, anyway.

Thanks for your advice. The Oxfam shop will now have half a chance of flogging the Epson, as I suppose there must be some people who need a cheapie text printing machine.

Allen.

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; PPC Mac OS X Mach-O; en-US; rv:1.7.2) Gecko/20040804 Netscape/7.2

[Edward]

The Epson's are decent printers.

I still have an Epson Stylus Color 400 printer that is almost 10 years old and still works, but where I have Linux installed on both of my computers, it was easier to configure and use HP DeskJet printers with Linux as HP released Linux software that is included with Mandriva Linux for use with HP printers.

I can't say the genuine HP ink cartridges are cheap though!

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.2) Gecko/20070222 SeaMonkey/1.1.1

[cebtoo]

I have a Stylus 860. Love it. Buy cheap compatible cartridges.
To park the 860 for cartridge change when cartridge light is fllashing:
press cartridge change button three seconds. When cartridge change light is not on, I hold the paper feed button down five seconds. Had a heckofa time finding that.javascript:emoticon(':)')
Smile

UserAgent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.2) Gecko/20070219 Firefox/2.0.0.2