Lexmark C910 981 Service Switch Error

I fixed 2 printers with this error msg. the first printer had a bad sensor board which had to be replaced. Second time around required a lot more TLC because I had to replaced the belt up/down clutch. 1 word for that repair... screws.....LOTS AND LOTS OF SCREWS! You've been warned.

three things can cause this error...
the error normally comes about when the machine hasnt sensed the ITU has been engaged properly, therefore error appears, later releases of firmware(few years ago now) altered the timeing of the mechanism to allow if a longer activation period and this did work some of the kinks out.
first thou the firmware, if you are getting the error all the time though it can be tricky to update on the fly... but can still be done.
next cause is usally because somebody tampers with the little white agitator at the front of machine. The is directly connected to the belt up down clutch, if moved by hand, the clutch will need to be replaced. big job, but not hard.
next is the itu. if the waste toner is full or the lifting mechansism on the ITU has become clagged with debris and toner which constricts movement of clutch, then the error can appear...

readmore..

software reseter Canon iP1000

1. Unplug POWER and USB cables.
2. Open the printer door and compressive + HOLD the POWER button
3. Connect the POWER cable anymore
4. Close the door of the printer, remove the POWER button.
5. Turn on the printer as usual and should not blinking anymore already

readmore..

Epson Aculaser smudged colours

I dont think it's anything to do with the plastic casing found on either side of the drum unit.

I ran a C1100 with both covers removed, and still had the smear problem.

I cured it by accident, as two metal rollers from beneath the transfer belt fell out when I was messing around. Thinking that I'd never get it all back together again, I messed about with the metal rods and belt for some time, until it all fitted together again.

When I re-tested it, the smearing problem had gone. I was pretty amazed, but pleased of course.

I think the problem could be excessive friction on the belt, caused by the two white nylon rollers located at each side. They press on the belt edges at a 45 degree angle, presumably to keep the belt central. I took these off in order to get it all back together again, and thats the only thing I could think off that could have an effect. I did refit them, and the smear problem was still absent.

Maybe anyone with this problem could try doing this and letting us know whether it worked.

Remove the 6 screws that hold the top cover on (the one with the handle). Then remove one screw from each side that holds the white nylon angled rollers in place.

Put the cover back on, and test to see if your smearing problem has been resolved.

readmore..

Canon Pixma MP500

That is a line feed error (6000) It also should be flashing 3 times for this error on the on/off button.
This could be
1. Timing sensor unit QM2-2683
2. Timing slit disk film QC1-6229
3. Feed roller ass'y QL2-0925
4. Platten unit QM2-2923
5. Logic board ass'y QM2-3078
6. Paper feed motor QK1-1502

readmore..

Brother HL-2040 stops when toner low

The only lame person on this thread is the person who wants to pick on others and doesnt have the guts to post his or her name.
Wow that must take real balls why dont you give us your name and number so we can tell you what we think of you ruining this post for others. If you dont have anything nice to say dont say it at all.

i'm not a brother employee too. i just fix printers.

i agreed with the person above that brother didn't do that on purpose. but, they're just being stupid :)

warning the user that toner is running low is good. but stopping the machine is silly.

with the cartridge still able to produce hundreds of perfect copies after it was supposely low, i can't blame ppl for getting red eyes.

if you said it was just an oversight by brother, then why the hell they still keep doing it model after model?

the toner detection method might not be perfect, but it's just a firmware change to correct the stopping problem, no?

readmore..

Lexmark Using Inkjet Cartridge Chips AND Spyware?

I bought this printer in July and at first I thought that this was a great deal.

A month later I try to refill the cartridge and guess what I discover. This printer monitors the cartridge ink level and there is no way to bypass it. I cant seem to find anything on google.

1.I first try closing all lexmark programs running in the background using enditall2. DIDDNT FIX PROBLEM

2.Next I tried to uninstall the Lexmark software and reinstall.
DID NOT FIX PROBLEM

3.When that did not work I tried to see if I could have just the printer drivers installed and not the lexmark software so what I did was unpacked all the files from the EXE archive and manually installed the drivers using the windows control panel but whatever I do the installation of the drivers it automatically invokes the printer software installation. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM

4. I then installed the printer on a new freshly formatted machine and amazingly it remembered the exact cartridge levels. DID NOT FIX PROBLEM

5. I tried a method someone else suggested here by removing the cartridges and unplugging the printer and letting it discharge for an hour. I repeated this 10 times in a row. I then left the printer unplugged for 2 weeks. At the end of the two weeks I reinstalled the cartridges and plugged in the printer along with installing the printer on a THIRD freshly formatted PC and it STILL remembers the cartridges! DID NOT FIX PROBLEM

6. I went out and bought a new cartridge and the ink counter finally reset and checked if it remembered the ink level on the old cartridge and it did.

After I did this test I realized I diddnt check to see if after I uninstalled the software if it left any files or registry entries on the pc and lo and behold it did.

In the program files folder it originally had a folder called "Lexmark 1300 series" and a folder called "lx_cats". After uninstalling I discovered that the lx_cats folder remains. In the folder there is an XML file, a DAT file which when opened in notepad reveals something very shocking, and an ini file apparently telling the lexmark software to send the dat file to a lexmark site. (I will post the contents of the file when I get a chance)

The DAT file contains the serial number of my printer, the serial number for the cartridges that have been installed, the amount of ink remaining, the amount of ink dropped from the cartridges, the install dates of the cartridges as well at other tidbits of info. I will post the contents of the file when I get a chance.

This makes me wonder that if the printer remembered the cartridge ink level on the second and third pcs, there must be some memory chip on the printer or the cartridge that remembers this info.

Later on I took the risk and opened the printer up and I discovered even more shocking things. First of all I did locate a memory chip but im not sure if its the firmware chip or this "cartridge memory chip". I have the model of the chip as well as a datasheet on it which will be posted when I get access to the other computer. There were some other chips but they were being covered with a metal shield which requires desoldering in order to remove. If this thread gets popular enough I will desolder it as well as take scans of the chips.

I also discovered that instead of using a waste ink pad the printer has a tiny plastic rotating petri dish to collect waste ink. Is this a normal thing in printers?? It was already half full after one cartridge!!!

If you google lx_cats you find info on the contents being spyware.
Man all this is really shocking.

And I thought all my printer nightmares were over when I finally chucked the Epson C84 and Epson CX4600 durabrite models :)

readmore..

Can't open up HP Director

I have reinstalled the driver for my 2210 all-in-one. Everything is working fine except that I can't open up the HP Director. I can open up the HP Photo & Imaging Gallery. Can I somehow just reinstall the hpqdirec.exe without reinstalling everything over again? I can see both the hpqthb08 and hpqdirec icons in my Program Files/Hewlett-Packard/Digital Imaging/bin

1- unplug the power supply to your printer.
2- turn off completly your computer from start menu.
3- and leave both for a while (5 minutes).
4- turn computer on and wait untill you see your desktop.
5 reconnect power supply to your printer.
6- put paper in document feeder to test.
7- let me know if it worked.

readmore..

HP Photo and Imaging

I had the problem of HP Photo and Imaging Director not
appearing when I started it. Before I found this thread, I
tried uninstalling and reinstalling the HP software from the
CD. After the reinstall, I had a different problem: Photo
and Imaging Director was not reinstalled. The shortcut was
recreated, but clicking on it gave the message "Windows is
searching for Hpqdirec.exe. To locate the file yourself,
click Browse."

I went to the HP site and downloaded the IE7 patch,
CIT207355-HPCOM-PATCH-v8.exe, but when I ran it, I got the
message "This update does not support any of the HP device
drivers that you have on your PC. You do not need this
software update."

I thought that maybe the problem with IE7 was also messing
up the reinstallation of the HP software, so I:

- Went to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs and
removed IE7 (leaving me with IE6).
- Uninstalled the HP software (by putting in the CD and
selecting "Uninstall").
- Reinstalled the HP software, after which I was able to use
Director.
- Reinstalled IE7, after which I was able to use Director
but only with the Alt-Space trick described above.
- Ran the CIT207355-HPCOM-PATCH-v8.exe patch, after which I
was able to use Director normally again.

readmore..

Samsung CLP-500 - Waste Toner Sensor Replacement

Hi,
I recently aquired a Samsung CLP-500. I got it free with full toner cartridges and was told it needed a little work. I have gotten everything fixed and working after a few days except the last message that is coming up, "Waste Toner Tank Full/Not Install." I have followed the guides on how to clean the waste toner tank and it is clear as can be. That led me to the next logical thing, checking the sensor itself. It turns out that the sensor has just gone bad. I verified this by manually moving the black lever that covers the sensor (and covering the waste toner release wheels). Even after this, with nothing obstructing the sensor, it still has the error. Once in awhile the printer will say "Ready" for a few seconds then goes back to the error message. Mainly what I'm wondering is if anyone has found a place to buy a new sensor or if anyone has a new one they are willing to sell. I would try Samsung, but the warranty on the printer is no longer effective and I don't have the receipts for the printer anyways. Please let me know of a place to pick up on of these sensors as I would really love to get this printer working.
Thanks,
Jeff

I concur. I have independently and sucessfully removed the intruding plastic of the waste toner compartment and sealed the removed area. I used a Dremel high speed drill (30,000 rpm) and a special cutter to remove the offending plastic in seconds. Then I resealed using tape.

As far as I can determine, the problems is that the infra red emitter is degrading with time and this is coupled with the cadmium sulphide sensor degrading also, due to toner dust. The degradation of the emitter is I suspect, a design flaw.

Once I completed this I have had no further problems - you just need to check the waste toner bin occasionally to make sure it is not full.

This simple procedure will help to avoid scrapping off what is a perfectly good printer!

readmore..