Community Forums => General Chat => Topic started by: NWR_pap64 on March 08, 2009, 08:57:43 PM
Title: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NWR_pap64 on March 08, 2009, 08:57:43 PM
I am so angry right now I could hurt someone...
For some God forsaken reason, my Lexmark 1200 series printer refuses to print in color even though the cartridge is brand new. It prints in black just fine, but every time I try to print in color it appears blank.
I tried...
- Installing the cartridges over and over - Checking the connections - Installing the software
And nothing.
Please I am desperate.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: vudu on March 08, 2009, 10:27:41 PM
Did you remove the plastic strip from the bottom of the print cartridge?
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NWR_pap64 on March 08, 2009, 10:42:03 PM
Yes. I double checked everything before installing.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: ShyGuy on March 08, 2009, 10:56:54 PM
Is ink coming out of the color cartridge? Take a wet paper towel and blot the bottom of the cartridge to make sure ink is coming out.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: stevey on March 08, 2009, 11:18:21 PM
Try a different cartridge in case it's defective and check to see if you accidentally got ink on the connector pins of the cartridge or printer.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NWR_pap64 on March 09, 2009, 01:07:05 AM
Is ink coming out of the color cartridge? Take a wet paper towel and blot the bottom of the cartridge to make sure ink is coming out.
Yes, I cleaned it up to see if there was a problem and all three colors came fine.
Stevey, I have to disconnect the printer and clean it inside and see if that does anything.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on March 09, 2009, 01:54:53 AM
Does the printer recognize that there is color ink? Usually printer software allows you to check ink levels. Also did you make sure whatever you are printing you didn't set to print in black and white in the preferences?
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NWR_pap64 on March 09, 2009, 01:57:51 AM
Does the printer recognize that there is color ink? Usually printer software allows you to check ink levels. Also did you make sure whatever you are printing you didn't set to print in black and white in the preferences?
I tried looking for the preferences but I can't find anything about the color preference. Where do I look for it?
And yes, the software does recognize that a color cartridge has been installed. It just doesn't print in color.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: ShyGuy on March 09, 2009, 02:17:22 AM
look at the properties of the printer, then check if the lexmark software installed a control panel.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: ThePerm on March 09, 2009, 02:24:20 AM
i have a lexmark printer, its a piece of crap, prints with the colors all screwed up! That company sucks!
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NWR_pap64 on March 09, 2009, 02:32:20 AM
look at the properties of the printer, then check if the lexmark software installed a control panel.
1. I checked the preferences, made sure to uncheck the "print color documents in black and white" box, nothing
2. Checked the quality options, nothing
3. Check other options, including advanced ones, nothing.
That's why I am so angry at this. I tried every possible solution and its still giving me black and white documents!
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: ShyGuy on March 09, 2009, 02:46:51 AM
Is this vista? try changing the print processor.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NWR_pap64 on March 09, 2009, 02:48:56 AM
No, I am running on Windows XP.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: ShyGuy on March 09, 2009, 02:53:35 AM
Got a real mystery there. If it was me, I would
- look for separate lexmark specific color settings - check application print settings, verify with different application - uninstall the driver, download the latest version from Lexmark.com and reinstall - If that doesn't work, smash it with a big hammer. A BIG FREAKING HAMMER
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: ThePerm on March 09, 2009, 05:02:02 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQY6bjfJzG0
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: BranDonk Kong on March 09, 2009, 02:39:20 PM
Lexmark printers suck. My family has had at least 2 of them just decide to stop working after a couple months, for no reason.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: bustin98 on March 09, 2009, 03:00:24 PM
I concur with Brandogg. Also, Dell printers are Lexmark printers just branded as Dell, just fyi.
I have an old HP that runs ok but is starting to crap out. And a Xerox that has done a beautiful job.
I know that Lexmark is attractive due to its price point, but its pretty much a disposable printer. Just change printers instead of changing the cartridges.
I don't know for sure, but it might be possible that print heads are clogged. Did you run any maintenance on the printer? The properties of the printer should have some routines you can run to clear up clogs and get the juices running again.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on March 09, 2009, 03:25:08 PM
Mine works. 3 years strong, baby. Free with my laptop.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: Plugabugz on March 09, 2009, 08:24:39 PM
Have you tried using the printers cleaning/calibrate cartridge function?
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on March 09, 2009, 10:34:10 PM
Check the print preferences from within the program you're printing from? Sometimes the prints settings end up unique to each program.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NWR_pap64 on March 09, 2009, 10:45:19 PM
None of that works. You know why? I took the cartridge to another printer and it works, meaning the problem is with the printer.
I am telling you I checked every available option within the software and hardware and I still can't print in color.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on March 10, 2009, 12:34:03 AM
Just to scratch these off the list,
Did you try that "other" printer with the current computer you want to print from?
Did you try your current printer on a different computer?
I know, we're in extreme elimination round now.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: Flames_of_chaos on March 10, 2009, 12:40:34 AM
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: ThePerm on March 10, 2009, 02:08:28 AM
i have never been so pissed off than when a printer didn't work.
During my last semester of college my computer had broken. So, I had to do all my work in the computer lab in school. At school you need a special ID card to print out papers. My ID was stolen with my wallet the day I went to go watch 300 with a friend. Anyhow, I never got around to replacing my school ID because it was a 20 dollar replacement fee. So normally I would just go to Kinko's to just print **** out. It wouldn't be the cheapest solution, but it would be the easiest and best for time management. I could go back home to do it, but my house was 9 miles away from the school, and in Tucson there is always ridiculous traffic. Also, because my computer is broken I would have to use my sister in laws computer as an option. So, I go to Kinko's and all the computers are filled, the place is busy. What pisses me off is its about to rain, and theres some douche bag looking at relationship adds on Craig's list. I'm like dammit I have to drive all the way home and back get something printed at my house. So, i take the damn journey home amid traffic, and people are doing their normal stupid **** in traffic that pisses me off. It begins to rain pretty hard and it turns out to be an electrical storm. So, when I get home I boot the computer up, i have to wait for all the icons to load and all the other b.s. I think there was a problem with the monitor too, i had to figure out how my brother had it setup, because he had a bunch of different connections. So, the computer is booted up and I'm all ready to print, theres no paper. So I run in my room and search for some computer paper. I find it and attempt to print and the fucking paper jams. I hear lighting outside. The clock is ticking, and if i don't hurry up i will be late for class. I try to make adjustments. By this time I am as pissed off as i have ever been, I'm yelling so hard I would make James Hetfield cry if i were yelling at him. My brother comes home, and I am pissed. They had just replaced the other printer because it was a piece of ****. I give up and just e-mail the teacher the paper. This is an important paper, if its late I'm fucked. This was the last class I ever have to take, ever. That is unless I want to get another degreein another field, but i'm sick of college so that probably not going to happen. What I'm worried about of course is e-mail not working, it happens. Which, is why i wanted to give her a hard copy. Luckily I talked to her before class, and she got my e-mail. So everything was good, but damn was that stressful.
if i were you pap I'd find a good selection of gangster rap and a grassy field
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: ShyGuy on March 10, 2009, 01:05:39 PM
Feels good to be a gangsta
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on March 10, 2009, 01:57:16 PM
Back up in your ass with the resurrection
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: ThePerm on March 10, 2009, 07:52:44 PM
if you do beat the **** out of your printer please make a video
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: decoyman on March 11, 2009, 10:44:06 AM
Pap, did you fix this yet?
Like some others have mentioned, it sounds to me like your print heads may be clogged. As I understand it, this is not something to do with the cartridge, but with the printer itself.
In your printer settings (control panel), there should be maintenance options. Run a test print, and that should tell you if it's the print head (for my printer, this option prints a bunch of little lines and solid blocks of color). If it IS clogged, then run the deep cleaning (or whatever lexmark calls it, "deep cleaning" is what Canon calls it). You'll have to run some sheets of paper through, and it'll basically shoot ink through all willy-nilly in an attempt to unclog it (at least, that's what I think it does :P ).
P.S. - I always had good luck with my Canon printers...
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NWR_pap64 on March 11, 2009, 07:20:01 PM
OK, a miracle just happened...
Since my black ink was low I took it to get it refilled. When I get it back...
The color FINALLY starts working! Its as if the color cartridge needed a full black cartridge in order to properly work.
Title: Re: Issues with my Lexmark printer
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on March 11, 2009, 07:23:34 PM
bwuahahahha, damn this technology and their multicore dualhertz gigaflash!
