MY PRINTER...help please

[magicma]

I bought new ink cartridges for my Printer - Lexmark Z45. Put them in and went to confirm they are new etc.

But one indicator light is flashing!
I went to trouble-shooting and the error seems to be: NOT CONNECTING WITH COMPUTER - IF CONNECTING VIA A SURGE BUSTER POINT - TO REMOVE AND USE A DIFFERENT POINT. (or words to that effect)

This is difficult for me as I use Surge Busters for everything. I can't even remove the printer somewhere else where I could us a none SB point as it would be too far away to stay connected to computer.

Help!! Any ideas please? MM

P.S It has been working fine for many years where it is!!!

[DiscoDes]

Take out and re-seat all your cartridges.
Check that the contacts are not bent on the printer and check that the contacts on the cartridge are clean. If they are looking even a bit dirty rub them with an eraser (rubber for the UK Peeps) till they look shiny and then blow out any dust.

Be careful when re-inserting the cartridges to check they are seated properly. I know that Lexmark genuine cartridges for these printers can be very expensive, are they Lexmark or compatibles? If they are compatibles consider contacting the vendor to get replacements as the chip on the cartridge may be faulty.

Finally, as I am sure you have done, fully shut down both your printer and PC unplug them both and leave unplugged for at least 5 minutes, then re-boot the computer and turn the printer on. Whilst off also unplug and re-plug in the lead from the printer to the PC.

I think the message about the surge buster may be a bit spurious.

Good luck!

Des

[Chrissie]

MM, just a thought but could that be an incorrect error message? Have you made sure all the cartridges are completely in place?

[Chrissie]

Lol Des, almost snap

[DiscoDes]

[vereybowring]

As has been said make sure the cartridges are seated right.
Another good thing to try is to remove the cartridges when the printer is on, turn it off, disconnect the power for a few minutes then plug back in and power on, then replace the cartridges.
Printers can behave funny at times.

Can't give more specific help since I dislike lexmarks and avoid them like the plague.
I have a printer that uses a tank feed system which works out far cheaper (£15 printer + £15 tank feeder then big bottles of ink to fill with) and I can see the level of ink in the tanks so never run out.

[magicma]

Hi All,
Des, I have always used the Lexmark originals but a little while ago, I was in a hurry so got the Ink Shop across the road to refill the Lexmark black cartridge which worked fine - so last week I got him to refill the colour one also Lexmark. This is when the problem started.

I must say the colour one was a bit leaky but I cleaned everything up. So maybe that is the problem.

Yes, I have tried disconnecting from the mains for a while.

I will try cleaning up again tomorrow, in the meantime I will order from Lexmark itself.

Thanks everyone, I will let you know how I get on. Thanks again. MM

[DiscoDes]

Sept 1, 2011 18:35:33 GMT magicma said:

Hi All,
Des, I have always used the Lexmark originals but a little while ago, I was in a hurry so got the Ink Shop across the road to refill the Lexmark black cartridge which worked fine - so last week I got him to refill the colour one also Lexmark. This is when the problem started.

I must say the colour one was a bit leaky but I cleaned everything up. So maybe that is the problem.

Yes, I have tried disconnecting from the mains for a while.

I will try cleaning up again tomorrow, in the meantime I will order from Lexmark itself.

Thanks everyone, I will let you know how I get on. Thanks again. MM

Hi MM, I'd take the cartridge back to the shop accross the road and tell them your printer will not recognise it and ask them to replace it or reflash the chip on the cartridge.

Good luck!

Des

[magicma]

Thanks Des, I will take them over to the shop - see what he can do. Cheeers MM

[camperman]

Once over you could stick third party ink carts in no problem but they've got more sophisticated over the years with chip recognition and such, the big company's making printers were losing out to these third party company's supplying cheaper ink hence all these chipped cartridges.
Most of the new "genuine" ink carts are electronically dated so can only be filled once or twice and regardless to how low the ink is inside them will return an empty cartridge message after it's been in the printer so long which is ridicules with the genuine cart prices.
I'm like verey in that I've always used CISS tank systems on all my printers which works out a fraction of the price of original ink carts and so much more convenient.
Sorry for the long post but I was on a roll and just went for it

[magicma]

Hi Camper, thanks for that. The carts I got the Ink Shop man to refill are the original Lexmark Z45 ones.

Must admit I have had them a long time as I don't do so much printing now, mainly only using the black one.
As the Ink Shop man was successful in refilling the black cart, I thought I would get him to do the colour one as well -'cos I need it now!!!! That's when it's gone wrong.

I've taken them out, cleaned 'em, put 'em back but still keep getting the error message about the surge buster!!

I have now ordered black and colour original ones from Lexmark - forgot how expensive they are!!

I probably need a new printer really but was trying to hang on until I move from my flat to a new one.

Oh well, see what happens when the proper carts arrive - should be tomorrow.
Will let you all know if I have any joy. MM

P.S. I know nothing about tank systems - hurts my old brain just using the ordinary things.

[camperman]

ive always used epson as theyre pretty cheap and third party ink carts/CISS always seem to be made for them and i bet you could of bought a new printer for the price youve paid for genuine ink

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BULK-CIS-CISS-Ink-system-Epson-RX560-RX585-RX685-/280721466577?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_Printing_PrinterInkCatridges_JN&hash=item415c4da4d1

these are the sort of things i use on my printer and it might be worth you baring it in mind if you do go for a new one at some point

[magicma]

Hi again Camper - I will certainly ask here when I get a new printer - just looked at your link ^^^^^ Not that I understand it!!

I paid £65.04 for the two original Lexmark carts!!!! If the darn thing doesn't work when I get them (tomorrow) I will pull my hair out!!!!

Cheers MM

[camperman]

Sept 2, 2011 16:29:55 GMT magicma said:

Hi again Camper - I will certainly ask here when I get a new printer - just looked at your link ^^^^^ Not that I understand it!!

I paid £65.04 for the two original Lexmark carts!!!! If the darn thing doesn't work when I get them (tomorrow) I will pull my hair out!!!!

Cheers MM

OMG

and to think you could have bought this

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Epson-Stylus-SX218-All-In-One-InkJet-Printer-/180714574144?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_Printers_Printers_JN&hash=item2a136d9140

and still had enough money to buy this

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Continuous-Ink-System-CISS-SX215-SX218-BX300F-CIS-/270800620056?pt=UK_CamerasPhoto_Printing_PrinterInkCatridges_JN&hash=item3f0cf98a18

[magicma]

Thanks Camper!!! However, looking at the feedback for both of them ^^^^ , although they sell plenty, they also have a fair amount of neg/neutral feedback.

Hoping the Lexmark carts will arrive today - then hope the printer will work!!!

I WILL be BACK!!! MM