Printer playing up

[MasterBlaster76]

It's a Lexmark X5250. I've had an empty colour cartridge for ages, as I hardly bother printing in colour, but the printer's been printing fine using just the black cartridge. Now, it keeps throwing up a message about a missing colour cartridge (even though the cartridge is still installed). I tell it to print anyway, and it prints the page but misses out a load of what was on the screen. Does that sound like a printer that's gone wrong to you - if so, I'll just get a new one because I've had this one for ages.

 

[Dutch]

It's a Lexmark X5250. I've had an empty colour cartridge for ages, as I hardly bother printing in colour, but the printer's been printing fine using just the black cartridge. Now, it keeps throwing up a message about a missing colour cartridge (even though the cartridge is still installed). I tell it to print anyway, and it prints the page but misses out a load of what was on the screen. Does that sound like a printer that's gone wrong to you - if so, I'll just get a new one because I've had this one for ages.

Does it have a ''cleaning" program on it? You probably have to clean the printer heads. most printers do this for you if you press a certain button on it or via the software. I always have to this on my printer when I change cartridges for some reason. Then it works fine.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I tried that, but it doesn't print at all - it throws up the missing cartridge error message and doesn't print the cleaning page.

 

[puddleduck]

Err I got nothing. You definitely telling it to print in black and white?

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Err I got nothing. You definitely telling it to print in black and white?

Yep, that was the first thing I checked. There's a box in Preferences to tell it to print colour images in black and white. Usually, you can check or uncheck it but since this has been happening, it's greyed out. Print in black and white is checked, but the actual box is greyed out.

It might be time for a new printer anyway - the cartridges are very expensive for this one. Epsom ones for example, are a fraction of the price especially if you get them at Amazon or somewhere.

 

[Dutch]

I tried that, but it doesn't print at all - it throws up the missing cartridge error message and doesn't print the cleaning page.

Mmm then I don't know. I am to printer problems as David Cameron is to dubstepping.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Mmm then I don't know. I am to printer problems as David Cameron is to dubstepping.

Or running a country...

 

[Dutch]

Or running a country...

Too true...by the way you must be a freakin good guitarist by now!!!?

 

[MattW]

The last time I bought a Lexmark it was to replace another Lexmark that ran out of ink.

The actual problem is probably the spooler driver, try uninstalling everything Lexmark related and get the latest printer drivers.

Or as I've said before, run away in fear of all technological equipment because of how often it goes wrong for you.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Ahahahaha.

I don't do running away.

 

[puddleduck]

I feel this video best sums up Steve's recent experiences and subsequent approach to technology - No Mercy!!! (Mix of the greatist movie battles) - YouTube

 

[MasterBlaster76]

The last time I bought a Lexmark it was to replace another Lexmark that ran out of ink.

The actual problem is probably the spooler driver, try uninstalling everything Lexmark related and get the latest printer drivers.
.

I suspected the drivers as well - but the printer is a very old model - there are no later drivers.

By the way, when your Lexmark ran out of ink, why didn't you simply buy a cartridge instead of a new printer?

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Too true...by the way you must be a freakin good guitarist by now!!!?

Sigh. I should be, but in truth, I've been on a real downer regarding the whole performing thing for a while so guitar has been on the slide big time. However, I'm 'back on the horse' now, so I'm going to try and get back into it.

 

[Dutch]

I suspected the drivers as well - but the printer is a very old model - there are no later drivers.

By the way, when your Lexmark ran out of ink, why didn't you simply buy a cartridge instead of a new printer?

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Sigh. I should be, but in truth, I've been on a real downer regarding the whole performing thing for a while so guitar has been on the slide big time. However, I'm 'back on the horse' now, so I'm going to try and get back into it.

Good to hear things are on the up for you. Hope it works out. It is such a bummer when life just wont do what we want it to do!

 

[MattW]

By the way, when your Lexmark ran out of ink, why didn't you simply buy a cartridge instead of a new printer?

One ink cartridge was more expensive than a whole multifunction printer that comes with ink.

 

[Chewie]

One ink cartridge was more expensive than a whole multifunction printer that comes with ink.

I think that quite often the cartridges that come with new printers aren't full