Epson Print Cd software issue?

[lazlowe]

I've developed a weird problem with my Epson R300 printer - just when printing CDs or DVDs. I use the Epson Print CD software and for 3 years, I've had no problems up til now. The problems has gone like this.
I start the print job. The printer feeds the disk tray and does between 14 and 17 passes of the print head – prints about 1/2“ – then the print head goes to its rest position. If I open my printer in the control panel and look at the print jobs, it shows two in progress. The first job has no info on it at all. Just the little Windows “I don’t know what the hell this is” icon. The second job is the one I’m printing. It has some info and the same icon. About 15-20 seconds after the printer head goes to rest, the print job shows an error. I can cancel the second print job (my dvd) but not the first print job (unknown). I get an “error processing command” message in the window. If I try to print again, the first job remains blocking the queue. My printer is connected via a wireless router with print server - a USRobotics wireless router which I’ve had set up for quite some time. The only way I’ve found to clear the queue is to recycle the router. Then I tell Epson Print CD to print again ( by the way, I do not reposition the cd tray inn the printer. I leave it where it quit.) and the job goes thru to completion. The next CD/DVD I print – same routine all over again.
I have no problem with page printing, just with Epson Print CD – and I have upgraded the software from v1.2 to v1.5 – no change. I’ve also wiped down the tray with rubbing alcohol to remove any ink from the positioning markers. The only thing that has changed on my system, that I’m aware of, is upgrading to IE7.
I have also tried printing via USB connection – same issue.
Googling hasn’t found any similar issues, just the software upgrade.
I can still print but it is a pain to have to do it twice and recycle the router to boot! This printer doesn't owe me anything. I've gone thru about 100 cartridges over 3 plus years and I'm not opposed to buying a new printer, but not if the problem is going to persist with the new printer too. Any ideas or suggestions?

[lawnman]

I upgraded to IE7 on my wifes Windows unit and it messed up HP Director which is part of my printer software. As soon as I uninstalled IE7 and went back to IE6, it started to work.

My suggestion is Go back to IE6, fast.

[lazlowe]

Thanks for the quick response but I have HP Director on my system as part of my HP 3670 Scanner software package and so far it has been working fine. I really like the tabs feature in IE7 as I do a lot of multi window surfing so I'd like to confirm that IE7 is the problem before reverting back to IE6.

[lawnman]

Uninstall IE7 and see. If it doesn't fix it put it back.

[lazlowe]

OK - uninstalled IE7 - had no internet proggie and tried printing - same problem, so it appears IE7 is not the culprit. It sure seems to be a software issue tho. The printer works fine in all other capacities and does print a nice DVD face after the second try.
I have removed and reinstalled the Epson printer software package and gotten what few updates are available on their website. Tried customer non-support - "We don't support wirelss setups. Contact the router manufacturer." Even tho the same issue occurs with a USB connection. As if USRobotics would know what the hell is wrong with my Epson printer! Their product is working fine!
I've read that Canon makes a nice DVD printer but I still have 8+ spare ink cartridges for this beast so don't want to throw it out yet. Hopefully, someone has had a similar issue and found a resolution.

[mysticmel]

Hello there, I had similar problems to yours only mind extended to print jobs taking twice as long to finish then usual. I'll proceed to tell you how I fixed my problem, but first note these two things. One, I'm using the Epson 900 printer (w/version 1.10A of the Epson Print CD) ... and two my setup is local, not networked (however, the symptoms remained after setting it up as a printer on a network as well). What I did was I removed the printer (simply delete from printer folder), uninstalled its drivers and wiped all Epson related registry keys out (smart thing to do thou is to back your registry up first!). Reboot of course, then just start fresh again by installing the drivers and the printer. Like I said, this worked absolute wonders for me ... maybe not so in your case, but hey it's worth a shot. If you're running XP you also might want to make sure that you have SP2 installed. Also, to narrow the problem down you could try a direct conection and/or using a different USB cable and/or/both using another USB port. Have you tried connecting another device to the USB port?

I also sounds like you could be having an issue w/your network set up. Are you noticing any other network related problems?


Hope this helps a little.


Kay

[Bjs]

Replace the cable that connects the printer to other device ... thay can die a slow death .
Disconnect printer , uninstall all related software and driver's ... reboot pc twice .
Reinstall software and only connect printer too the pc itself , not the router , when it ask's you to do so .
Reboot pc , print test and clean and see what happen's .

If it work's , then you have a genuine issue with the router itself ... you need to work from the basic pc setup as explained on the epson website before you can make conclusion's about hardware problem's ...

This is why you get told to refer each device to the manufacturer's website for help ... usrobotics should include the basics for wireless info , but is not specific to brand / model identification for setup's ... only the basic's .

Check out any xp update's installed since problem developed ... a few have caused issue's in the past for wireless .

As the printer has used in excess of 50 cartridge's and is now 3 year's old ... you have truely got the most out of the device , and it's time too replace it .

Check this tool out before doing so ... many new printers now use a chip which prevent's the use of non-genuine tank's being used with the device ... http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml

[lazlowe]

Thanks for the replies. I have removed the printer completely and reinstalled. I have used different USB cables. I have used the USB port with other devices. I have not had any other issues with the network setup. My wife's laptop prints fine to this printer thru the router. She only does pages, not disks. I've used Blank Media dot ca ink cartridges for years with great success. I debate on getting an R300/320 as a replacement if I do buy new because of the extra cartridges I have. I'll check out that link regarding Epson cartridges.

[videobread]

Bjs: Have you tried this SSC Service Utility? Does it work? What do you think about it?

[lazlowe]

Since I don't use Epson original cartridges, the SSC Service Utility program doesn't seem to detect the chip so it doesn't do me any good.
As to my original problem, I found a heck of a good deal at Staples on an Epson R340 display unit so I bought it. Set up and installed the software, transferred the ink cartridges, tested the printing - no problems with paper or CDs/DVDs! So my original problem must have been just a tired, worn-out old printer.

[overloaded_ide]

Have you tried the printer on a differnt PC it has never been connected to?

tried customer non-support - "We don't support wirelss setups. Contact the router manufacturer.

Never ever give them an easy way out like that! Next time just say it is not working when set up as the manaul says on USB port!
First check it to be sure it doesn't, and you did say it was not working on the USB also, right.

I would still set it up direct on a PC and see if it works, if not hound the tech support a bit more as to what coulds be wrong.

Also I think you said it still prints good other than a buggy two try on disks. I would use it still for printing jackets and other stuff even if not the disks, why wear out a disk printer doing everyting if the old one works well for most things still.

I only use my Epson R200 for disks! I ALWAYS used my Cannon printers and refilled carts for everything else, and now I have 2 Canon IP4200 printers I can do disks also, and don't have to mess with Epson any more for anything. Since I have the R200 I'll use it too, but when it breaks it ALL Canon for me!