Posted by LauriecPA on 4/19/05 3:56pm
Msg #32705

Printer difficulties/Dell 1500

Hi!
After 4 hours and 20 minutes I give up! I only had 6 pages left to go and my printer shows an error message (light) on the console. It also lights up saying the toner is low, but it's a new toner cartridge. (a week or two old). Since I only had 6 pages to go i treid the old Lexmark and that wouldn't work either! I finally called and asked if they could fax the last 6 pages. I haven't heard back, so I called Dell and talked to the man in India for about an hour and got the Lexmark going! (It takes as long to print 6 pages as it did to print the first 50!) I have uninstalled and reinstalled the printer several times and it's not helping. The Dell man wouldn't help b/c I have had the printer 14 months. (I didn't buy a service contract b/c they usually cost as much as a new printer.) Does anyone have any suggestions? (Before I throw in the towel and buy a new one!) Thanks!!!!

Reply by MaggieMae on 4/19/05 4:02pm
Msg #32707

Hi Laurie, Don't know if this will help or not. The toner cartridges that come with the printers at birth (or at the time of purchase) are mini versions and don't contain that much toner. You may have used more toner than you think in a week's amount of time. It could be that the cartridge you purchased was meant for a new (not existing) printer and there wasn't that much toner in it.

I suggest bringing the cartridge back to where you made the purchase along with the receipt and getting a new cartridge. If the printer still doesn't work and you don't want to pay umpteen million dollars to have it "looked at" I suggest biting the bullet and purchasing a new printer.

Sorry this doesn't give you an immediate solution to the problem at hand.

:(

Reply by Dogmonger, Ca on 4/19/05 4:13pm
Msg #32708

Perhaps you have a friend who will download them

And fax over the last six pages, or perhaps forward the package to a Kinko's or a Office Depot and have them print the packages:-)

Reply by Dogmonger, Ca on 4/19/05 4:16pm
Msg #32710

One other thing

Unplug and reboot. remove the toner cartridge and shake. Sometimes the toner shifts to one side of the cartridge. This isn't a inkjet is it?????

Reply by Carolanne_PA on 4/19/05 4:16pm
Msg #32709

Are you near a Kinkos, Office Max, or Staples? You might be able to have them printed there.

Reply by Nd_WA on 4/20/05 2:54am
Msg #32785

Dell 1500 printer has 600dpi max, if you are printing a PDF file with high scanned res then you are in for a long haul. Is your toner cartrige new or refilled? I have the 1700 model and I found that the chip on Dell's cartrige is read and track by the printer as to how many pages have been printed. I don't know about HP and other brands, but the chip on Dell's Cartige must be replaced when you refill.

Reply by LauriecPA on 4/20/05 7:07am
Msg #32799

I think the toner was a refill cartridge. I buy them from an office supply place on the web that sells them about $20 less than Dell. I noticed that they last a lot longer as well. I didn't know anything about a "chip". Maybe that needs replacing and I wouldn't know where to put it! You would think the tech guy I was on the phone with for 2 hours might have suggested it. (?) lol I ordered a new one last night. (the 1700) I hope it arrives fast! (I found that only the Dell laser printers are compatible with my computer.) I will have to turn down jobs in the meantime. I'm very sad. :(

Reply by Art_MD on 4/20/05 8:56am
Msg #32824

What computer do you have?
Never heard of a computer that limited what printer you could use. Where did that info come from?

Art

Reply by LauriecPA on 4/20/05 9:05am
Msg #32827

That's just from personal exp. I had trouble with an HP and whatever the other brand was I tried...can't remember now! (Something from Staples! lol) When I got the Dell there were no issues!
I've been trying to do a search on here for Kinkos and not finding what I'm looking for. One person mentioned forwarding a pkg. there and having it printed. I had tried downloading a pkg. to a CD before and bringing it to Staples (b/c the person working there told me it could be done) and when I brought it there they said they couldn't put it on their computer. (same person, by the way!) At that time I ended up printing it on my inkjet. (nightmare)
Instead of turning down jobs while I'm waiting for my printer, can I get them printed at Kinkos or Office Max and if so, do I download them first or forward the email? If it's too much of a pain, I'll just have to turn the jobs down for the next couple of days.
In a related note, I was searching on GMN also (for Kinkos) and my virus protection program popped up and found 4 viruses in Temp. internet files and I'm scanning now... so I'm afraid to keep searching on their site!!! aaaagggghhhh

Reply by Art_MD on 4/20/05 9:05am
Msg #32828

Re: dell 1700 PCL6 ?

I did a quick look at the dell 1700. It doesn't mention print languages in the tech specs. I looked at a more costly dell printer and it listed print languages.

Be sure your new printer is PCL6 complient. You will need it sooner or later - usually sooner if your printer is not complient.

Art