Canon MP630 Printer Woes

We bought one of these a few months ago and had to replace the printer cartridges. One cartridge wasn't quite empty so we left that.

Now this last cartridge is empty and we can't do ANYTHING - not even scanning. Nothing goes, just an error message - replace printer cartridge.
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We knew that some printers do that. Our Epsom we had didn't do that - it even had a function where you could use the colour cartridges to mimic black

When we bought this Canon MP630 we explicitly asked whether this one would work without all ink cartridges being full. The shop attendant even rang a Canon representative (at least he told us so) and confirmed that the printer would work.

So please - can anyone recommend a printer that doesn't do this?

We already have decided to take this one back. There was nothing in the manual or the web site that implies that all printer cartridges need to be full. We checked that before we bought it.

Btw - it doesn't take refilled printer cartridges, either[}]

Interesting. This comment thread mentions the same problem:

www.cnet.com.au/canon-pixma-mp800_comments-p2-240056681.htm

However, it also mentions that the print quality is excellent and the scanning is great too.

What you need is this:

www.rihac.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=487

Very popular here in Asia. Glad to see they are getting noticed in Oz.

A

Thanks, AME. We will look into this.

Simkin - I have the same printer and am not sure what you are getting at in that you have mountains of warning that a cartridge is "low" (before running out completely) and yet the computer keeps going until you print in colour and that cartridge is part of the required mix so to speak.

I suspect that is what has happened in your case. When I get a warning, I always buy the one needed next time I'm in town and just keep going with the old one in until it runs out completely. I have had one in that state (low) for the past month but have only needed to print in black.

If you go into Printer properties (Preferences) and tick Greyscale printing, it should function fine in black just no colour if that is an option until you get a new cartridge. It would pay to cancel any queued printing before trying again as described above.I really like it as a printer so will be hanging on to mine. Hope the helps

ame;296381 wrote: What you need is this:

www.rihac.com.au/product_info.php?products_id=487

Very popular here in Asia. Glad to see they are getting noticed in Oz.

Thanks very much for posting that link Ame. I see that our Epson TX300F Multi-function Printer is supported too. The CISS looks like a brilliant idea!

Hi DiDi,

there was no warning, there still is plenty of ink in that cartridge, it just says that the cartridge is empty or not recognised. But I will get my computer mad teenager to investigate your lead with the properties.

Thanks

There is something wrong with how your printer has been set up or it is a dud! I just tried it on this site and using File, it showed me a Preview (my preference) and then started printing BUT the screen came up with a very obvious red X above one cartridge saying "Ink may have run out. View the ink details".

I know that when that cartridge runs out (and it will if I want a print that requires that colour), everything will grind to a halt wanting the cartridge changed before carrying on. So why do you think the cartridge still has colour in it? Try the Greyscale but as I have pointed out, mine is still telling me there is colour in that colour cartridge so just a suggestion.

The thing I do not like about this Printer is that it eats ink like there is no tomorrow if doing colour printing which is why I do 90% of my day to day work in black only. Seriously interested in Ame's suggestion which is Aussie available for this Printer but not going there until it is out of Warranty at this stage.

Just for me with the same printer, I'd be happy to hear how you get on when mad teenager gets to look at it. I doubt it makes a difference but I am on Vista. Campatibility issue possible?

I had been having similar problems with my Epson printer, refusing to carry on printing when one cartridge is empty. I actually went out and bought a Canon for the same price as replacement cartridges for the Epson because I was assured the Canon cartridges could be refilled easier and cheaper. Still a lot of bother. But now I have found the ideal solution. Grant refers to the CISS system which is set of large ink reservoirs which feed the printer. The Warehouse are selling this or a similar system and at the moment I think it is about $49. I got one for the Epson and I think they had one for my Canon. The good thing is they come with "chipped" replacement cartridges which fool the printer into thinking they are genuine cartridges so everything works as it should. It installs easily and cleanly. Almost certain there is one available for the MP630. Huge reservoirs of ink 40 times the size of a standard cartridge

Many thanks for the replies and suggestions.

I've been talking to a number of people and it seems that the problem is that we used refilled cartridges. At first the printer accepted them and from what I gathered it seems that Canon communicates with the printers via cookies. The chips on the refilled cartridges had been changed by the refiller to make Canon think they are OK. But Canon is hot on the heels of the refiller and although the cartridges were initially accepted, Canon has identified how to tell the difference and bingo - error message.

I also talked to shop assistants and the people at the refiller about alternatives in regard to the printer we have. They all said that all printers now refuse to work if just one printer cartridge is empty or missing or has a corrupted chip etc.

One brand does a 'head clean' very often and the ink just gets wasted for nothing. Also the remaining ink level is determined by how many dots or pixels have been printed - not by how much ink is still in the tank which leads to a lot of wastage.

Another brand has a small sponge in the ink cartridge which dries out if nothing is printed for a few days and the whole lot needs to be replaced.

And the one remaining popular brand is the one they hear LOTS of bad things about from their customers. So I guess we have to bite the lemon and keep that Canon.

Everybody I spoke to said that nothing equals the print quality of the Canon printer.

So this is free market economy in action - with complete disregard for the environment and the consumer's pockets. I call it corporate greed. I wouldn't mind a bit of nanny-state prescribing that printer cartridges must be refillable.

Thanks for the links - we'll probably try one of those big-tank systems

simkin - interesting what you had to say about the refillable cartridges as my previous Canon had gone without a hitch for years until I used a generic brand and bang - killed it. I hadn't forgotten and have just stuck with the Canon replacements BUT...I have found a supplier that knocks a few dollars off so that helps. Worth asking in the bigger stores if that is their best price? []

I'd also be asking serious questions about the compatibility of the NZ version of the large volume ink thingie. The one ame quoted was from Australia. Guess I am just too nervous to go down that line while still under Warranty.

Thanks for the info too. I thought I had done my homework when I chose this Printer so good to hear it came out well from your research.

The nz version of what Ame posted is www.melcotechnologies.co.nz ciss tkf

TKFARMER;297288 wrote: The nz version of what Ame posted is www.melcotecnologies.co.nz ciss tkf

You dropped an 'h'.

www.melcotechnologies.co.nz/

Anyway, I'd just like to point out that I don't own one of these, but neither do I have any pecuniary interest in the product or companies. It just seems like a jolly good idea.

A

I do own a ciss system and have found it very good.I got hacked off with the price of cartridges and will not go back to them .I have a wireless brother mfc and it is majic. tkf

..please help.. my canon mp630 has lines in it when I print, I have done all the cleaning . dont know what else to do ...

Canon have a service facility in Mt Wellington. Their technical support number is listed as 0800 222 666. Probably a print head problem but try ringing them - unless someone else on here would know. Assuming they are white lines across the page?

It helps to know how old the machine is and whether you are using genuine Canon cartridges or not when trying to help.