Printer of doom

[Damini]

Well guys, Im very new to this and I'm also very remedial when it comes to computers, so be kind to the slow lady please? I've got an epson stlus color 680 printer, or so the writing on the side states, and the greedy little sod is on strike. He refuses to print me anything because I don't have a colour cartridge installed. Except I do. He's under the impression that its run out or dungeon mastered it out of there. Anyway, I dont even want to print in colour, and i certainly dont want to fork out for a new cartridge. I'm throwing myself at the mercy of your superior knowledge. I am braced for the mocking, and yes, it IS plugged in.

Btw, for those that know WPKenny, I'm the computer frustration he lives with. He's at work and Im really impatient. Yabededadad essays and deadlines.

 

[Testin da Cable]

mmm sometimes one has to set a printer to bw or color twice iirc. have you tried setting it both in windows and in word/excel whatever?

 

[Damini]

Yep, its all set to black. Monochrome city. What happens when I try to print is I get a lovely little informative box pop up and say...

Color: T018
The replacement EPSON ink cartridge listed above is recommended. Click the How to button for ink cartridge replacement instructions.

The How to button just warns me in sinister tones not to buy cartridges from anyone other than them because otherwise they could explode, maiming small children or something. Ok, thats a lie but you get the gist.

I find the use of the word "recommended" offensive when it actually means "utterly essential if you want your printer to do anything more than just piss you off and collect dust." I dont see why I should pay out for a colour cartridge I never use just to stop the black cartridge from getting lonely. Surely there must be a way?

 

[Testin da Cable]

woo thats weird
soz I can't help you further, I'm not exactly known as printerboy around here

 

[WPKenny]

After a little research it seems that Epson make cack printers that need BOTH cartridges in regardless of whether you actually need both the colour and black and white cartridge to print whatever it is you want to print.

Epson, I've never used this smilie before but I think it's warranted in this situation.

 

[Testin da Cable]

gah that sucks

 

[Embattle]

I like Epson printers....one I've got is still going strong. TBH I always have spare carts so I never have this problem.

If the Epson cart has contact points then give them a wipe. Also did you just buy this cart/printer?

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Take the empty colour cartridge out, spit in the little holes, put it back. As long as you remember to change it before you print in colour again