Hello,
I bought my Z3100 (24”) in June 08. I love the print quality and the overall sophistication.
Still, never before I have experienced so many little annoyances… and spent so much time on the phone with technical support personnel…
The famous star wheels, then the printer sometimes refused to stop when I canceled the job…
The tech support people here in Canada are very nice… still we go over the same things in cycles… uninstalling the printer… re-installing the printer…
Eventually I was told to update my firmware to TR12-7.0.0.3-5. I did and since then I’m experiencing new headaches with the HP Printer Utility. It is very unreliable. Sometimes it opens and displays full info, sometimes it only shows yellow triangles where the ink levels should be, sometimes it cannot locate the custom papers… and it is very slow…
I’m using MacBookPro with OS 10.4.11 and 2GB of RAM. I tried both the Ethernet and USB connections; there is no difference.
Did you experience the same? Any advice?
Thanks,
Vlad3
Full Version: Z3100 – new SW – unstable HP Printer Utility
QUOTE (Vlad3 @ Oct 3 2008, 08:28 AM)
Eventually I was told to update my firmware to TR12-7.0.0.3-5. I did and since then I’m experiencing new headaches with the HP Printer Utility. It is very unreliable. Sometimes it opens and displays full info, sometimes it only shows yellow triangles where the ink levels should be, sometimes it cannot locate the custom papers… and it is very slow…
Vlad-
I experience the yellow triangles and inability to locate the custom paper list full time on my Z3100ps, running on 10.5.5 on a MacBook Pro. The problem does not manifest itself when I connect over USB, but is always present over my ethernet network that is my normal connection to the printer. I had this problem with the previous firmware/driver, as well as with the current firmware, but not with any version before that, when it worked perfectly over the network. HP tech support has never been able to sort my problem out, and also told me that I was the "first" person to report this issue. They said that until at least five people report this issue, it isn't considered a bug. Please keep us posted if you ever manage to sort this out. I've tried many different approaches on my end, to no avail.
-Ron H
QUOTE (Colorwave @ Oct 3 2008, 11:38 AM)
Vlad-
I experience the yellow triangles and inability to locate the custom paper list full time on my Z3100ps, running on 10.5.5 on a MacBook Pro. The problem does not manifest itself when I connect over USB, but is always present over my ethernet network that is my normal connection to the printer. I had this problem with the previous firmware/driver, as well as with the current firmware, but not with any version before that, when it worked perfectly over the network. HP tech support has never been able to sort my problem out, and also told me that I was the "first" person to report this issue. They said that until at least five people report this issue, it isn't considered a bug. Please keep us posted if you ever manage to sort this out. I've tried many different approaches on my end, to no avail.
-Ron H
I experience the yellow triangles and inability to locate the custom paper list full time on my Z3100ps, running on 10.5.5 on a MacBook Pro. The problem does not manifest itself when I connect over USB, but is always present over my ethernet network that is my normal connection to the printer. I had this problem with the previous firmware/driver, as well as with the current firmware, but not with any version before that, when it worked perfectly over the network. HP tech support has never been able to sort my problem out, and also told me that I was the "first" person to report this issue. They said that until at least five people report this issue, it isn't considered a bug. Please keep us posted if you ever manage to sort this out. I've tried many different approaches on my end, to no avail.
-Ron H
Hi Ron,
Thank you for your reply!
Last night I was so frustrated that I unplugged the cord from the wall (for approximately 10 sec. - as I was once told by HP support technician). With TR12-6008 firmware this would trigger a short set up cycle. With TR12-7003 the printer always goes through the full cycle (approx. 30-40 minutes). But, in the end, I was getting the full status for the rest of the day!
This morning, as I'm writing these lines, the yellow triangles are back. Obviously, the sleep period moved things back. Very frustrating... Next time I'll do the same things but with USB connection only. BTW how long is your USB cord???
All the best,
Vlad3
QUOTE (Vlad3 @ Oct 4 2008, 08:07 AM)
Hi Ron,
Thank you for your reply!
Last night I was so frustrated that I unplugged the cord from the wall (for approximately 10 sec. - as I was once told by HP support technician). With TR12-6008 firmware this would trigger a short set up cycle. With TR12-7003 the printer always goes through the full cycle (approx. 30-40 minutes). But, in the end, I was getting the full status for the rest of the day!
This morning, as I'm writing these lines, the yellow triangles are back. Obviously, the sleep period moved things back. Very frustrating... Next time I'll do the same things but with USB connection only. BTW how long is your USB cord???
All the best,
Vlad3
Thank you for your reply!
Last night I was so frustrated that I unplugged the cord from the wall (for approximately 10 sec. - as I was once told by HP support technician). With TR12-6008 firmware this would trigger a short set up cycle. With TR12-7003 the printer always goes through the full cycle (approx. 30-40 minutes). But, in the end, I was getting the full status for the rest of the day!
This morning, as I'm writing these lines, the yellow triangles are back. Obviously, the sleep period moved things back. Very frustrating... Next time I'll do the same things but with USB connection only. BTW how long is your USB cord???
All the best,
Vlad3
Vlad-
I just use a 10' USB cord as a temporary connection to my MacBook Pro. I'd need about a 30' cord to run it properly, which I suspect would not work correctly. When you unplugged your printer, was it already turned off?
-Ron H.
QUOTE (Colorwave @ Oct 6 2008, 11:37 AM)
Vlad-
I just use a 10' USB cord as a temporary connection to my MacBook Pro. I'd need about a 30' cord to run it properly, which I suspect would not work correctly. When you unplugged your printer, was it already turned off?
-Ron H.
I just use a 10' USB cord as a temporary connection to my MacBook Pro. I'd need about a 30' cord to run it properly, which I suspect would not work correctly. When you unplugged your printer, was it already turned off?
-Ron H.
No, that's the thing! The tech support lady said they call it a hard re-set. Unplug the cord while the printer is on. Wait approx. 10 sec and plug it back. Then the cycle starts (long or short, depending on the firmware, I guess). It is considered an emergency procedure only - but it works, at least for me. I don't recommend you do it too often...
Cheers,
Vlad3
QUOTE (Colorwave @ Oct 6 2008, 11:37 AM)
Vlad-
I just use a 10' USB cord as a temporary connection to my MacBook Pro. I'd need about a 30' cord to run it properly, which I suspect would not work correctly. When you unplugged your printer, was it already turned off?
-Ron H.
I just use a 10' USB cord as a temporary connection to my MacBook Pro. I'd need about a 30' cord to run it properly, which I suspect would not work correctly. When you unplugged your printer, was it already turned off?
-Ron H.
One more thing... yesterday the tech people recommended to download the Z3200 firmware... which I did but didn't install it yet... an interesting alternative... I guess...
V3
QUOTE (Vlad3 @ Oct 6 2008, 01:12 PM)
One more thing... yesterday the tech people recommended to download the Z3200 firmware... which I did but didn't install it yet... an interesting alternative... I guess...
V3
V3
I can't imagine how that would even work!
QUOTE (Vlad3 @ Oct 6 2008, 10:12 AM)
yesterday the tech people recommended to download the Z3200 firmware... which I did but didn't install it yet...
V3
V3
!!!
I started having the long startup cycle problem after upgrading my 3100 to firmware TR12-7003
Tech support sent a new formatter card, but I'm not convinced that was the problem although it did seem to fix it.
They called back today and said that there is a problem with IPV6 which is enabled in the latest firmware. I had already disabled it.
You might try disabling it in the printer control panel. They also said that you should use the ethernet connection rather than USB.
I think the 7.003 firmware definitely has some communications problems. Printing on my Mac (10.4) I now get an error message intermittently when one of my ink cartridges is very low: Printer reports warning. Please refer to HP printer monitor for further details.
When I open up the printer monitor it has no error, but printing is stopped and I have to restart the printer to continue. This doesn't happen all the time but only sometimes when a cartridge is very low.
Tech support sent a new formatter card, but I'm not convinced that was the problem although it did seem to fix it.
They called back today and said that there is a problem with IPV6 which is enabled in the latest firmware. I had already disabled it.
You might try disabling it in the printer control panel. They also said that you should use the ethernet connection rather than USB.
I think the 7.003 firmware definitely has some communications problems. Printing on my Mac (10.4) I now get an error message intermittently when one of my ink cartridges is very low: Printer reports warning. Please refer to HP printer monitor for further details.
When I open up the printer monitor it has no error, but printing is stopped and I have to restart the printer to continue. This doesn't happen all the time but only sometimes when a cartridge is very low.
FWIW: I tried a hard restart with my printer and it had no effect on the communication issue over my ethernet network. I also tried turning off IPv6, also with no change.
Out of curiosity, Vlad, when you have the issues with connectivity that cause the yellow exclamation marks for the ink levels under the Printer Status menu in the Printer Utility, do you get the ink levels to display when you hit the Supplies Details button? This works every time for me, which tells me that the Printer Utility and Printer communicate correctly with some calls, just not when I ask for anything related to the Manage Paper List.
-Ron H.
Out of curiosity, Vlad, when you have the issues with connectivity that cause the yellow exclamation marks for the ink levels under the Printer Status menu in the Printer Utility, do you get the ink levels to display when you hit the Supplies Details button? This works every time for me, which tells me that the Printer Utility and Printer communicate correctly with some calls, just not when I ask for anything related to the Manage Paper List.
-Ron H.
QUOTE (Colorwave @ Oct 6 2008, 05:44 PM)
FWIW: I tried a hard restart with my printer and it had no effect on the communication issue over my ethernet network. I also tried turning off IPv6, also with no change.
Out of curiosity, Vlad, when you have the issues with connectivity that cause the yellow exclamation marks for the ink levels under the Printer Status menu in the Printer Utility, do you get the ink levels to display when you hit the Supplies Details button? This works every time for me, which tells me that the Printer Utility and Printer communicate correctly with some calls, just not when I ask for anything related to the Manage Paper List.
-Ron H.
Out of curiosity, Vlad, when you have the issues with connectivity that cause the yellow exclamation marks for the ink levels under the Printer Status menu in the Printer Utility, do you get the ink levels to display when you hit the Supplies Details button? This works every time for me, which tells me that the Printer Utility and Printer communicate correctly with some calls, just not when I ask for anything related to the Manage Paper List.
-Ron H.
Hi Ron,
Today the HP Printer Utility worked fine - but I was connected via (short) USB cable... it suggests something...
Nevertheless, the HP Preview took eons to show up and further eons after each touch (the spinning rainbow wheel)...
(Unlike the ordinary Preview, HP Preview gets selected as a sub-menu via PDF icon in Mac OS X printer dialogue. In my view it is a wonderful preview, it just takes ages to run).
Finally, to answer your question, yes when I use the Ethernet connection and have the usual problems, the Supplies Details button works fine.
Take care,
Vlad
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.