Help - Canon i560 color problems

[Jane]

I just started having problems with my printer. I also just got a new
computer (coincidence??). Previous OS was Windows 98SE. Current is
Win XP.

Basically the color is all off and very faint. I did the nozzle check
and there were stripes and faint colors everywhere. I cleaned the
heads. Tried again. Deep cleaned. Tried again. Still lousy.

Grayscale printing looks great. All cartridges are full and in
correctly. I've tried everything suggested in my manual's
Troubleshooting section.

The software that I have states it's for Windows XP. Must admit I
didn't read any instructions before installing software. Just put the
disc in and ran the setup.exe program. All seemed to be fine until I
tried to print in color.

Does this sound like an XP issue or a printer problem?

Thanks

 

[MarcD]

I'd guess that your print head dried up due to lack of use
while changing computers. I've been told that I should print
something daily. Anyway, my guess is that you have a clogged
print head and cleaning and/or deep cleaning probably won't
clear it. So, remove all four cartridges. Then flip the grey lever
up (right side of the yellow cartridge). Now reach into the area
where the carts were and pull the top of the print head towards
you, it's loose, just wiggle it to remove it. Do not touch the
contacts after you get it out. Heat some water in a pan and
dunk just the bottom part of the print head into the water, about
one-half inch should do it...swish it around and then dry it with
a blast of air. Put it all back together and it'll probably work
after one or two cleanings...Deep cleaning shouldn't be required.
HTH


|I just started having problems with my printer. I also just got a new
| computer (coincidence??). Previous OS was Windows 98SE. Current is
| Win XP.
|
| Basically the color is all off and very faint. I did the nozzle check
| and there were stripes and faint colors everywhere. I cleaned the
| heads. Tried again. Deep cleaned. Tried again. Still lousy.
|
| Grayscale printing looks great. All cartridges are full and in
| correctly. I've tried everything suggested in my manual's
| Troubleshooting section.
|
| The software that I have states it's for Windows XP. Must admit I
| didn't read any instructions before installing software. Just put the
| disc in and ran the setup.exe program. All seemed to be fine until I
| tried to print in color.
|
| Does this sound like an XP issue or a printer problem?
|
| Thanks
|

 

[measekite]

I just started having problems with my printer. I also just got a new
computer (coincidence??). Previous OS was Windows 98SE. Current is
Win XP.

Basically the color is all off and very faint. I did the nozzle check
and there were stripes and faint colors everywhere. I cleaned the
heads. Tried again. Deep cleaned. Tried again. Still lousy.

Grayscale printing looks great. All cartridges are full and in
correctly. I've tried everything suggested in my manual's
Troubleshooting section.

The software that I have states it's for Windows XP. Must admit I
didn't read any instructions before installing software. Just put the
disc in and ran the setup.exe program. All seemed to be fine until I
tried to print in color.

Does this sound like an XP issue or a printer problem?

Thanks

It does not sound like the OS. It does sound like an ink problem. Are
you currently and have you always used OEM ink? Did your printer sit
for a long time unused?

 

[Burt]

Jane - The instructions from MarcD are a good start with your printhead
problem. I would suggest that you go onto the following link
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/forum/ . There is a great deal of information on
print head cleaning. First, however, click on the link to Neal Slade's
site at the top of the nifty-stuff forum home page and read all his material
about printer maintenance, inks, papers, etc. As Marc said, sounds more
like a printhead clog and probably due to a long period of disuse. This can
happen with OEM or aftermarket inks. Measekite asked if you only used OEM
(Canon) inks exclusively. I am using aftermarket ink exclusively in my
Canon i960 with no problems after almost a year of use. You do have to be
very selective in your choice of aftermarket inks if you decide to use them,
and you will get some guidance on the two sites I mentioned.

 

[Chuck]

Actually, upgrading to XP from 98SE or ME may cause a printer to act
strangely if the older driver was not completely removed prior to installing
the XP driver. For reasons unknown, the printouts on some printers appear
very dark, and other models very light when the older driver was not
uninstalled properly before upgrading to XP. Many of the printer mfrs have a
registry cleaner utility that removes leftover registry entries that may
exist after an upgrade with the older driver still installed.

 

[Jane]

I took your advice and it seems to have worked.

Thanks so much.