How does Canon counts ink usage?

[SleeperMan]

I was just wandering - how does Canon (i550) counts ink usage? I know that
it has that famous system when ink is empty below each container, but i
wonder, does shows in print window anything else but full and empty? I mean
i printer quite a few stuff and it still shows full, so i guess one day i'll
be surprised with "ink empty" warning...
I know Lexmark was saving this info in a file in Windows dir, so if i
reformatted, all info was gone balooney...i wonder if it's same with Canon.

 

[Joyce & Pete]

Hi, I hope you aren't offended by me asking this question, but I have been
trying to get a i550 printer to work on USB and tried all different usb
ports with no success. I called tech support and got absolutely no help.
It works ok on parallel. I always loved Canon printers until now. The
Canon ink info is totally different from Lexmark so I wouldn't expect them
to be the same. Again, I'm sorry I couldn't help with your question, just
hoping you, or anyone can tell me if you got the i550 to work on USB? TIA,
Jay

 

[jkh]

Hi, I hope you aren't offended by me asking this question, but I have been
trying to get a i550 printer to work on USB and tried all different usb
ports with no success. I called tech support and got absolutely no help.
It works ok on parallel. I always loved Canon printers until now. The
Canon ink info is totally different from Lexmark so I wouldn't expect them
to be the same. Again, I'm sorry I couldn't help with your question, just
hoping you, or anyone can tell me if you got the i550 to work on USB? TIA,
Jay

I am just wondering if you have any other USB devices that are
working? If not, you may want to check your bios to see if your USB
ports are actually enabled.

I appologize if you have been through all of that already. Just
offering some help that may be over looked

 

[SleeperMan]

Hi, I hope you aren't offended by me asking this question, but I have
been trying to get a i550 printer to work on USB and tried all
different usb ports with no success. I called tech support and got
absolutely no help. It works ok on parallel. I always loved Canon
printers until now. The Canon ink info is totally different from
Lexmark so I wouldn't expect them to be the same. Again, I'm sorry I
couldn't help with your question, just hoping you, or anyone can tell
me if you got the i550 to work on USB? TIA, Jay

Like jkh said check in BIOS first if you USB ports are enabled. Then maybe
you should check out control panel/system/device manager and see if you have
any question marks there. In there should be some Universal serial bus
controllers listed.
I just plugged it in and installed.
At the end, it's no difference in running on LPT or USB anyway, so if you
don't solve it, don't kill yourself for it...(just kidding)

 

[Cari]

If you're using XP or 2000, follow the instruction for removal of the
printer before trying to reinstall on USB.

http://www.coribright.com/Windows/Article One.htm

Canon printers are VERY particular about having the correct software
installed BEFORE connecting the printer to the PC.

Cari
www.coribright.com

 

[SleeperMan]

just hoping you, or anyone can tell
Thanks for your response, my usb ports are enabled and working with a
mustek scanner and a sandisk card reader, it's just the Canon i550
won't work. Under DeviceMan and usb controller\i550 printer\drivers
it says the usbprn0004.vxd is not installed? I uninstalled
completely and reinstalled and nothing helped.

Did you follow exactly as advised? You must first run software and NOT
connect printer until it tells you! And you shouldn't turn it on until
software tells you to!
If you didn't do so, uninstall completely and try again.

this vxd seems like some kind of printer virtual driver...
How about if you try under device manager right-click and select update
drivers? Did you try it?

 

[Bill]

I was just wandering - how does Canon (i550) counts ink usage? I know that
it has that famous system when ink is empty below each container, but i
wonder, does shows in print window anything else but full and empty? I mean
i printer quite a few stuff and it still shows full, so i guess one day i'll
be surprised with "ink empty" warning...

The print monitor will show you a warning that a cartridge is running
low. It does it when the ink tank reservoir is empty, but the sponge
still has about 20% ink left in it so you won't run out right away.

I know Lexmark was saving this info in a file in Windows dir, so if i
reformatted, all info was gone balooney...i wonder if it's same with Canon.

The Canon checks the ink levels every single time it prints a sheet, and
gives a warning only when it finds one of the cartridges is running low.
It's a good method.

 

[Bill]

Hi, I hope you aren't offended by me asking this question, but I have been
trying to get a i550 printer to work on USB and tried all different usb
ports with no success. I called tech support and got absolutely no help.
It works ok on parallel.

If it works on parallel, but not USB, I would guess your USB ports are
not enabled or the printer has a defective USB connection.

A friend of mine uses an i550 on USB, and my i850 works fine on USB.

 

[Joyce & Pete]

Thanks for your response, I've tried everything that was suggested but
didn't help. I'm getting a replacement from buy.com, it may be a bad usb
component on printer. Thank you all for your help. Jay

 

[jkh]

The print monitor will show you a warning that a cartridge is running
low. It does it when the ink tank reservoir is empty, but the sponge
still has about 20% ink left in it so you won't run out right away.


The Canon checks the ink levels every single time it prints a sheet, and
gives a warning only when it finds one of the cartridges is running low.
It's a good method.

Yes that is a very good method. Atleast there is no way of burning out
the heads by running dry.

The lexmark only uses some kind of guessing technique. Although the
Z65 did save its data inside the printer somehow. After restoring an
old backup or even a format of the system drive, it always retained
its previous level of ink in the software.

I highly doubt this was a sensor of any type because it was always
inaccurate.

 

[SleeperMan]

The print monitor will show you a warning that a cartridge is running
low. It does it when the ink tank reservoir is empty, but the sponge
still has about 20% ink left in it so you won't run out right away.


The Canon checks the ink levels every single time it prints a sheet,
and gives a warning only when it finds one of the cartridges is
running low. It's a good method.

So, it doesn't have that kind of sensor, which shows like 3/4 left, thane
1/2 left, 1/4 left and blank. Just when first container is empty, it shows a
warning. OK at least it's accurate. I don't mind that steps not showing.

 

[Heli Hickle]

Hi,

Look near the bottom of

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/canon_i850_pg2.html

where the technique is explained.

I normally continue printing until the color disappears from my
prints. When the indicator shows up for the first time, I know it's
time to buy a new container.


Henk

 

[Bronzed.Bodies]

Hi,

Look near the bottom of

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/canon_i850_pg2.html

where the technique is explained.

I normally continue printing until the color disappears from my
prints.

That wouldn't be very good for the printhead, would it?