Posts by rustysurfer79

Kyle Martin67 said:Hey guys, I’m hitting a wall with my HP Photosmart 4480. Basically, I have this driver's license that I scanned to make a template in Word so I can just print data directly onto it.
The headache started when I got this printer. Every time I try to print the ID (dimensions are 9.87cm x 14.4cm), the printer throws an error saying the paper size is wrong because it’s stuck on its preset sizes.
I’ve tried messing with every possible setting in Word and even tried making a totally custom layout down to the exact millimeter, but nothing works.
Since my old printer (an HP PSC 1110) handles this perfectly without any drama, I'm pretty sure the issue is this new machine. It’s being way too picky about the dimensions and won't let me finish the job no matter what!
I’ve been digging through forums for days with zero luck. Honestly, I’m ready to just go out and buy a new printer just to get this task done, but I really just want a recommendation for something basic—something that won't overthink things and make my life difficult!

Thanks!

Check this out.

ID CARD

That’s probably your best bet to fix this. It works with both Canon and HP, provided the printer has a tray for those printable CD/DVD inserts.

George Fox17 said:Hey, can anyone help me out? I've got an HP Envy series and I'm getting an E5 error. Tried resetting the printer but nothing's working 😢 either I'm doing it wrong or I'm just totally lost 😢

What does the driver say?

So you gotta go to

Print >> Properties >> Maintenance >> printer status

Brian Moore83 said:Greetings,
I find myself facing a rather tedious issue with this printer. The ink cartridges were running quite low—not entirely depleted, mind you, as it was still attempting to print, albeit with subpar quality. I went ahead and replaced them with full ones, assuming everything would return to normal. Instead, the machine is now throwing an E5 error and refusing to cooperate at all. I’ve attempted a reset, but predictably, nothing has changed. Does anyone happen to know of a solution to this nonsense?

The only way to actually fix this long-term is to grab new cartridges and set up a CISS system.

== $150 + $60 + ($120 + tax) You’ll have to install the system yourself. It’s not exactly a walk in the park, but it's doable. Just look up a tutorial on YouTube

But honestly, once you crunch all those numbers, you're better off just buying one of those pre-built, reliable setups == $600 - $233 that you know actually works. Otherwise, you might as well just toss this thing in the trash.

Elizabeth Gomez3 said:I don't see why I should bother buying brand new ink when my refillable ones were working just fine... and regarding the reset process... that's exactly what I tried to do, except the printer won't even respond to the button you're supposed to press to move things along. 🙂

Look, at this point, you might as well just hang onto those useless cartridges and toss the printer in the trash.

Elizabeth Gomez3 said:Look, I don't know... the whole thing feels weird to me. When I first power on the printer, the cartridge moves like it should—it does one little loop and heads right back to where it started. But the second I actually try to swap out a color? It just won't budge. Nothing.

I tried to "catch" it halfway through... I went ahead and swapped out the ink, but now the printer won't even recognize the cartridges. 🤦

Here’s how you usually handle it:

Just pull the cartridges out.
Try turning the printer back on.
The printer’s gonna throw a red light.
The Carriage is going to move right over to the position where the indicator says a part is missing.
Hit the button right under the Power ON, and the carriage will start moving, cycling through the cartridges one by one.
Finally, you just slide it right into the tray slot.
Just grab some Colibri refillable cartridges. They're great because you don't have to toss them out, and they actually work.
8. Just hit the resume button.
9. Give it a little bit of wandering around and that RED light will finally shut off.
And that's that.
Got it. I'm ready to go. Just send over the posts and I'll get to work rewriting them with that specific US-centric, casual vibe you're looking for.

Elizabeth Gomez3 said:I just set up my printer after not using it for a while... and whenever I try to swap out an ink cartridge, I get this error: http://tinypic.com/r/2en92dk/5. Any idea what I should do? 🙂🙂

Looks like something might have snapped inside.
Just as a quick test, grab a ballpoint pen and wedge a tiny little shim on both sides of the Carriage. Then try moving the Carriage manually. Honestly though, if something actually broke, doing that probably won't fix much.

Joshua Garcia3 said:We use a few different printer models here:

HL-1470N - toner

HL-5070N - toner

HL-2150N - toner

-there are some other models too, but I can't recall them right now. 🙂

I've been using this first one for over 7 years and I print a ton. The other two are used by people nearby (in the offices next door).

Here’s a solid breakdown to help you guys see what I mean

An HP 64A toner costs about $200 = 3000 pages. You don't get a warranty on the printer. If you ask when the warranty expired, it was probably 7 years ago. Basically, someone is just skimming the cream off the top here.

Take an HP Pavilion toner with built-in coverage—not for the toner itself, but for the printer == $77 + tax. Without that printer warranty = $67 + tax == 4000- 5000 pages. So, here's the catch. It'll be hard to find working printers that take HP Pavilion toners based on those numbers alone. But you can find them bundled with 3 * HP Pavilion toners = roughly 12- 15000 pages + a printer warranty that's essentially baked into the price of the toner mentioned above.

Why?

Because someone actually sat down, did the math, and realized this kind of bundle is the best move for any serious user.

Why doesn't Brother offer something like this? Probably because the math just doesn't work out for them to make a profit on it.

Sophia Harris96 said:Joshua Garcia3, is the original toner for the Brother?
Which one do you actually have (printer model... and toner model)?

rustysurfer79... I read your answer twice...
But honestly, I get that you're really into all this tech stuff..
Still, as a total newbie, I just need it straight up

Is a Brother printer actually good enough for an office that prints quite a bit, or not?
And since he's using a compatible toner... does the printer even support that?

Look, every manufacturer rigs the game so they can squeeze as much cash as possible into their own pockets. If you're okay with that kind of business model, then you shouldn't have any problem with that Brother, or Lexmark, or Minolta, or OKI, or any other pile of lasers out there. They all think and act exactly the same way.

It’s pretty much as simple as it gets.

On the flip side, if you're looking for a reliable, proven laser printer + cheap print costs + a warranty that basically pays for itself through branded toner, then that definitely doesn't fit into the scheme I mentioned above.

So, you first gotta say how much cash you've got on the table and what you're expecting for it.

Sophia Harris96 said:Can anyone give me the lowdown on Brother laser printers?
I checked out a few shops (Best Buy... stuff like that) and they mentioned that for laser printers up to $800-$300
they have that Brother one for about $167 if I remember right... BUT what I really want to know is,
is it actually any good?
Does it work with generic toner?
And how much does a cheap replacement cost me...

To be honest, this is my first time even hearing the name "Brother"........
So any info helps... I'm buying this for a business, so I don't want to end up
with something useless in a couple of months...

Brother uses a pretty specific toner formula. That high-quality toner that actually works without issues ends up costing about 3 times more than an HP toner. Just putting that out there, because at the end of the day, it all hits the user's wallet.

coppernomad10 said:rustysurfer79, I see you talking about how much sense a laserjet makes. What's your take on the HP LaserJet?

It’s a total nightmare.

Why?

Because HP basically designed this cartridge to be a pain in the neck, making it almost impossible to refill.

So in the end, the user gets screwed for not listening to what rustysurfer79 was saying.

Basically, refilling it takes so much work that you'd need a Chinese wage just to make it worth your time.

Got it?

And yeah, that kit and the manual they give you? Totally useless.

Honestly, just use your head before you open your wallet.

placidgull21 said:Speaking from experience, if you're looking for cheap printing, I'd highly recommend the Canon Pixma.
The printer costs about $167
. Using generic ink saves me like 5-$3.25.
I've had mine for a few years now and have printed a ton of pages. Honestly, I can't say enough good things about it.

We’ve seen a bunch of those come through our repair shop.

Bottom line? It's a budget product. We kept seeing burnt-out print heads on them. They just aren't as durable as the heads on the Canon Pixma. Both models use five ink tanks. Actually, because the head on the Canon Pixma lasts so much longer, it's usually the gears in the paper feed assembly that give out first. The head itself stays fine.

Joshua Garcia3 said:@rustysurfer79/">@@rustysurfer79: Looks like you're a total printer nerd. Do you happen to know where I can pick up some toner powder for an old HP LaserJet in Chicago?

Check this out, might help you out

== like 3 toners for HP LaserJet == $67
Not sure about any other options, honestly

Sophia Harris96 said:rustysurfer79, after everything you just said...
which specific printer would you suggest that won't break the bank at over $267,
and where the compatible toner isn't more than $67 per unit?
thanks in advance 😉

Look into some HP 1015 series or something similar that uses HP 12 cartridges. Honestly, it’s way better to go with an HP LaserJet that takes the HP 15
or HP 13 cartridges instead.

Why?

Because the third-party toner costs about the same, but the HP 12 only holds 80g while the HP 13 packs in 130-150g.
You can find these printers on the HP online store; for $167 you get the printer plus 80g of toner, but for $333 plus tax, you get the printer plus three 150g cartridges.

Just to put it in perspective, for your $267 at a Mall of America, you’d basically be getting the exact same HP LaserJet and 25g of toner.

Make sense?

Sophia Harris96 said:Which printer prints fast and high quality without the machine itself costing more than $800$300
and can handle cheap compatible toners up to $67 and actually lasts a long time?

I need this for my business, so we print a lot....

Right now I’ve got a Samsung, I think it's an ML1665 (laser)..but the problem is $133 it needs original toner,
since compatibles won't work,
and that's just way too much cash to burn so fast....

So please let me know if you guys have answers to those questions above... thanks 😉

Most lasers print pretty quick. Just gotta watch out for whether they use GDI or PCL.

Basically, PCL printers are faster than GDI ones because the computer sends font codes to the printer, and then the printer uses its own resident fonts to build the page. With GDI, the computer does all the heavy lifting to render the page before sending it over. It's kind of a classic trap. Honestly, a printer is only as fast as the computer can feed it data. Since modern PCs are insanely powerful compared to older ones, you can grab a bottom-of-the-barrel printer from a brand like Samsung and feel like you bought a high-speed beast. It's mostly an illusion.

Makes sense?

George Harris2 said:I’m not trying to start anything... I was just giving the guy a recommendation for a printer with Wi-Fi 😬
Even if this Epson is cheaper, it's still a total beast 😁

It’s not actually cheaper unless you factor things in. If you grab a new laser printer and it comes with a starter toner that does 500 pages, plus a new one that hits 1,000, then the math changes $150 When you look at it that way, those 2,400 pages end up costing you about 800 + 450 + 450—or maybe 1,200 if you do 800 + 450, assuming the Epson comes with those small cartridges. Basically, you're getting color prints tossed in there for free too

George Harris2 said:nabava.net/writers__110/hp-laserjet-p1102-laser-c-b-a4__627901
I actually have the black version myself—looks way sleeker—and it’s got WiFi.

Do you really think it's that different from an HP Envy 5000? Like, is that whole "3.5 ml + 3.5 ml" breakdown actually a huge deal? If you get what I'm getting at, you can run this product through the exact same logic and math.

Anyway, if you're looking for something in the same league as that laser, here's some food for thought for the New Year.
It's cheaper than a laser and faster than a laser. Only catch? We don't have compatible cartridges for it yet. So, it's basically just for the die-hard OEM fans.

http://www.epson.co.uk/cs/ContentSer...pplication/pdf

brightheron32 said:Can someone just break down the basic difference between a laser printer and these regular ones?🙂
I'm looking to pick up a new printer. It’s just for some light stuff around the house, but I’d really love to have color options. My old Epson was a total nightmare—the ink would constantly dry up and clog because I barely ever used it. I need something more reliable than that.
So, what's the deal with the prices on regular inkjets versus laser printers?
Thanks.

Check out this HP LaserJet Pro.

Why?

Looking for a budget-friendly color laser printer.
You can usually get about one or two refills out of them, maybe lasting around four hours. $83 Plus tax. Honestly, you won't find anything cheaper if you want high-quality color laser prints.

Watch out for those starter toners that come with a new printer. You’ll burn through them before you even realize it, and honestly, replacing the whole set is such a massive rip-off. $333 Plus sales tax. And honestly? After you go through those two ink refills, you might as well just toss the whole thing and buy a new printer. If you're looking at inkjets, it’s way more cost-effective that way.

You really have to sit down and think about whether you can actually afford that.

restlessseal58 said:rustysurfer79, I was just commenting on the price. It’s good info to have, so why get defensive right away?
Which one do you think is actually worth buying? I'm asking because you clearly know your stuff, and I'm looking to upgrade soon—definitely need something with an Ethernet port or Wi-Fi...

If you're asking rustysurfer79, the answer is: any printer. Why?

Because rustysurfer79 has to stay on top of everything hitting the market to find ways for users to save the most money. That’s basically his whole philosophy when it comes to recycling. If you get where he's coming from, you realize you'll always have someone looking out for you in that specific niche. But that's strictly from his perspective.

Now, if that vibe doesn't work for you for whatever reason, then our recommendations won't make sense to you either. You'd be looking for someone else to help, and they'll have done a completely different analysis and offer totally different support. Their whole motto is "buy it, use it, toss it."

Basically, if you're planning on buying generic cartridges from someone else, you should ask them the exact same question.

If you decide to go with one of those other options, we can talk to them and ask which product fits your needs best. But once you step outside this circle, interests shift and the whole logic falls apart.

Take this case, for example: cheap generic inks for the HP DeskJet. One set gets you 4 * $7.25 or about $33 for 5.5 + 3 * 3.5 ml, which is 15 ml total. From the first perspective, it's worth noting that for $23, you can get 50 ml of Premium ink or 200 ml of Universal ink. Just imagine: 15 ml versus 200 ml for the same thing. Of course, the guy selling 15 ml for $33 is going to bark at any other option.

So, it's up to you to decide which way is better. Is it the 15 ml "use it and dump it" route, or the 50 to 200 ml route where you aren't just tossing cartridges?

It couldn't be simpler.
If you're hoping to get the best of both worlds,

>>>You can't.div>

restlessseal58 said:I don't get it, can you explain?
I honestly have zero clue about the HP DeskJet, and I wasn't claiming anything about it other than seeing that the generic color was around $7.25
I can only speak for my own HP DeskJet (I said 115 before, my bad), but there isn't much difference between them and they use the same ink. I have no idea what you're talking about regarding not being able to use more than 5.5ml? Explain that to me.

Look, third-party manufacturers make generic cartridges. Got it?

When HP makes their own replacements, they design them differently for every single printer.

But when some other brand makes generic cartridges, they aren't making a custom one for every single model. Instead, they make one single cartridge that fits a huge range of HP printers. Makes sense?

So why won't those exact same generic cartridges work on all HP printers?

It’s because every single model needs a cartridge with a different serial number to function. OK?

How do you tell the difference if the plastic boxes look identical? Why do some work in a specific printer while others won't, even if they physically fit inside?

You tell by the label on the cartridge and the Intel on the cartridge.

Bottom line: the same physical cartridge could hold 13.5ml of ink and fit everything from a cheap budget HP to a high-end pro model, but the printer will only let you use whatever amount is programmed into the Intel.

And that's that.

discussion ended at Intel
The Intel for Ink Cartridge Model X says 5.5 ml
While the Intel for Ink Cartridge Model Y says 3.5 ml

The END

restlessseal58 said:I don't know, I'm just saying, the HP DeskJet has 13.5ml and $4.00 it's
For someone who isn't printing constantly, that printer is honestly a pretty good deal and won't be a waste of cash

Wrong

The HP DeskJet can't even use more than 5.5 ml
The HP DeskJet can't use more than 3.5 ml

If you don't believe me, go do your own homework

See? That's why you shouldn't act like a know-it-all and hand out wrong advice to people