Printer issues?

darkcrane77 said:Quick question... I just picked up an HP DeskJet, $390, and it came with yellow, cyan, magenta, and black ink. Now, do I have to dump all the colors in right away? Or can I just load the black one since I only plan on printing in grayscale for now? I figured I could just top off those "color" tanks later when I actually need them 🙂 But the manual says you shouldn't let the ink drop below the line, and if I don't fill them... well, then they're definitely below the line 😁 John Doe 🙂

Would you put oil in just one cylinder of your car just because you only plan on driving in second gear through town?

hollowmarlin27 said:Would you pour oil into just one single cylinder in your car just because you're satisfied driving through town in, say, second gear?

I don't drive or even own a car😉 but I still used all the colors—I just didn't edit the post. Long story short, I don't think anyone was harmed by me asking if it was allowed... ☕

darkcrane77 said:I don't even drive or own a car😉 but I went ahead and filled all the ink colors anyway. I just forgot to edit my post... honestly, I don't think anyone was actually hurt by me asking if it was okay first... ☕

No, nobody's hurt, but the printer might take a hit once you run out of one color. And hey, don't forget—this "car" can still get you around town even if it's missing two or three cylinders.
Obviously, it needs to actually function, because why bother paying $387 for a warranty if you aren't planning on actually using it?

hollowmarlin27 said:It isn't, but it'll wreck the printer once you run out of one color. Just remember, you can drive a car through town even if it's missing two or three cylinders.
Obviously, it still needs to function. Why pay for $387 a warranty if you don't actually plan on using it?

Whatever, I get it. I already topped off all three colors just so the thing doesn't "starve," 😉 and I have zero intention of filing a warranty claim—or rather, I'm hoping I won't have to.

Anyway, I've got another issue... I went through the whole installation process and most of it worked fine, but then it starts demanding a USB cable, which definitely wasn't in the box I received 🤔 where am I supposed to find one now? It's even asking for a cable just to get the Wi-Fi set up during the initial configuration :S

Just hit up the nearest Best Buy—just let them know it's for a printer. They aren't overpriced. Just make sure you measure exactly how much cord you need so it actually reaches the machine.

darkowl72 said:Are you sure there's enough space on your C: drive? That's really the only one that matters—scans usually dump into Users/yourname/Documents/MyImageGarden if you haven't messed with the defaults.

Most likely the Canon software installed poorly and needs a full reinstall. Or maybe your PC is just running low on memory. You know how much RAM/storage you've got?

Wait, can you actually go into that folder right now and try clicking the image or scan to open it? What happens then?

yeah, I am—I know where to check 🙂 checked everything... I can't even get into the folder at all..

Timothy Kim60 said:Try opening the folder manually ("the old fashioned way") instead of through whatever interface you're using—if you're trying to open it via the Canon software, it might just be bugged out.

can't do it manually, tried every way possible... anyway, I reinstalled it and it seems to be working for now, fingers crossed it doesn't happen again...

So, I’ve got this HP Envy, and looking at its successor, the newer HP Envy, it seems almost identical at first glance. The specs claim better printing and scanning speeds, but... can I just install the software from the newer model onto my current one? Thinking maybe I could trick the old hardware into performing like the new version, or is this just a case of them selling us a completely different product inside the exact same old shell? wtf...

So, nobody seems brave enough to actually do a hardware comparison between the HP Envy vs Canon Pixma... and don't even get me started on the software side. From what I can gather, it feels a bit like a shell game to me—selling an older model just because they tacked on an extended warranty, bumping it from one year to two. Sure, the price goes up to cover that extra coverage, but when you're essentially buying repackaged old tech... they really should have just offered a warranty upgrade for the HP Envy instead. And that would come with the option to just grab the latest software updates directly from the official sites, which honestly still feels a step behind what Canon offers anyway.

Anthony Kelly9 said:So basically, nobody’s brave enough to actually compare the HP Envy vs Canon Pixma hardware-wise, let alone the software. From what I can gather, this feels like a total scam—selling an old model just because they slapped a two-year warranty on it instead of one. Sure, the price goes up with the extra coverage, but charging more for repackaged old tech? They should have just offered a warranty upgrade for the HP Envy and let people download the software from the official sites, especially since it lags behind Canon's anyway.

Then why don't you just return it and tell them you're unhappy with the software support? Or better yet, take it back to the guy who recommended it to you in the first place.

Or go to some independent repair shop and ask them to show you a trashed HP Envy and a Canon Pixma side-by-side. Maybe then you'll actually see the difference. Honestly, just look at the specs—check the weight without ink for both models. That'll show you what's actually being used as bait.

The software is just the tip of the iceberg.

Add
6600g without the Ink Tank System vs 4300g with the Ink Tank System!!!!

hollowmarlin27, you’re completely missing the mark regarding my level of satisfaction here... you've got it all wrong. I'm actually happier than I expected after picking up this HP Envy. I managed to snag it for less than what I'd pay for a brand new one with a warranty back in the day... and I even grabbed some hobbyist software I used to rely on from my old Canon setup. You've totally misinterpreted how I put this together... I used to run the Canon scanner and printer separately, and honestly, it was a perfectly fine little kit for home use. But this HP Envy, after using it for a short while, turned out to be more practical than that old setup. In terms of weight and footprint, the HP Envy + HP ScanJet combo is roughly comparable to this HP Envy. When I saw the Canon Pixma iP7250 in person, the sheer size and weight compared to the old ip3300 caught me off guard... the ip3300 was smaller, lighter, and even had two trays. For me, size and weight are huge factors when judging whether a machine is actually "quality" for a home user. That light, compact ip3300 served me well for over five years using all sorts of different inks. I actually used an older Canon N670U scanner, but I ran newer software on it from the lide series... which is exactly why I was asking about the HP Envy vs Canon Pixma situation. When I saw they were marketing the L220 as the successor, I couldn't see much difference from the L210, so I became curious and specifically sought out opinions on that... The iP7250 might be a superior printer, but I’m just not interested in dealing with the headache of third-party cartridges—whether they have chips or if I have to manually reset them myself. Plus, I don't want to mess around with finicky Canon scanner software, especially when it comes to simple copying. Everything has its pros and cons, but we're talking about something else entirely: the HP Envy vs Canon Pixma comparison... and you didn't really say anything about that part, which was my actual interest. So, go ahead... feel free to dive into the details of the HP Envy vs Canon Pixma. As for Canon, forget it; that era is long gone. If you happen to need cartridges, I have a couple of original Canon CLI-8C/Y ones, or some Orilink replacements (CC3/5/6/8Y-M-C) without chips... I've got about ten of those left over from the ip3300, and I'll let them go cheap just to clear them out. 😉

Anthony Kelly9 said:hollowmarlin27, you’re totally missing the point regarding my satisfaction here. I’m actually happier than if I’d paid full price for the HP Envy. I picked this one up for a steal—well under what a new one with a warranty would cost. As for the software I was missing, I just repurposed some stuff from my old Canon setup. You’ve got it all wrong; I used the Canon scanner and printer separately before, and it was a perfectly fine little home setup. Honestly, after using it for a bit, this HP Envy is more practical. In terms of weight, the HP Envy + HP ScanJet combo is about the same as this HP Envy. When I saw the Canon Pixma in person, the size and weight compared to the old ip3300 caught me off guard; the ip3300 was smaller, lighter, and had two trays. To me, size and weight matter when judging quality. That light little ip3300 served me for over five years with all sorts of ink. I actually used an older Canon HP LaserJet scanner but ran newer software on it. I even asked around about the HP Envy vs Canon Pixma because the L220 started being marketed as the successor, but I didn't see much difference from the L210, so I got curious and looked for actual opinions. Maybe the Canon Pixma is a better printer, but I’m not interested in messing around with third-party cartridges, whether they have chips or if I have to manually swap them, and I'm done dealing with finicky Canon scanning software—especially during copying. Everything has its pros and cons, but we're talking about the HP Envy vs Canon Pixma here, and you didn't say a word about that, which was my actual question. So, go ahead, give me the lowdown on the HP Envy vs Canon Pixma. Forget Canon; that era is over for me. (If you want cartridges: I have a couple of original Canon ones or about ten Orilink replacements without chips left over from my ip3300. I'll let them go cheap just to get rid of them.) 😉

When you buy electronics at a place like Walmart, you get a year of warranty or whatever. But the box shows the manufacturing year, and nobody bothers to log your serial number. You can't exactly walk back in a year later, buy the exact same model, and try to swap your old broken unit for a new one. You can't play dumb and claim the warranty on it.

It's probably the same kind of shady business when it comes to consumer goods.

Or maybe it's just a model refresh because the previous version had some factory defect. That’s why it was so cheap. They fixed it in the new version, but you won't find out until the warranty expires.

You can see it clearly with the data for the HP Envy, which is basically the same thing but 100 grams heavier.

Since you're so hung up on weight and footprint:
HP Envy = 9.7 lbs, dimensions: 18.6 x 11.8 x 5.7 in (W x D x H)
HP Envy = 9.5 lbs, dimensions: 19.0 x 11.8 x 5.7 in (W x D x H)

So, the newer one is lighter yet larger... by your logic, that makes it worse because they used less material to achieve more. It’s like they just cheapened things out after the first run was successful enough to act as an advertisement for new customers, leaving the subsequent series a bit underwhelming... 🤷

Print specs for HP Envy:
Black print speed: 6 ppm, Color: 3 ppm, Black (plain paper): 27 ppm, Color (plain paper): 15 ppm, 69 seconds per
4x6 photo (HP Premium Glossy Photo paper)

Print specs for HP Envy:
Black print speed: 7 ppm, Color: 3.5 ppm, Black (plain paper): 27 ppm, Color (plain paper): 15 ppm, 69 seconds per
4x6 photo (HP Premium Glossy Photo paper)

Regarding the HP Envy, the difference is obvious right away. That model actually has features the other two lack... but looking at what's listed above, those two are basically identical. You're comparing apples to oranges here... 😉

Anthony Kelly9 said:Since you're so obsessed with weight and dimensions:
HP Envy=9.7 lbs, dimensions: 18.6 x 11.8 x 5.7 in (W x D x H)
HP Envy=9.5 lbs, dimensions: 19.0 x 11.8 x 5.7 in (W x D x H)

So the newer one is lighter and bigger. By your logic, that makes it worse because they used less material for more product. So, they basically broke things on purpose? Like the first batch was just a lucky fluke meant to bait customers before they rolled out the inferior versions? 🤷

HP Envy print specs:
Print speed 6 ppm Black, 3 ppm Color, 27 ppm Black (plain paper), 15 ppm Color (plain paper), 69 seconds per
4x6 photo (HP Premium Glossy Photo paper)

HP Envy print specs:
Print speed 7 ppm Black, 3.5 ppm Color, 27 ppm Black (plain paper), 15 ppm Color (plain paper), 69 seconds per
4x6 photo (HP Premium Glossy Photo paper)

As for the HP Envy, the difference is obvious right away. That model actually has features the other two lack. Looking at what's listed above, those two are identical, so you're really comparing apples to oranges here. 😉

What do you mean, apples to oranges?

They're all the same damn apples. All they do is swap out the firmware because it costs them nothing. It’s about as much effort as you handing someone a pack of gum.

Fine. Give me the dimensions and nozzle count for the HP Envy. Then we can see if this "difference" actually exists.

So, you’re basically arguing—with whatever logic you've got there—that the HP Envy and the HP Envy are essentially the same machine, just separated by software... I guess. It’s an interesting take. If you can just confirm that the driver for the HP Envy actually works on the other HP Envy, then you'll have finally satisfied my curiosity. Though, it would be nice if you actually backed up that claim with some real evidence or something...😉

Anthony Kelly9 said:So, you’re basically claiming—with all that sound logic—that the HP Envy and the other HP Envy are the exact same machine, just separated by a software tweak. Fine. I'll bite. Just confirm one thing for me: if I take the software meant for the second model and try to run it on the first, does it actually work? If so, my curiosity is satisfied. Though, it would be nice if you could actually back up that claim with some real evidence instead of just stating it as fact.😉

You know exactly what to do. Why bother installing the software meant for an HP Envy? Just install the driver for the HP Envy instead. Then, head into the advanced settings and swap out the standard driver for the Driver of HP Envy. If that fails for some reason—because life is rarely that simple—just try using the one from the HP Envy. It’ll work. You'll be printing like you actually went out and bought the high-end model. Your heart will be at peace. $300.

Could someone suggest a printer that can sit idle over the summer—say, unused for two to four months? My main concern is just how much ink is included in the box 😁 Ideally, I’d like something budget-friendly... though, honestly, it might be better to find one that's cheaper to maintain in the long run rather than just looking at the initial price tag. Thanks in advance 👍

Timothy Hernandez86 said:Anyone have a recommendation for a printer that can sit idle for a few months over the summer without becoming a total paperweight? Honestly, I don't care about the black ink—just need something where the color won't clog up or dry out if I don't touch it for two to four months. 😁 Ideally, I'd go with whatever's cheaper. But let's be real—I care way more about what it costs to actually keep the thing running than what I'm shelling out upfront. Thanks in advance. 👍

Look, most of these printers can hold up just fine. As long as you didn't leave them sitting around all summer with empty or half-empty cartridges that have been rotting in some warehouse for two or three years. That's where they die.

Honestly, if you're looking to get into color printing, the HP Envy / HP Envy combo is still the first thing I’d recommend, no matter how many times I've used them.

Those cheap printers? They're basically disposable. They’re designed to churn out a few hundred pages before they end up in a landfill. If you stick to those insanely overpriced original inks, the manufacturer makes a killing; if you don't, you just lose your warranty.

Jeffrey Chavez6 said:Even if I use them constantly, mentioning the HP Envy / HP Envy is still the best move for color printing.

Those cheap ones? Mostly disposable. They’re built to churn out a few hundred pages before they end up in a landfill. If you stick to those overpriced original inks, the manufacturer makes a killing. If you don't, you lose your warranty.

What are you basing that on?

Maybe based on a compatibility chart like this one:
EPSON/L110/Epson%20L110-L210-L300-%20L350-Sx235w-Sx435w-%20Sx440w%20CR%20Motor-1548481-s2.jpg





It’s all basically the same printer. Just different labels and price tags.