I have an old Epson Stylus 600 printer that was hooked up to my daughter's
computer. This spring it suddenly just quit printing. This weekend I finally
got around to hooking it up to another computer to diagnose it. It still
will not print using the regular Centronics parallel cable but I got it to
be recognized using a USB to parallel cable. I can get it to do cleaning
cycles and about 4 lines of a printer test page before it stops. I'm not
sure what to make of this. I know it's an old printer but I still have
several cartridges for it that I'd like to use if possible. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
"Dale Allen" <fokker671@don't.send.me.spam1.excite.com> wrote in message
news:4adba54a$0$1599$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com ...
>I have an old Epson Stylus 600 printer that was hooked up to my daughter's
>computer. This spring it suddenly just quit printing. This weekend I
>finally got around to hooking it up to another computer to diagnose it. It
>still will not print using the regular Centronics parallel cable but I got
>it to be recognized using a USB to parallel cable. I can get it to do
>cleaning cycles and about 4 lines of a printer test page before it stops.
>I'm not sure what to make of this. I know it's an old printer but I still
>have several cartridges for it that I'd like to use if possible. Any ideas?
>Thanks in advance.
If possible try using another Centronics cable as it's possible the original
has gone bad. I've heard a few things about USB to parallel not
communicating just right in translation, so unless you've had it working OK
before there's a possiblity that there's no amelioration going on with that
kind of substituted cable.
The Stylus 600 model must be at least 12 years old at this point and
though it could give reasonable photos in 720 / 1440 dpi mode I remember
that I could eat my lunch for the time it took to print an 8 X 10 picture,
and for the time it took to do a cleaning cycle, well, it was time to go
home at that point.
On Oct 18, 7:31 pm, "Dale Allen"
<fokker671@don't.send.me.spam1.excite.com> wrote:
> I have an old Epson Stylus 600 printer that was hooked up to my daughter's
> computer. This spring it suddenly just quit printing. This weekend I finally
> got around to hooking it up to another computer to diagnose it. It still
> will not print using the regular Centronics parallel cable but I got it to
> be recognized using a USB to parallel cable. I can get it to do cleaning
> cycles and about 4 lines of a printer test page before it stops. I'm not
> sure what to make of this. I know it's an old printer but I still have
> several cartridges for it that I'd like to use if possible. Any ideas?
> Thanks in advance.
I think it's just an ink problem. The heads are clogged. Many posts
here have addressed that problem. By the way, those old carts you have
may be dried up even if still apparently wrapped tightly in foil. I
have pitched several 600 and 650s that I was given when the owners
became tired of the cloggs.
Al wrote:
> On Oct 18, 7:31 pm, "Dale Allen"
> <fokker671@don't.send.me.spam1.excite.com> wrote:
>> I have an old Epson Stylus 600 printer that was hooked up to my daughter's
>> computer. This spring it suddenly just quit printing. This weekend I finally
>> got around to hooking it up to another computer to diagnose it. It still
>> will not print using the regular Centronics parallel cable but I got it to
>> be recognized using a USB to parallel cable. I can get it to do cleaning
>> cycles and about 4 lines of a printer test page before it stops. I'm not
>> sure what to make of this. I know it's an old printer but I still have
>> several cartridges for it that I'd like to use if possible. Any ideas?
>> Thanks in advance.
>
> I think it's just an ink problem. The heads are clogged. Many posts
> here have addressed that problem. By the way, those old carts you have
> may be dried up even if still apparently wrapped tightly in foil. I
> have pitched several 600 and 650s that I was given when the owners
> became tired of the cloggs.
The OP doesn't specifically say whether "quit printing" means that the
printer tries to print and nothing gets to the page, or if it just sits
there. However, his attempts at diagnosis imply it just sits there with
a Centronics cable, but will at least communicate using the converter cable.
But you're right about those carts, and the printer. I bought one of
those at a garage sale for $5 several years ago. Most foolish $5 I ever
spent. It was clogged, but I managed to get it open and working. For a
few days. In the year that I stubbornly used it, I never did get it
completely unclogged, and it would fully clog if I didn't print
something at least once a week. Eventually, I went back to HP.
TJ
--
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.
> I have an old Epson Stylus 600 printer that was hooked up to my daughter's
> computer. This spring it suddenly just quit printing. This weekend I finally
> got around to hooking it up to another computer to diagnose it. It still
> will not print using the regular Centronics parallel cable but I got it to
> be recognized using a USB to parallel cable. I can get it to do cleaning
> cycles and about 4 lines of a printer test page before it stops. I'm not
> sure what to make of this. I know it's an old printer but I still have
> several cartridges for it that I'd like to use if possible. Any ideas?
> Thanks in advance.
My first idea is do you have the DRIVER installed? and my next idea is
does Windows see and recognize the printer?
> Al wrote:
> > On Oct 18, 7:31 pm, "Dale Allen"
> > <fokker671@don't.send.me.spam1.excite.com> wrote:
> >> I have an old Epson Stylus 600 printer that was hooked up to my daughter's
> >> computer. This spring it suddenly just quit printing. This weekend I finally
> >> got around to hooking it up to another computer to diagnose it. It still
> >> will not print using the regular Centronics parallel cable but I got it to
> >> be recognized using a USB to parallel cable. I can get it to do cleaning
> >> cycles and about 4 lines of a printer test page before it stops. I'm not
> >> sure what to make of this. I know it's an old printer but I still have
> >> several cartridges for it that I'd like to use if possible. Any ideas?
> >> Thanks in advance.
> >
> > I think it's just an ink problem. The heads are clogged. Many posts
> > here have addressed that problem. By the way, those old carts you have
> > may be dried up even if still apparently wrapped tightly in foil. I
> > have pitched several 600 and 650s that I was given when the owners
> > became tired of the cloggs.
>
> The OP doesn't specifically say whether "quit printing" means that the
> printer tries to print and nothing gets to the page, or if it just sits
> there. However, his attempts at diagnosis imply it just sits there with
> a Centronics cable, but will at least communicate using the converter cable.
>
> But you're right about those carts, and the printer. I bought one of
> those at a garage sale for $5 several years ago. Most foolish $5 I ever
> spent. It was clogged, but I managed to get it open and working. For a
> few days. In the year that I stubbornly used it, I never did get it
> completely unclogged, and it would fully clog if I didn't print
> something at least once a week. Eventually, I went back to HP.
>
> TJ
That will do it! cuz Epson printers have print-head built into printer.
If you don't print for long period of time the ink will dried and that would
be the end of its life.
"Joel" <joel@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:kphsd59mdn06ffjmm2658dfpbf7k0hv3d4@4ax.com...
> TJ <TJ@noneofyour.business> wrote:
>
>> Al wrote:
>> > On Oct 18, 7:31 pm, "Dale Allen"
>> > <fokker671@don't.send.me.spam1.excite.com> wrote:
>> >> I have an old Epson Stylus 600 printer that was hooked up to my
>> >> daughter's
>> >> computer. This spring it suddenly just quit printing. This weekend I
>> >> finally
>> >> got around to hooking it up to another computer to diagnose it. It
>> >> still
>> >> will not print using the regular Centronics parallel cable but I got
>> >> it to
>> >> be recognized using a USB to parallel cable. I can get it to do
>> >> cleaning
>> >> cycles and about 4 lines of a printer test page before it stops. I'm
>> >> not
>> >> sure what to make of this. I know it's an old printer but I still have
>> >> several cartridges for it that I'd like to use if possible. Any ideas?
>> >> Thanks in advance.
>> >
>> > I think it's just an ink problem. The heads are clogged. Many posts
>> > here have addressed that problem. By the way, those old carts you have
>> > may be dried up even if still apparently wrapped tightly in foil. I
>> > have pitched several 600 and 650s that I was given when the owners
>> > became tired of the cloggs.
>>
>> The OP doesn't specifically say whether "quit printing" means that the
>> printer tries to print and nothing gets to the page, or if it just sits
>> there. However, his attempts at diagnosis imply it just sits there with
>> a Centronics cable, but will at least communicate using the converter
>> cable.
>>
>> But you're right about those carts, and the printer. I bought one of
>> those at a garage sale for $5 several years ago. Most foolish $5 I ever
>> spent. It was clogged, but I managed to get it open and working. For a
>> few days. In the year that I stubbornly used it, I never did get it
>> completely unclogged, and it would fully clog if I didn't print
>> something at least once a week. Eventually, I went back to HP.
>>
>> TJ
>
> That will do it! cuz Epson printers have print-head built into printer.
> If you don't print for long period of time the ink will dried and that
> would
> be the end of its life.
Windows correctly identifies and installs the driver for the printer,
otherwise I couldn't do cleaning cycles. The printer actually prints 4 lines
of text as well as the Windows color logo on the test page before stopping
so it's not the cartridges plugging. I tried 2 different Centronics cables
that work on another printer (a similar vintage Epson Photo 700) before
trying the USB converter cable. What baffles me is that it repeatedly works
as it should up to the point it just stops in the middle of the page.
"Dale Allen" <fokker671@don't.send.me.spam1.excite.com> wrote in message
news:4ade6cf2$0$1592$9a6e19ea@news.newshosting.com ...
>
>
> "Joel" <joel@nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:kphsd59mdn06ffjmm2658dfpbf7k0hv3d4@4ax.com...
>> TJ <TJ@noneofyour.business> wrote:
>>
>>> Al wrote:
>>> > On Oct 18, 7:31 pm, "Dale Allen"
>>> > <fokker671@don't.send.me.spam1.excite.com> wrote:
>>> >> I have an old Epson Stylus 600 printer that was hooked up to my
>>> >> daughter's
>>> >> computer. This spring it suddenly just quit printing. This weekend I
>>> >> finally
>>> >> got around to hooking it up to another computer to diagnose it. It
>>> >> still
>>> >> will not print using the regular Centronics parallel cable but I got
>>> >> it to
>>> >> be recognized using a USB to parallel cable. I can get it to do
>>> >> cleaning
>>> >> cycles and about 4 lines of a printer test page before it stops. I'm
>>> >> not
>>> >> sure what to make of this. I know it's an old printer but I still
>>> >> have
>>> >> several cartridges for it that I'd like to use if possible. Any
>>> >> ideas?
>>> >> Thanks in advance.
>>> >
>>> > I think it's just an ink problem. The heads are clogged. Many posts
>>> > here have addressed that problem. By the way, those old carts you have
>>> > may be dried up even if still apparently wrapped tightly in foil. I
>>> > have pitched several 600 and 650s that I was given when the owners
>>> > became tired of the cloggs.
>>>
>>> The OP doesn't specifically say whether "quit printing" means that the
>>> printer tries to print and nothing gets to the page, or if it just sits
>>> there. However, his attempts at diagnosis imply it just sits there with
>>> a Centronics cable, but will at least communicate using the converter
>>> cable.
>>>
>>> But you're right about those carts, and the printer. I bought one of
>>> those at a garage sale for $5 several years ago. Most foolish $5 I ever
>>> spent. It was clogged, but I managed to get it open and working. For a
>>> few days. In the year that I stubbornly used it, I never did get it
>>> completely unclogged, and it would fully clog if I didn't print
>>> something at least once a week. Eventually, I went back to HP.
>>>
>>> TJ
>>
>> That will do it! cuz Epson printers have print-head built into printer.
>> If you don't print for long period of time the ink will dried and that
>> would
>> be the end of its life.
>
> Windows correctly identifies and installs the driver for the printer,
> otherwise I couldn't do cleaning cycles. The printer actually prints 4
> lines of text as well as the Windows color logo on the test page before
> stopping so it's not the cartridges plugging. I tried 2 different
> Centronics cables that work on another printer (a similar vintage Epson
> Photo 700) before trying the USB converter cable. What baffles me is that
> it repeatedly works as it should up to the point it just stops in the
> middle of the page.
Hi,
Good that you tried a couple different cables to verify that you've got
communication. One last thing that you could try is the item below. I've
copied it off the directions given to me from the tech I called at Epson
when a Stylus 740 was misbehaving probably ten years ago. It applies for the
600 as well. The EPROM reset is to default all the electronics back to
original settings on the printer.
If it doesn't work my thoughts are that something has gone amiss in one
of the CBs.
Good luck,
To perform a Master EPROM Reset:
1. Turn the printer off.
2. Disconnect the cable that connects from the computer to the printer.
3. With the printer turned off, hold down both the Paper and the Cleaning
Buttons at the same time.
4. Continue to hold the buttons and turn the printer on.
5. When the Paper Light begins to flash, release both the Paper and
Cleaning Buttons.
6. Immediately press the Paper Button once (All the lights will flash and
the printer will begin to charge).
7. When the Power light becomes steady, print.
When you say it stops printing, do you mean the printer mechanism stops
moving, as if the printer weren't "on", or that it moves but no print is
produced after a few lines even though the printer's head carriage is
still moving back and forth?
Art
If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:
Dale Allen wrote:
> I have an old Epson Stylus 600 printer that was hooked up to my
> daughter's computer. This spring it suddenly just quit printing. This
> weekend I finally got around to hooking it up to another computer to
> diagnose it. It still will not print using the regular Centronics
> parallel cable but I got it to be recognized using a USB to parallel
> cable. I can get it to do cleaning cycles and about 4 lines of a printer
> test page before it stops. I'm not sure what to make of this. I know
> it's an old printer but I still have several cartridges for it that I'd
> like to use if possible. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
That will do it! cuz Epson printers have print-head built into printer.
If you don't print for long period of time the ink will dried and that
would be the end of its life.
Joel,
As much as you may not like Epson printers, your statement is very
rarely accurate in regard to the printer being at the end of its life
just because it has sat a while. The 600 uses dye inks which are water
soluble. Although it may take some time for the head ink to dissolve,
it can be done, and I have done so many times on older neglected
printers, using home made cleaning cartridges.
To the original poster, if you email me, I will send you a free cleaning
manual for your printer with lots of suggestions to get it printing
properly again. The manual does not deal with driver or connection
issues, if that is the problem, but it does deal with head clogs and
other related problems.
If you would like a copy, email me at the address below and indicate the
type of Epson printer you have and the problem.
e-printerhelp(at)mvps(dot)org
(at) = @
(dot) = .
Art
If you are interested in issues surrounding e-waste,
I invite you to enter the discussion at my blog:
Joel wrote:
> TJ <TJ@noneofyour.business> wrote:
>
>> Al wrote:
>>> On Oct 18, 7:31 pm, "Dale Allen"
>>> <fokker671@don't.send.me.spam1.excite.com> wrote:
>>>> I have an old Epson Stylus 600 printer that was hooked up to my daughter's
>>>> computer. This spring it suddenly just quit printing. This weekend I finally
>>>> got around to hooking it up to another computer to diagnose it. It still
>>>> will not print using the regular Centronics parallel cable but I got it to
>>>> be recognized using a USB to parallel cable. I can get it to do cleaning
>>>> cycles and about 4 lines of a printer test page before it stops. I'm not
>>>> sure what to make of this. I know it's an old printer but I still have
>>>> several cartridges for it that I'd like to use if possible. Any ideas?
>>>> Thanks in advance.
>>> I think it's just an ink problem. The heads are clogged. Many posts
>>> here have addressed that problem. By the way, those old carts you have
>>> may be dried up even if still apparently wrapped tightly in foil. I
>>> have pitched several 600 and 650s that I was given when the owners
>>> became tired of the cloggs.
>> The OP doesn't specifically say whether "quit printing" means that the
>> printer tries to print and nothing gets to the page, or if it just sits
>> there. However, his attempts at diagnosis imply it just sits there with
>> a Centronics cable, but will at least communicate using the converter cable.
>>
>> But you're right about those carts, and the printer. I bought one of
>> those at a garage sale for $5 several years ago. Most foolish $5 I ever
>> spent. It was clogged, but I managed to get it open and working. For a
>> few days. In the year that I stubbornly used it, I never did get it
>> completely unclogged, and it would fully clog if I didn't print
>> something at least once a week. Eventually, I went back to HP.
>>
>> TJ
>
> That will do it! cuz Epson printers have print-head built into printer.
> If you don't print for long period of time the ink will dried and that would
> be the end of its life.
Epson Stylus Color 600 Advice 
Linear Mode
