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Problem Solver
Online problem solving
Error indicators
EPSON Status Monitor
Running a printer operation check
If you are connecting via the USB interface and are having difficulty printing, the problem may be related to your USB connection. Refer to Correcting USB Problems for details.
If your problem is not USB related, troubleshooting printer problems is best handled in two easy steps: first diagnose the problem, then apply likely solutions until the problem is fixed.
The information that you need to diagnose and solve most common problems is provided by online problem solving, the printer's control panel, the EPSON Status Monitor utility, or by running a printer operation check. Refer to the appropriate section below.
If you have a specific problem relating to print quality, a printout problem not related to print quality, or a paper feeding problem, or if the printer does not print at all, refer to the appropriate section in this chapter.
To solve a problem, you may need to cancel printing. For details, see Cancelling Printing.
You can use online problem solving to diagnose and solve most of the problems you may encounter. Refer to the appropriate section below.
The Problem Solver HTML manual provides you with tips to help solve any problems you may encounter when using your printer.
If you encounter a problem, access the Problem Solver in one of the following ways:
Click Start, point to Programs (For Windows Me, 2000, NT 4.0, 98 and 95 users) or All Programs (For Windows XP users) and then to EPSON, then click ESP2100 Problem Solver.
Click Technical Support in the Status Monitor 3 dialog box.
Click Technical Support on the Main menu of the printer software.
If you cannot solve your problem using the Problem Solver, contact Technical Support for assistance by clicking the Technical Support Web Site link in the Problem Solver.
EPSON's Technical Support Web Site provides help with problems that cannot be solved using the troubleshooting information in your printer documentation.
To access Technical Support, insert the CD in the CD-ROM drive and double-click the Technical Support Web Site icon in the EPSON window.
You can identify many common printer problems using the lights on your printer's control panel. If your printer stops working and the lights are on or flashing, use the following table of panel light patterns to diagnose the problem, then follow the recommended corrective measures.
Lights |
Problem and Solution |
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Paper out |
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No media is loaded in the printer. |
If printing on sheets of paper:
If printing on roll paper:
If printing on a CD-R: |
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Paper gap |
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Loaded paper is too thick or the adjust lever is not in the appropriate position. |
Set the adjust lever to the appropriate position for the thickness of the paper, then press the paper button. |
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Paper jam |
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Paper is jammed in the printer. |
If printing on sheets of paper:
If printing on roll paper: |
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Cutter error |
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The automatic roll paper cutter could not cut the roll paper correctly. |
Remove the roll paper, then reload it into the roll paper feeder. |
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Adjust lever position error |
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The adjust lever is set to the position. |
Set the adjust lever to the appropriate position for the loaded paper or CD-R. |
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The adjust lever is set to the position when printing on paper, or is not set to the position when printing on a CD-R. |
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Ink low |
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The ink cartridge is nearly empty. |
Obtain a replacement photo black (T0341), cyan (T0342), magenta (T0343), yellow (T0344), light cyan (T0345), light magenta (T0346), light black (T0347), or matte black (T0348) ink cartridge. To determine which cartridge is nearly empty, check the flashing ink light that corresponds to the ink cartridge, or check the ink level using EPSON Status Monitor 3 (Windows) or EPSON StatusMonitor (Macintosh). |
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Ink color error |
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During printing, the ink cartridge furthest to the left was replaced with an ink cartridge of a different color. |
Remove the ink cartridge and install an ink cartridge that matches the color of the one originally installed. After doing so, the printer will automatically resume printing. |
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Ink out |
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The ink cartridge is empty or not installed. |
Replace the black (T0341), cyan (T0342), magenta (T0343), yellow (T0344), light cyan (T0345), light magenta (T0346), light black (T0347), or matte black (T0348) ink cartridge with a new one. If the ink end error occurs after the print head moves to its home position, the ink cartridge may not be installed properly. Reinstall the ink cartridge until it clicks into place. See Replacing an Empty Ink Cartridge for details. |
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Wrong cartridge |
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The currently installed ink cartridge is not compatible with the printer. |
Replace the incompatible cartridge using the appropriate black (T0341), cyan (T0342), magenta (T0343), yellow (T0344), light cyan (T0345), light magenta (T0346), light black (T0347), or matte black (T0348) ink cartridge. See Replacing an Empty Ink Cartridge for details. |
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Incorrectly installed ink cartridge |
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The ink cartridge is not installed correctly. |
If the print head is at the home position, press the ink button to move the print head to the ink cartridge replacement position. Remove and reinsert the ink cartridge. Then continue with ink cartridge installation. If the print head is at the ink cartridge replacement position, remove and reinsert the ink cartridge. Then continue with ink cartridge installation. |
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Cutter position error |
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The automatic roll paper cutter did not return to the appropriate position. |
Turn off the printer, then turn the printer back on. If the error does not clear, contact your dealer. |
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Carriage error |
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The print head carriage is obstructed by jammed paper or other foreign material and cannot return to the home position. |
Turn off the printer. Open the printer cover and remove any paper or other obstructions from the paper path by hand. Then, turn the printer back on. If the error does not clear, contact your dealer. |
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Unknown printer error |
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An unknown printer error has occurred. |
Turn off the printer and contact your dealer. |
The EPSON Status Monitor utility provides status messages and a graphic display showing the current status of the printer.
If a problem occurs while printing, an error message appears in the Progress Meter window.
When the ink is out, click the How To button in the EPSON Status Monitor or Progress Meter window and EPSON Status Monitor will lead you step-by-step through the cartridge replacement procedure.
If you are unable to determine the source of the problem, performing a printer operation check can help you determine whether the problem comes from the printer or the computer.
To print a printer operation check page, follow these steps.
Make sure both the printer and computer are turned off. |
Disconnect the cable from the printer's interface connector. |
If you use the parallel interface, unlock the wire clips on both sides of the interface connector and remove the ground connector, if necessary. Then, disconnect the cable from the printer's interface connector.
Make sure that A4 or Letter size paper is loaded in the sheet feeder. |
Hold down the paper button and press the power button to turn on the printer. Then, release only the power button. When the printer starts the operation check, release the paper button. |
The printer prints an operation check page which includes the version of your printer's ROM, the ink counter code, and a nozzle check pattern.
Compare the quality of the printed check page with the sample shown below. If there are no print quality problems, the printer itself is fine and the problem probably lies with the printer software settings, the application settings, the interface cable (be sure to use a shielded cable), or the computer itself.
If the check page does not print satisfactorily, there is a problem with the printer. For example, if bands appear in the check pattern as shown below, this could mean a clogged ink nozzle or a misaligned print head.
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Version 1.20E, Copyright © 2004, SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION |