S2C Forum Archives
Main Section => Workshop Wisdom => 602's Musings => Topic started by: w3526602 on May 04, 2023, 07:35:28 AM
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Hi,
I have acquired the fancy braided lead to connect my printer to my lap top.
Question ... does this lead replace the original lead ... OR ... does it run in parallel to the original lead? I have sufficient ports in the PC for either, or both, options, but there were no instructions with the new lead.
603
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If it is a USB cable then there will only be one socket on the printer.
A normal printer will only have two cables, one from the 240v power supply and one USB cable. That should be all that is needed.
Craig.
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Hi Craig,
Thanks for reply.
OK, I replaced the original skinny cable with the magnificent braided cable. Nothing happened, apart from a message that it was out of ink.
I told Barbara order me some new ink ... and PREMIUM cartridges arrive .... much prettier and more substantial that the originals. The originals were labelled as CANON PG-545 and PG-546,
while the new replacements are labelled 545XL and 546XL. I don't think the replacements are going to fit, without a club hammer. So yes ... the printer IS out of ink.
Personally, I'd rather cut my losses, and just buy another new printer, but where from .... Curry's (shop in MK) or AMAZON (Website) ... and the same make and model? I don't knowective
In the meantime, my right hand has forgotten how to drive a pen in longhand (though my printing is still up to drawing office standards).
602
Doh! PS ... I have just noticed another CANON PIXMA MG25505 on my other desk, not plugged into anything, which looks brand new. But the ports, in the back, for the ink cartridges are completely different (in that I can't find them).
Gibbo, if you are passing, I'd be grateful if you could call in, and slap some sense into me. I. not at home about lunch times, Tuesdays thru Fridays.
I'll try to post photos of both printers by tomorrow morning.
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602,
Sadly - IMHO - printer connectivity is still in the Stone Age as far as I’m concerned. I’m reasonably pretty good with PC stuff but setting up a new printer has me pulling out what little hair I have left. Even then when I’ve managed to get it talking to the PC a power outage usually needs me to reset the wireless link which is a PITA.
That doesn’t really help youI’m afraid, are there any local companies who could help? A quick Google came up with this outfit - there re others that offer similar services but these say home visits.
https://www.counter-act.co.uk/support-for-home-computers
Alchad
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Hi Craig,
Thanks for reply.
OK, I replaced the original skinny cable with the magnificent braided cable. Nothing happened, apart from a message that it was out of ink.
I told Barbara order me some new ink ... and PREMIUM cartridges arrive .... much prettier and more substantial that the originals. The originals were labelled as CANON PG-545 and PG-546,
while the new replacements are labelled 545XL and 546XL. I don't think the replacements are going to fit, without a club hammer. So yes ... the printer IS out of ink.
Personally, I'd rather cut my losses, and just buy another new printer, but where from .... Curry's (shop in MK) or AMAZON (Website) ... and the same make and model? I don't knowective
In the meantime, my right hand has forgotten how to drive a pen in longhand (though my printing is still up to drawing office standards).
602
Doh! PS ... I have just noticed another CANON PIXMA MG25505 on my other desk, not plugged into anything, which looks brand new. But the ports, in the back, for the ink cartridges are completely different (in that I can't find them).
Gibbo, if you are passing, I'd be grateful if you could call in, and slap some sense into me. I. not at home about lunch times, Tuesdays thru Fridays.
I'll try to post photos of both printers by tomorrow morning.
It is tempting to buy a new printer, but you may still have connection issues. New printers are supplied with minimal ink so you may be out of ink once again before you know it.
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Hi Shed,
I can't argue with you philosophy (Two dead printers), but as it stands, it's costing me £40 each week in lost Attendance Allowance. My options seem to be ...
PRINT (by hand) my letters to Social Services.
Get Barbara to take my dictation, in longhand.
"Grid my Lions", and launch a physical assault on Social Services Offices, which may not be possible if I have to walk more than a few yards.
My African (I think) wolverine (in Carer's Uniform) no longer visits me. The Carers who do still visit are angels (and beautiful), but not what I need for this particular task.
Barbara and the Wolverine once went "eyeball to eyeball", (with the other Carers taking cover) but are now best friends.
Barbara tells me that she fell in love with me when I picked her up, in the middle of Chelsea, carried her back to the car, and threw her in. But that was then.
602
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A loverly tale 602, but you may get arrested for that these days ! 😁
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Sadly - IMHO - printer connectivity is still in the Stone Age as far as I’m concerned.
Really? I have found it to be trivially straightforward. I have a networked setup, with the printer being wired onto the ethernet network and set up with a static IP address.
Whenever I power up a machine on the same network, it automatically discovers the printer and installs the right drivers.
Perhaps it's a perk of Linux, I don't know.
Chris.
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Really? I have found it to be trivially straightforward. I have a networked setup, with the printer being wired onto the ethernet network and set up with a static IP address.
Whenever I power up a machine on the same network, it automatically discovers the printer and installs the right drivers.
Perhaps it's a perk of Linux, I don't know.
Chris.
Chris, probably wasn’t as clear as I should have been, I was referring to the initial software setting up of the printer to get it to talk to my Windows PC, numerous software apps which presumably offer me options I may or may not need and then in the case of my wireless printer other hoops to jump through, it’s not what I would call ‘plug and play” although whether the fault is Epson or Windows I don’t know. However ‘trivially straightforward’ is perhaps subjective depending on your IT skills - and If you’re a Linux user I suspect you’re a lot more IT savvy than most?
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Ah I see. Yes, most PC equipment is bundled with huge amounts of 'bloatware' these days, none of it being required. Unless you want to be bombarded with 'touch your customer' e-mails and popups.
Being a Linux user, I can't use any of it, which doesn't seem to be to my detriment!
I guess it depends on the hardware, but my printer could be set up via the control panel, and plugged in to the Ethernet switch. Job done.
Chris.
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I really don't think 602 is a potential Linux user :shakeinghead
We don't know the age or iteration of his PC and operating system, or if the printer is current.
Previous posts on this and other computing problems suggest his kit is not current.
It needs a site visit - I doubt this can be sorted out over the forum.
My advice would be to purchase a modern laserjet printer and scanner.
Do you really need colour ???
How many pages are you printing per day/week ?
For the very few colour photo quality images I need, I use an online service like Moonpig :first
Much, much cheaper than trying to keep a cloud ink jet working.
In between printing ink cartridges dry out and the jets gum up :shakeinghead
They need regular use.
A laserjet tonner cartridge last ages, you can change in seconds.
They tend to come with a USB cable - you plug in and switch on.
All the drivers these days are instantly downloaded from the internet and in a few moments you are up and printing.
I'm a happy HP user - never had any problems :first
But, as I say, a site visit is the only way to get 602 printing again.
:geek
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I think Wittsend is spot on - a kind soul in the MK region is needed.
Alternatively, my impression is that you're trying to print a letter? to send to Social Services. If you can type a letter on your PC, can you not email it to them??
Alchad
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^^^^ Good point ^^^^
Not just Social Services - almost everyone now uses email correspondence.
Quicker, cheaper and you are not reliant on whether the Post Office are on strike or not.
If it's a long message - type it out into Word or Open Office to check the content.
Then copy and paste into your email to them.
Using email means you can file messages away on your computer, and best of all - in the cloud, so they are always to hand and not stuffed behind the clock on the mantelpiece or in the back of a drawer.
:RHD
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Hi All,
Thanks for your sensible advice ... but when have I ever been sensible?
Some of you may have been noticed my absence of several days ... UNABLE TO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET.
Today, my builders arrived to build my garden pond ...8ft x 5ft x 16ins deep, using 8" high x 4" wide timbers. It seems adequate for my needs. All done and dusted, and filled with water, now I have to wait for it to mature. Barbara tells me its my birthday prezzy ... I don't think she asked for an estimate. Remind me to check my water bill, to see the cost per cubic foot.
The second builder in the pecking order took a shufti at my ailing PC, and diagnosed that I had pressed the AIRCRAFT BUTTON, which blocks access to the Internet. (dashed clever these orientals). Can anybody tell me which button he was referring to?
So, I'm back on-line, but have not yet checked to see if my printer is behaving itself. Watch this space!
602
PS. The goldfish, in the pond at our last house, were bought when they were 2" long, and grew to about 6" ... and then started to disappear, one at a time. ??? Cats? Herons? Then one day, I caught Ki, our German Shepherd, making a meal of one. Ki was too thick to catch a cold. Wilkie (JRT) caught a pigeon in mid-air. ... Possible makings of a Frizbee Hound?
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....... took a shufti at my ailing PC, and diagnosed that I had pressed the AIRCRAFT BUTTON, which blocks access to the Internet. Can anybody tell me which button he was referring to? .....
Hi 602,
There is a `Flight Mode`on your mobile phone, and as you say it stops all incoming & outgoing communications. But I`ve never heard of this mode being available on a PC :cheers
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If you click on the WiFi symbol bottom right of the screen it gives you a list of WiFi networks and 3 buttons, the middle one is Flight mode. Win10 at least
Paul
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^^^^ well well, that's another thing I`ve learnt today :tiphat
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Hi 602,
There is a `Flight Mode`on your mobile phone, and as you say it stops all incoming & outgoing communications. But I`ve never heard of this mode being available on a PC :cheers
I did have a keyboard at one point with a similar button. The keyboard was quite large with a row of 'shortcut' buttons along the top. One was a 'privacy' button which did block internet access.
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If it's a long message - type it out into Word or Open Office to check the content.
Then copy and paste into your email to them.
Hi,
The application form for ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE is interactive (or whatever the word is). I'm expected to key direct into the form on my screen. As my text fills the available box, the text gets smaller in order to fit. I don't know how small the text can become before the available space is full. ???
Very clever, but not exactly user friendly for us "Wrinklies". I want to tell them, for instance, that my normal gait involves moving my left foot forward about six inches, then moving my right foot to alongside it. Repeat. A few weeks ago, I lost my balance in the bedroom, and needed to grab some furniture ... only I had a cup of red hot coffee in each hand. I don't know how I didn't spill both cups. Yes, we have a pre-war hostess trolley, courtesy of Barbara's parents, but our bungalow is not trolley friendly. Steps in excess of 3" high are a major obstacle, worse going down than up, and I like something to hang onto. Social Services provided a ramp to enable Barbara to exit via the front door step. Their first attempt was 1:5.
Barbara's power-chair grounded it's little anti-tip wheels. Second attempt was 1:8, which was within the capabilities of the power-chair, but I was reluctant to use it ... aluminium tread plate about 3mm thick, with about 3" along both edges folded up at 90*. I was nervous about falling, and landing with my ribs hitting the "knife edges". Our builder removed the front door frame, moved it out, and dropped it down the front of the door step, then raised the "brick laid" drive, giving a gradient that is scarcely noticable. This job was combined with brick paving most of the front garden, and I have no way of splitting his £8,000 bill between the two projects. The fiasco of getting Barbara into our 60" Adjustamatic bed ,on her discharge from hospital is worth a mail on its own. (Watch this space). The Social Services were unable to get her into bed with the "engine hoist" type crane. That crane has been sitting in our lounge/diner ever since, and Barbara has been confined to her bed, non-stop, for over a year. I'm planning to visit Care Co in MK, to seek their advice on hanging Barbara from rails nailed to the ceiling. (watch DIY SOS on morning TV, to see what I'm talking about).
Doh Barbara has just called to say there is an "adult" program starting on TV, so I'll continue this in the morning. :shakeinghead
602
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Hi,
To continue ....
A bit over a year ago, Barbara fell, and as normal she was unable to get vertical again, so she called for an ambulance crew and their pneumatic cushion. THREE HOUR WAIT. So she called the Fire Brigade. The Brigade got her back into bed, but the Crew Chief got quite snotty. He called for an ambulance, which arrived within minutes, and took her to A&E. She spent a month in hospital, presumably to give time to arrange things for her discharge.
The arrangements involved splitting our nearly new Adjustamatic 1500mm double bed in half, giving us two 750mm singles. 750mm is considered a "child's" bed, and inadequate for my circa 100kg body mass. Barbara's half was moved into the study, and replaced with a 1000mm hospital bed (all singing, all dancing, circa £900 on Ebay).
A very posh "engine" crane was delivered (also circa £900 on Ebay), which is where the fun started. The Adjustamatic ran on little castors (normal) giving about 2" clearance between bed and floor. The crane's wheels are at least 3" dia, maybe 4", and too big to go under the bed. Luckily, this was realised before Barbara was discharged.
The solution was to split our nearly new (£3,000?) Adjustamatic 1500mm double bed in half, and dump Barbara's half in the study. It was replaced with a metre wide hospital bed (all singing, all dancing). That left a 750mm wide bit of Adjustamatic bed, scarcely wide enough for my 100kg body mass. We hit our savings for £750ish, to buy me a 1000mm "nearly" hospital bed ... both mattress ends lift, but the main chassis doesn't lift. With hind-sight, we should have spent another £150, and got a "proper" hospital bed.
Problem! When one end of my bed is lifted, Wilkie can crawl over the frame of MY bed, into the "cave", but seems unable to work out how to get out again. Doh!
All done and dusted, Barbara was delivered home, and into bed. The Social Service's Care Staff tried to lift her out of bed with the crane. STOP!
I have been unable to ascertain whether Barbara was just terrified by the shaking crane not rolling easily over the thick pile carpet, or whether the "under arm" harness was not suitable for her lack of a right shoulder? I keep forgetting my plans to visit MK's branch of Care Co, to investigate solutions, including fitting ceiling rails, so I can whisk her around the house bungalow (bought specially for the occasion). The thick pile carpet (laid by the original lady owner, when the bungalow was new, in 1984) has now been replaced by Parquet flooring throughout.
Disability Facility Grants are NOT MEANS TESTED, if under £1,000, and you can go back for more. £1,000 should cover short stretches of ceiling rail (one at a time)... bed to power chair, power chair to WC, power chair to arm chair, etc.
Be aware that Social Service's Means Testing can include them demanding that you use Equity Release to finance any house alterations needed. They can also take into account any money spent with the intention of reducing your assets. The residents living in one particularly notorius street, in one of our villages lived with a double finance system. Local Money, and, Westminster Money. They had no desire to be affluent. Who can blame them?
602
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Flight mode is on most laptops as well as phones . Strangely it is on my desktop pc as well (just checked) no idea why it is but definitely an option on mine so could be there on 602’s I guess.
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If you click on the WiFi symbol bottom right of the screen it gives you a list of WiFi networks and 3 buttons, the middle one is Flight mode. Win10 at least
Paul
I went looking for the button bottom right and found a Windows Defender Warning.
It said 'potentially unwanted Ap' found'. Unfortunately it did not say what Ap or why ???
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so could be there on 602’s I guess.
Hi Dog Dave,
I regret that I'm flying a lap-top. I say regret, as I found life easier on my original "gifted" desk-top .... but I think I was on W8, then, if not W7.
(The "stick" on a Tiger Moth, flying a couple of circuits round Croydon Aerodrome, circa 1955, helmet and goggles, sitting on a parachute, was much easier than driving a PC today. But technology then, was on a par with my personal abilities. :cheers )
602
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Hi,
Returning to my printer, a Canon MG2505, my second. Same problem, although I got on with it well ... until it started to click happily, and eject the UN-printed page.
The thought has crossed my mind (tell me if I'm wrong) that the printer does not use a dip-stick to measure the remaining ink, but keeps a tally of how much ink was consumed since the ink cartridge was last replaced (or in my case, since the initially supplied cartridge was first inserted).
But the cartridges that come with the printers are reputed to contain "short measure".
My question is ... "Does my printer know the the first cartridges are going to run out earlier than expected?
Perhaps I should print several sheets of A4 paper in SOLID BLACK? It will of course, produce blank pages, which is what I'm getting.
Barbara (Master of the Purse ... her pension is bigger than mine) ordered new ink, but went for the option, despite my pleas.
The cartridges were advertised as being suitable for my printer, but are substantially larger.
The BLACK cartridges that came with the machine were CANON CL-546(Fine) COLOUR and
CANON PG-546 (Fine) BLACK. Both made in Japan.
The UNBRANDED replacements are 546XL COLOUR, and 545XL BLACK. Both labelled as Remanufactured Ink Cartridges, and made in China.
My options seem to be to drive down to Curries in Milton Keynes, to show them my range of cartridges, and ask their advice. Not their fault, so either option is going to cost me.
Or should I go straight in, and buy another new CANON, and forget the cartridges, for the time being. My decision may rest on the prices for both the printer with some ink, or the ink alone, or both.
I am beginning to wonder if it is (all?) manufacturers policy to unload their "inspection rejects" onto the "Independent Traders". ???
602
PS. I sometimes wonder if Super Market "home deliveries" contain a large proportion of "Best Before" items.
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Printer ink is the most expensive liquid on the planet :shakeinghead
It's almost like they give the printers away free, because they know they are going to make millions on the ink :thud
Rather than keep buying stuff you don't know if it will work - go down to PC World in MK and ask what they advise.
This will be cheaper (and quicker) for you in the long run.
:RHD
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- go down to PC World in MK and ask what they advise.
Hi Alan,
I will accept that as sound advice.
I didn't know there was a PC WORLD in MK. I tend to keep out of towns, as walking hurts. I even take the car to visit my "Political Consultant" who lives at No.66. I live at No.71. But if "push comes to shove". I can recruit my "dog walking" grandson. That would mean driving to my daughter's house in Bletchley, then take a taxi into town ... £5 each way. (My daughter has an account the local taxi firm).
When I had to visit hospital, to have my retina photographed, my daughter recruited a Bank Manager colleague, to take a days leave, to drive me into the hospital, and push my wheel chair from the car park to the Eye Clinic, about 100 yards. The local taxis have a minimum fare, for wheelchairs .... £40. (Presumably they aim at "Airport Jobs"). Don't grow old, it not only hurts, its inconvenient and expensive.
Whatever, you have suggested a plan of action. I doubt that my Financial Adviser (her pension is bigger than mine, and I've been a "kept man" since 1985), will object. I am joking ... I think.
602
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John, stop faffing with your printer and go and look at the Moskvitch van that is for sale on eBay
Peter
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Hi Peter,
Moskvich van? (even the factory were uncertain how to spell their name ... I've seen both spellings in their publications)
I bought a brand new Moskvich van (circa £600, cheapest vehicle on four wheels), in 1971, and certainly not the slowest ... cruising at 70mph on the M4, with plenty in reserve ... with a brand new 12ft Alpine caravan on the hook.
Barbara asked if she could have a go, so I pulled into the Aust Services, close to the Severn Bridge, and we swapped seats. As we approached London, I could see her, out of the corner of my eye, but I ignored her ... and she was too proud to ask. She parked up outside my parent's house in West Croydon, having enjoyed the Saturday morning traffic in Wandsworth, Clapham, Balham, Tooting, and Mitcham.
I reckon a Moskvitch engine (huge aluminium lump. BMW clone?) would look lovely under a Series bonnet. Unfortunately, my plans are to turn my pathetic (brick built, with high 45* tiled roof, sloping the wrong way, but only 8ft wide inside) garage into a bathroom extension. Barbara seemed to accept my suggestion that we need a WAV. Following our clutch fiasco, I want no further dealings with the main dealer for her car. Right or wrong, I did not appreciate the Sprog in Reception telling me that I don't know how to drive. I do not "ride" the cluch pedal, and I do not have to slip the clutch to spin the front tyres when accelerating. (OK, that would be in first gear, and when exiting a roundabout, at low speed. I hate "tangental" roundabouts.)
602.
PS. Barbara has NOT been out of bed, at alll, for over a year.
LV eventually accepted that the Registered Keeper does not need to be the main/only driver. That was after I told them about the irate woman who wrote to DVLC, in 1974, complaining we had "given" her car to her chauffeur.
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I can remember Tony Lanfranchi racing a Moskvich in the 1960's. He always won his class and survived despite the brakes which were known to be appalling.
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despite the brakes which were known to be appalling.
Hi AD,
Wrong! Moskvich brakes were extremely powerful ... TOO powerful. You could always recognise a new Moskvich driver by the way they approached traffic lights in a series of short skids.
Moskvitch brakes used a very simple type of self adjustment, but were prone to un-adjusting themselves. It required pressure to readjust whichever wheel had unadjusted, by which time the brakes thar were still working had locked up one or more wheels.
Later legislation (Type Approval) prevented Moskvich from being imported. A shame, as the self-adjusting brake design, was very simple, and presumably cheap to manufacture. It would be easy to convert Series brakes to such a system, without removing the wheel cylinders, and at minimal cost. Its a pity that the manufacturers did not put some effort into overcoming the problem ... but disc brakes became the norm ... at a price.
602