|
Post by Warren Schroeder on Apr 22, 2014 17:42:43 GMT
All,
New wireless printer won't work well. The printer's internal firmware software was out of date. You can download the new firmware and activate it, but if anything goes wrong during the update, the printer might get fried, and it might not be covered by warranty.
I'm thinking manufacturers sell a bunch of up-to-date printers to a warehouse like Office Depot, and they sit in storage for months or years till they're bought. The warehouse can't unbox each printer to update firmware for buyers because that makes them unsellable as "new." So you come along and scoop up a new printer at a great price but things aren't happening. Frustration is building, desperation sets in, screaming is inevitable. If you're lucky, you figure out how to update firmware correctly and save the day.
Anyway, I'm thinking of buying any new equipment - that uses firmware - directly from the manufacturer, getting the manufactured date, and comparing it to the date of the latest firmware, which is listed by the manufacturer online, in order to get an up-to-date machine and avoid mugshots.
|
|
|
Post by Debi A on Apr 22, 2014 19:49:36 GMT
I see what you're saying, Warren, but I've never had that problem. Then again, I don't think I've ever needed to update firmware on a printer. I've had to update drivers, but that's on the computer's end, not the printer's. Does this kind of thing happen with particular brands? I've only ever bought HP and Epson. And, of course, I use a Mac. Maybe that's the secret
|
|
|
Post by Warren Schroeder on Apr 22, 2014 21:59:16 GMT
I've only had to do this twice in 25 years, Debi. Don't know if it's a brand problem, though. The printer is wireless and the manual wanted a wired connection from PC to printer for upgrading the firmware. Phone support says wireless is okay, but I chose wired. You just have to uninstall the wireless driver from the PC and reinstall the driver as a wired connection. Then you download and run the firmware update using a USB cord to the PC -- piece of cake.
|
|
|
Post by Debi A on Apr 22, 2014 23:13:49 GMT
I have heard of that wired/wireless issue before, Warren. Glad I've never had to deal with it!
|
|
|
Post by Warren Schroeder on Apr 25, 2014 0:11:31 GMT
Hope it's another 25 years before I have to deal with it too!
|
|