Epson Maintenance Reset Utility Download
On a TV programme (Watchdog) in the UK this Tuesday was a feature about how Epson UK (and for that matter, EU countries too) were not able to access the utility provided by Epson USA to reset the Waste Ink Counter. The person reporting problems with his Epson printer explained when his printer stopped working - and after discussion with Epson's UK Support - he was told it would cost quite a considerable sum (around £100+) to service his printer - but Epson would offer 20% discount on a new printer. They did not explain that the notice 'Your printer has come to the end of its serviceable life' actually only meant the waste ink pads required replacement. As many regulars to this forum will know, there are plenty of videos on youtube.com (some good, many bad) that show how to fit a waste ink tank on virtually all models of Epson printers. However, just doing that does not remove the wretched message (nor gets the printer working again) until the counter is reset. So, as the USA Epson utility cannot be used by anyone in the UK or EU, how on Earth do people sort out this 'problem' themselves? The USA utility.
Downloadable from epson.com website - cannot be downloaded (nor if sent attached to an e-mail by a USA friend installed) because even where the model of printer is identical, the USA Serial Numbers are different - so as the serial has to be entered during installation - the installation is aborted if the serial number is not one for a USA model. Known in the trade as 'How to alienate your customers if they don't live in the good ole US of A'. Epson apparentloy did reply to the Watchdog enquiry and (usual cop out) stated they could not comment on what other divisions of Epson did or didn't do. However, there are (thank goodness for the good hackers!) some alternatives. Try a google search for 'reset epson waste ink counter XXXXX' where the XXXXX is the model of your printer - like say 1400 as one example. You will then, for almost every model, be able to get a suitable independent utility BUT of course, you do need to install a waste ink bottle OR (not as satisfactory in the long run and dearer anyway) replace the waste ink pads.
First link is for the 1400 (and many others as you can see in the listing) But I did find of the three download links listed - only the third worked. Also try this link: Hope some of you find this info useful. The Watchdog programme which included the Epson problem was raised in the OPEN forum but although I replied (briefly) there, thought it could be useful to put this info in our Printers Forum. I would suggest you download, like NOW, the utility for your printer(s) as you never know when you might need same nor if it will be still available at some future date. Can I just correct a couple of generalisations on the post above to provide a little more detail as there's a danger here of getting into the 'one size fits all' mindset when that's actually not accurate. The A10IPR which is compatible with the Photo 1400 (in any country where the model is actually the same) is not generally available outside of the USA but can be located. The same utility can reset a number of other older Epson printers including the R1800, R2400, etc.
BUT it will only reset the waste counter back by a proportion of the overall capacity, it does not reset the waste counter to zero (ie: new printer levels). This is also true of other newer IPR utilities (those that truly are only North American centric) so these Epson utilities are not the nirvana that may otherwise have been assumed. As for other printers. In most cases you are reliant on one of three other utilties or types of utility: 1. The good old 'SSC Utility' which is still available for download but hasn't been maintained since the days of the D88 so for old printers (read: 5+ years) still worth hanging on to a copy 2. The varied array of 'Service utilities' or 'Adjustment Programs' that have been released to the general internet in various guises.
Epson Maintenance Reset Utility
Many have protection routines built in such as needing the date putting back, or these have been removed, resulting in the frequent false positive 'Trojan detected' warnings from anti-viruses (explanations at to why ) Note: There are some genuinely infected versions on the internet too, so exercise extreme caution when using these utilities! The WICReset utility, which is effectively a Pay-per-reset tool, is being developed almost as a commercial version of the SSC. Cost is around $10 for a single 'key' (bulk discounts available) which you use to activate a reset but it is actively being developed with newer printer models being added to its compatibility database on a regular basis. Yes you have to pay for something that previously didn't cost, but at least there's a tool! Compared to the £40 - 150 option it's a bargain so the 'free for all' opinion is frankly ill-targetted IMHO.
Oh and there's a Mac OS version as well in the guise of the iWIC which never would have existed any other way so (assuming your OS is sufficiently recent) Mac users can finally benefit without having to grovel to their Windows friends (the ones they like lording it over:-D). As for pad replacement/redirection. There are various kits available with a variety of support levels and/or documentation. Some are downright dangerous with tube diameters that are too small so keep an eye out for 'cheap and cheerful' (and yes I am biased but my opinion is not without merit). Many of the newer Epson desktop printers are also coming out with new replaceable maintenance tanks/pad-holders that really shouldn't cost more than £20 to replace and reset but stocks are usually 6-8 weeks and the service centres appear hard wired to the 'Buy a new one' position or simply resetting without pad replacement so check any services done to ensure pads have indeed been changed (Far too many reports of people being ripped off in this regard). Obviously I have a vested interest given my Printer Potty kits but in all seriousness there is very little reason for anyone to have to replace their printer on the basis of a nappy and a bit of printer memory.
It's like chucking the baby out with the bath water. Questions, criticisms, feedback? Fire away but I hope the above helps clarify a few further points on the topic. Cheers, Martin. Sandy wrote: Any evidence of their being a simlar issue with the more expensive Epson printers eg 3800 and above?
Nb Some/all have a replaceable maintenance cartridge to collect the excess ink. The higher end & Pro inkjets from Epson do indeed have the maintenance cartridge with chips so, unlike desktop models, you don't get the same level of limitation you do with desktop Epsons. If you're minded to, you can purchase chip resetters and/or refillable cartridges with override chips that can act in concert with some physical modification to override the waste cartridge chip and keep it at empty. Frankly, such measures are only really worth considering if you're all in for refillable carts & third party inks OR you're hitting the 'replace maintenance cart' point every few months as the chip resetters are quite pricey.