[TheJoshu]

I've had an Epson STYLUS 600 since Aug. '98, and around last September it stopped working - it no longer prints black and white. So, it's been sitting in the corner for months now. Obviously, it's still under warranty until this coming August, but I don't have the receipt! So I want to know if there's anything I can do, short of taking it back for repairs. Anyone have this problem? Right now I'm using an Epson STYLUS Color II connected through a serial/usb adapter to my new iMac DV/SE... pitiful, eh?

Should I just get a new Epson 760 and give it up for lost?

I was given an Epson 400 because it wouldn't print and it was simply a matter of the print heads being clogged. Run the head cleaning utility several times, then let it sit for a while and check it. Do this several times over a 24 to 48 hour period and it should clean it out. This clog is in the printer, not the cartridge (though your cartridge may have dried up so you might want to replace it before you do the head cleaning). I had spoken to Epson a while back about a clogged print head and was told that after running the cleaning utility, some of the ink stays on the print heads and the solvent in the residue of ink desolves the clog.
As far as the warranty, did you send in your registration card? Possibly this would help your case. If cleaning the print heads doesn't work a call to Epson may help (if you haven't do it yet - it's worth a try - I've found them to be cooperative)

Forgot this: Are you using a non-Epson cartridge? I have found that sometimes these inks dry in the printheads much more frequently than the Epson inks. (Especially the refill-it-yourself stuff!) I would use the same brand of cartridge to clear the blockage that caused it as the solvents may vary from ink to ink.

Here's a tip that I use on our 50 Epson 600's that are total junk. Take an eye-dropper and a bottle of 99% Iso-propyl rubbing alcohol. Remove the cartridges and take the eye dropper and drop about 10 drops of alcohol right on the spouts that poke up into the ink carts. Replace the carts, and clean about 5 times. This trick should loosen ANY clogged ink in these printers.

Also, Epson branded or not, we've had problems with this model from day one. It doesn't matter what brand cart you use on them, they're total crap.

I had a similar problem with my Stylus after I had used a non Epson cartridge. It took an entire replacement cartridges' worth of ink using the cleaning utility to get the printer to print correctely, but it did. Needless to say I now only use Epson cartridges. Good luck.

[Zwilnik]

Generally if you ask the shop you bought it from, they should be able to supply you with a duplicate receipt.

[TheJoshu]

Anyone know if Epson models in general are crappy, or just the 600? When I called tech support many moons ago they held the line while I used the printer's clean ink jet command over and over again, to no avail. I'm thinking about switching to a printer from one of those companies with renewed Mac support, such as HP... but then again the 5700i looks enticing. I'll use the ispropyl alcohol suggestion and get back to you, for the convenience of others.

I am using an Epson cartridge.

I too fell prey to the Stylus Color 600. I have the same problem of clogging, but with my color cartridge. It's a fairly new cartridge (the software thinks it's full!), but no color prints. Per Epson's website's suggestion, I cleaned the heads 6 times in a row and it still doesn't work.

Curious: I would just replace the cartridge, but the printer won't let you take it out until IT THINKS the cartridge is empty.

Piece of crap. The drivers suck too. Buy an HP!!

[TheJoshu]

I get past that the evil way (after the printer broke!) - I pull the plug when it's either printing or cleaning the cartridge, and the cartridge holder is exposed.. then I make the switch and plug it back in. Surprise, surprise! It still doesn't work with a new cartridge... I think that rather than going to CostCo, getting an itemized receipt, mailing it to Epson, then going to drop it off at a repair place, then getting it back and still having a year and a half old printer... my time is worth more than that. I'll do all that eventually, and for now buy a 5700i... Who needs color? Then when it comes back, eventually, I'll have two printers... one for the vast majority of my work, and should I ever need color, my trusty, crappy old 600 will be there for me.

[TheJoshu]

Or I can sell it to eBay, or donate it to my local junkyard... anyone want a broken, but fixable Stylus 600?!

Am I the only one who had a 600 and had good luck? I have used it in my business to print rush business cards and cheap color flyers for my customers (I have a small printing shop) Over the three year that I had it, the 600 made me thousands of dollars in printing these small jobs. Except for the problems with the self refill inks, I have had few clogs and the ones I had were cleared by a simple cleaning. - Maybe it is because I used it so much - every day and a lot! (It has been retired now because the belt the print head rides on slips and I feel it deserved a decent burial!)
To Greg - I can't remember now how, but I was able to change cartridges even if the computer said there was ink in it - I think I just used the same steps you would to change an empty one.

Oh and to TheJoshu - where are you located? If you are truly gong to junk the machine and the shippling isn't a killer - I'll take it off your hands.

Consider yourself lucky. I was stupid enough to buy a Stylus 660. Turns out the free USB adapter Epson offers is not included in the box. You have to mail away for it and wait 6-8 weeks (and we know how accurate these waiting periods are). So I now have an expensive paperweight for the next 8-12 weeks. Epson "customer support" did nothing of the kind. Bad move on the CS rep's part. I work for the school district and influence their purchasing decisions. Epson just lost a sale of over 60 printers. I'm pushing HP. But what do they care? Epson's a big company. So like Lily Tomlin said in the mock phone company ad: "We don't care. We don't have to."