We have four Slot loading iMacs all running OS9 on our network. There is a problem of the 850Ne dropping out of the Chooser. So the error "No printer selected" appears often. All four iMacs use the Multiple User interface since the computers are in a classroom environment. You can select the printer from the chooser and it prints fine but the next time you log out then log in the computers do not "see" the printer again. I have downloaded and installed the firmware update for the Ethernet card in the 850, the problem still remains. Has anyone heard of other users with this problem? If so were they able to find a work around or a fix? Any help is greatly appreciated!

[This message has been edited by SteveTech (edited 03-20-2000).]

Originally posted by SteveTech:
We have four Slot loading iMacs all running OS9 on our network. There is a problem of the 850Ne dropping out of the Chooser. So the error "No printer selected" appears often. All four iMacs use the Multiple User interface since the computers are in a classroom environment. You can select the printer from the chooser and it prints fine but the next time you log out then log in the computers do not "see" the printer again. I have downloaded and installed the firmware update for the Ethernet card in the 850, the problem still remains. Has anyone heard of other users with this problem? If so were they able to find a work around or a fix? Any help is greatly appreciated!

[This message has been edited by SteveTech (edited 03-20-2000).]

I have the exact same problem with an 800N. It's quite annoying

I have no idea what happened to my first post (see above), but here it is again...

I had the same problem for a long time, but one I installed the version of the drivers on Epson's web site, then the problem seems to have gone away. Of course, these drivers have bugs of their own, but are far less severe than the printer not appearing in the chooser. Epson has done a lousy job of supporting the 850Ne on the Mac.

topic: 850ne

I have the same problem with my 850ne. For me the problem just started getting "bad" after upgrading all my macs to 9 (I have no idea why this would cause it to get worse, but it did). Previously the chooser drop-outs happened about once a month. I am also still trying to figure it out.

I have the same problem with my 850NE. The problem seems to occur when power to the printer is interrupted, other than by turning it off with the power switch. If I then turn it off and back on, it reappears in the Chooser. Part of my problem is that it is plugged into a GFI circuit that occasionally trips--that's when the printer seems to disappear.

Yes, yes. I have had the same problem with the same printer since we bought it. It just randomly drops off the network, and only a hard power cycle will bring it back. Note that if you re-power the printer and the lights come on, but you don't hear the whirry noises as it primes the cartridges and tests the paper feed roller, then the printer will still be invisible. Physically pull the power cable from the back and then replace it- I find that this kind of power-up wakes it up properly and the printer reappears in my Chooser.

------------------
Nathan Zamprogno,
Manager, Baliset Solutions
baliset@zeta.org.au

Wow, I'm glad I'm not the only one. I thought I was going crazy!

The post at the start of the list is only one small problem. I have 23 (yes, 23)
Epson 850Ne's. The school district I work for purchased them along with iMacs for our fourth grades. What makes me crazy is that Apple recommended these printers. I'm not a huge fan of Epson, but this is what Apple was offering as part of the package.

Again, thanks for the replies to the original post.

Steve

This is not just a Macintosh problem. When this printer drops out of the chooser, it is also invisible to Win 95/98 machines on the same network. Unplugging the printer and plugging it in again has been the only real solution. Now, I leave the printer on all of the time and that has made it more reliable.

As far as the drivers for the Mac being not very well executed, I have had many more problems with the Windows drivers than the Mac drivers. This gives me more ammunition when the Windows loving Mac critics try to tell me how much better the other platform is.

Despite this, it's still a better all around network solution than other companies' products.

As a follow up - Mac Manager 3.1 took care of our Epson 850's falling off our network. We are currently running it along with AppleShareIP 6.3 in one of our a schools. If things look like they are going well we still have seven more schools to implement Mac Manager in with various printers and various problems from earlier versions of Mac Manager.