HELP! - Printer colour (I'm English) problem.

[zappaDPJ]

In 30+ years I've yet to encounter a problem on a PC that I can't solve but this one is driving me insane and I can't waste any more time on it.

The problem is simple; all my printers are missing colours when printing from one particular PC.

If I attach any of the printers to another PC everything is as it should be. If I attach any of the printers to this one particular PC it appear not to use the black or magenta cartridge regardless of what application I use to print.

I've tried printing using WiFi and a direct connection. I've tried deleting and reinstalling all of the printer drivers. I've even tried printing with nothing but a generic Windows 10 driver.

I imagine a total reinstall of Windows 10 will fix the issue but that's not going to happen. Any ideas?

 

[we_are_borg]

It could be the print driver that is overruling the application if you go to main settings of the printer you should be able to set it to color. At my company i have the issue with a Xerox if i tell in the application color its still b/w. If i then in the application print screen color its still b/w but if i then do more settings i get more option and one tab is to enable color. I would look if it’s deeper in the settings. If its a managed printer (web interface) look there if the pc is excluded from printing color.

 

[zappaDPJ]

I removed all the printer drivers which forced Windows to install a generic driver when I plugged the device into a USB port. Unfortunately the same problem persisted.

 

[Nev_Dull]

Have you checked the colour profile on that computer?

 

[zappaDPJ]

Have you checked the colour profile on that computer?

I think so and I seem to have a lot of them, 50+. However each device/printer appears to be using 'Automatic (Recommended)'.

 

[darnoldy]

If I attach any of the printers to another PC everything is as it should be. If I attach any of the printers to this one particular PC it appear not to use the black or magenta cartridge regardless of what application I use to print.

...Any ideas?

kinda off-the-wall... but:

Are you using the same cable? What kind of cable?

--don

 

[zappaDPJ]

I've tried two USB cables in different ports and WiFi, all with the same result.

 

[doubt]

Are all those printers the same brand?
If they are then try a borrowed different brand.

 

[zappaDPJ]

All made by Epson and your suggestion is something I am looking at because I've had a tin foil hat moment tonight. One of the printers is using none branded ink cartridges. I'm trying to work out if those cartridges are the two colours that are missing. If I get a chance tomorrow I'll post an image of the problem.

 

[we_are_borg]

Did you try the following https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026528/windows-10-reset-or-reinstall

 

[doubt]

One of the printers is using none branded ink cartridges.

Maybe time to replace them with not new cartridges but a new printer which has the full cartridges?
No, I'm not joking.
Those cartridges don't have much ink in them but the printer head is clean doesn't need cleaning and cleaning and ....

Edit:
Checking the price(converted to USD) of my Epson printer: $31.96

 

[darnoldy]

I've tried two USB cables in different ports and WiFi, all with the same result.

Hmmm..

It sounds like every other byte is not making it to the printer... the CMYK data is 32 bits (4 bytes) and you're missing M & K. that can happen when a pin is missing/broken on a parrallel cable-- but shouldn't happen with either USB or WiFi. Since the problem is specific to a computer, not a printer, I don't think its an ink cartridge problem--otherwise the problem would be specific to one printer.

What happens if you print a greyscale image from that computer?

 

[zappaDPJ]

I've been playing around with some interesting if not weird results. I'll try and upload a more detailed tomorrow but thanks for all your suggestions

 

[TrixieTang]

The problem is simple; all my printers are missing colours when printing from one particular PC.

Maybe don't use that PC for printing?

 

[zappaDPJ]

Maybe don't use that PC for printing?

I have no doubt at this point in time that this is the only solution

Did you try the following https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4026528/windows-10-reset-or-reinstall

Thanks for the suggestion but I really can't do that. This PC is used as the engine for a recording studio, a server for over 100,000 music files and other functions, too many to list. I might consider rolling it back a day or two but even that could present a number of issues.

Maybe time to replace them with not new cartridges but a new printer which has the full cartridges?

That may well be a solution assuming the printer is the issue. Their base models cost less than a new set of Epson cartridges here.

What happens if you print a greyscale image from that computer?

This from grey-scale selected from the driver software (which prints nothing at all) ...

This is what I was attempting to print...



And this is what I get...


All I can tell you for sure is both printers print as they should from another device. I've actually had a specialist come in and try to find the problem but to no avail. He thinks it's something in the registry

 

[phatcows]

He thinks it's something in the registry

Potentially. What build of Windows 10 do you have installed?

 

[zappaDPJ]

Potentially. What build of Windows 10 do you have installed?

Windows 10 Home, version 1803, OS build 17134.829.

 

[doubt]

All I can tell you for sure is both printers print as they should from another device. I've actually had a specialist come in and try to find the problem but to no avail. He thinks it's something in the registry

Hmmm...Is it a printer with scanning capability?
Then try:
Download from Epson the software for it.
Remove the installed program from your PC.
Install the freshly downloaded software.

Any better?

 

[zappaDPJ]

Hmmm...Is it a printer with scanning capability?
Then try:
Download from Epson the software for it.
Remove the installed program from your PC.
Install the freshly downloaded software.

Any better?

Both printers scan. I think this has already been tried but I'll give it another go and try to ensure every last byte of Epson has been removed first

 

[phatcows]

Windows 10 Home, version 1803

Thanks. Windows 1803 did kind of break a lot of printer software (including drivers). I'll post a potential workaround when I get home later today.