BS: Lexmark Z31 printer

Subject: BS: Lexmark Z31 printer
From: GUEST,Guest/Gurney sans cookie.
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 01:55 AM

Not a tech question.
I need a copy of the software CD for this printer. I bought it at auction, to use up my cartridges, but the CD is faulty, and Lexmark can't or won't help me.
I have software for several models. Not this one.
The printer works for ordinary printing, with a downloaded driver, but I need the program.

Expenses happily refunded, or prefunded, to anyone who can help.
    Chris.

Subject: RE: BS: Lexmark Z31 printer
From: Paul Burke
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 03:32 AM

What's on the CD beside the drivers ?

Subject: RE: BS: Lexmark Z31 printer
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 07 Dec 06 - 06:32 AM

At Lexmark Downloads, Publications, it appears that the same user/installation manual is used for all Z25 thru Z35 models:

Publication Downloads

The download is "From Setup to Printing" ensetupb.pdf 790 KB.

The page also offers "online user guides," but only for Mac and Linux.

The setup.pdf includes a brief section on "installing the software" but pretty much just says "insert the CD." It does not say what software gets installed. There is reference to "using the Solution Center" which may refer to the software you're missing.

Most drivers include all the functions that dedication "Solution" programs can use, so usually if you click on "Properties" when the Print window opens, you can use the "things Windows can do with this printer" to access about all the functions; but you may have to poke around a bit.

You can also double-click on the printer (Start|Settings|Printers and Faxes in recent Windows) or in Control Panel, double click the printer, Click on "Printer" at the top of the window that opens, look at properties.

With some printers, if you install their "programs" you're pretty much forced to use them, but if you don't install anything but the driver you may find that the Windows settings actually are more convenient for doing the same things. (I've learned to avoid letting the cheaper HP printers install their "helpfulshit."

Note that I've never looked at a Lexmark; so I'm guessing based mostly on Epson and HP experience.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Lexmark Z31 printer
From: Gurney
Date: 08 Dec 06 - 02:32 AM

Interesting thought, John. I've never tried to use anything but the reliable Lexmark program.

Paul, I have photo cartridges that I want to use, and also, as the heads are built into the cartidges in Lexmarks, each cartridge needs to be aligned. It makes them expensive, which is why I wanted to use them up, not loyalty.
The CD has a crack in it, and how that happened is beyond me. It was in the original packaging (undamaged) when I got it.

Subject: RE: BS: Lexmark Z31 printer
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 08 Dec 06 - 04:32 AM

Gurney -

On our el-cheappppppo HP multipurpose, the "properties" button appears when you click "Print" in most programs, and all the main settings are accessible there, if you can figure out which "tab" they're on.

The first File|Print brings up a Windows box that shows what printer is selected. You can pick another printer if there's more than one installed. Usually a button marked "Preferences" in the first window gets you into the printer that you've chosen, and from there it's pretty much unique to each printer - as set up by the driver.

When you print from some programs, you may find a "Preferences" or a "Printer" button you have to click to get to selecting a different printer - i.e. it's "variable."

That particular HP "printer preferences" menu has a "Services" tab, with a button that says "Service this Printer" and when you click it, it opens a new sub-window that allows you to print a test page, align heads, or clean heads. I'd expect the plain vanilla Windows driver installation to give you something like that for the Z31.

I don't recall that the Windows driver-only setup gives you the "how much ink is left" reading for each cartridge; but I've found that so inaccurate that I usually just wait until it "wastes a page" and then change it. (On some printers, if you run out of black the printer will "emulate black" by mixing colors, so it's hard to tell from the print when the black ink goes dry. - but if it goes into that mode they'll both be empty pretty soon....)

"She" (LiK) has the furnished HP "management program" on her machine where the printer usually is connected. It has a whole bunch of really loverly automated "things that are good for you" (according to HP) and she uses them some; but I find they mostly just get in the way when I happen to get onto her computer.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Lexmark Z31 printer
From: Rapparee
Date: 08 Dec 06 - 09:11 AM

Ain't gonna buy no more inkjets when the current one dies. I've just wiped away the last two at work.

Too expensive. Buy a decent color laser -- the initial cost is fairly high (you can get one for a couple hundred dollars US, though), but the per copy cost is less than half that of inkjet and the cartridges last a very long time.

Subject: RE: BS: Lexmark Z31 printer
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Dec 06 - 09:15 AM

OK, I've got a Z-23. Will that do any good at all?

Subject: RE: BS: Lexmark Z31 printer
From: Gurney
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 02:08 PM

Sorcha, sorry about the delay in replying, my boy tried to install the program for my (W95-98) scanner on this (MY!) computer and then XP wouldn't load, so I needed a full reinstall.
    I don't know if a Z23 program would be any good, as I haven't tried to use that very program yet. A friend has that printer. But thanks for asking.
Rapaire, I hear and agree. I bought a Brother black-only laser. And currently that printer isn't working either. Data doesn't seem to be getting to the printer, despite a reinstall of the program.
I don't think I deserve the problems I get with computers.
And I still have about $450 worth of Lexmark cartridges.

John, I will try to act on your information soon. Thank you again.

Busy busy on the leadup to Christmas, and knackered when I get home.

Regards, Chris.

Subject: RE: BS: Lexmark Z31 printer
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 06:44 PM

All Lexmark inkjet printers are crap. They give them away so they can sell their overpriced ripoff cartridges.

Subject: RE: BS: Lexmark Z31 printer
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Dec 06 - 06:52 PM

They give away Epson and HP too.

I like the Z31. I could make many special adjustments with its software which allowed me to make micron thin decals.

Subject: RE: BS: Lexmark Z31 printer
From: Gurney
Date: 15 Dec 06 - 02:28 PM

Yet another post disappears into the Ether. Ah well.

Donuel, I can't work out if your post means that you still have a Z31 or not. If so, I would still like a copy of the CDRom.

Richard, I don't think they are actually crap, but I agree about the price of the cartridges. That they actually incorporate the heads makes them very dear. Here, it costs as much for a single black cartridge as it does for a new printer!

The trouble I had with the Brother turns out to be with the Data-switch instead. Changing to USB2 fixed it.