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Phoneguy4310

Q: Laserwriter Pro 630 printing out as a negative WHY

I have had a LWP 630 for 4 years with out any major problems. It is networked for 2 PC computers and is the default printer of 2 printers. I have a Netgear print server. My OS is Win XP. The other day after printing several docs, it started printing in the negative. in other words black and white are reversed. All the printable area is black and any characters are white. This is from either PC over the network. This is from either PC from the LPT1 port to the centronics port, on the printer. (without the print server) It prints whatever it's sent. What can be done to switch it back???

Dell, Windows XP

Posted on Nov 29, 2008 3:47 PM

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Q: Laserwriter Pro 630 printing out as a negative WHY

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  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Helpful

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Nov 29, 2008 5:32 PM in response to Phoneguy4310
    Level 9 (61,292 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 29, 2008 5:32 PM in response to Phoneguy4310
    "Invert Image" is a "Postscript Option" that can be selected in LaserWriter 8 Page Setup with only the click of a checkbox. It may have been turned on by accident either in a computer or in your Print Server.

    I am not familiar with your equipment or set-up, but cycling the power on the Server, or on the Server and the Printer, might clear it if it is only the server that is confused.

    It appears that Apple Printer Utility for Windows would not be able to help directly, as Invert Image is not seen as a printer option there.

    Message was edited by: Grant Bennet-Alder
  • by Phoneguy4310,

    Phoneguy4310 Phoneguy4310 Dec 1, 2008 9:36 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
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    Dec 1, 2008 9:36 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    When I set the configuration switch to 4, with no other cables connected, and turn on the power, it prints the "config & info" page with the image inverted.

    So it would have to be a setting within the printer's memory

    Is there away of defaulting the printer???
  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Dec 2, 2008 6:22 AM in response to Phoneguy4310
    Level 9 (61,292 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 2, 2008 6:22 AM in response to Phoneguy4310
    Cycling the power or using the "Restart Printer" command from the LaserWriter utility are both supposed to set the printer back to its defaults.

    It is possible your printer has a Hardware problem. It could be a problem with its RAM. There are two SIMM sockets, but the rules for adding RAM are complex, and you may not be able to just switch the SIMMs around, especially if there are two of different sizes. It may be useful to remove and re-seat the SIMM(s).
  • by Phoneguy4310,

    Phoneguy4310 Phoneguy4310 Dec 3, 2008 7:41 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
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    Dec 3, 2008 7:41 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    I reseated the one simm card, but no luck.

    I noticed a small multi position switch on the edge of the board, but I don't find any reference to it (unless I missed it) in the manual. Do you know what it does???
  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,Helpful

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Dec 4, 2008 8:45 AM in response to Phoneguy4310
    Level 9 (61,292 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 4, 2008 8:45 AM in response to Phoneguy4310
    VR202 (a screwdriver-adjustable rotary switch) on the DC controller board is for registration adjustment, i.e. position of the image relative to leading edge of paper.
  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Dec 4, 2008 11:57 AM in response to Phoneguy4310
    Level 9 (61,292 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 4, 2008 11:57 AM in response to Phoneguy4310
    Apple memory guide contains detailed information about memory specs for that printer, if you want to look into getting a new SIMM:

    20025- Apple Memory Guide October 2000: Description and Download
  • by macmikey2,

    macmikey2 macmikey2 Dec 16, 2008 3:00 PM in response to Phoneguy4310
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 16, 2008 3:00 PM in response to Phoneguy4310
    I also have this issue. I just had a Pro 630 go belly up with a Green solid and Toner Solid and Paper Out solid. Diagnostics would NOT run. Printer just stopped responding and printing. It would however print a perfect test page with button push near exit tray.

    Got a used printer from Craigslist and swapped out the I/O board. Now, it only prints in Negative and in really big type. If I only have 8MB ram, it prints a blank page. I am guessing it is printing just fine, but white text.

    If I add 16 or 32 MB from the other I/O board, the background is gray or dark gray respectively and the type is really big.
    Cannot find anything that will reset this thing.

    Also, any leads on where I can get a copy of the latest LaserWriter Utility so I can run it on a Mac OS 8.6 machine?

    Mike
  • by Grant Bennet-Alder,

    Grant Bennet-Alder Grant Bennet-Alder Dec 16, 2008 4:39 PM in response to macmikey2
    Level 9 (61,292 points)
    Desktops
    Dec 16, 2008 4:39 PM in response to macmikey2
    The Older Software Downloads page, available off the downloads link at apple support, here:

    TA48312- Older Apple software downloads \[US English versions]

    Under the heading:
    Printing Software Downloads

    These are the strings you need, for the info file and the software download. Clicking them in context will download the item immediately.

    Macintosh/Printing/LaserWriter/ApplePrinter_Utility2.2.img.bin
    Macintosh/Printing/LaserWriter/ApplePrinter_Utility_2.2Info.txt
  • by macmikey2,

    macmikey2 macmikey2 Dec 16, 2008 4:48 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
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    Dec 16, 2008 4:48 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Thanks Grant!
  • by Phoneguy4310,

    Phoneguy4310 Phoneguy4310 Dec 25, 2008 4:44 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2008 4:44 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
    I removed the SIMM (8M) and cleaned carefully. (used a can of air)
    Replaced the SIMM and it still printed a negative image.
  • by LKatz,

    LKatz LKatz May 6, 2009 2:28 PM in response to Phoneguy4310
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    May 6, 2009 2:28 PM in response to Phoneguy4310
    Did you ever figure out how to solve this? My Laserwriter Pro 630 also just started printing negatives after many years of no problems. It's definitely not a driver setting. I just bought a new toner cartridge with 1 page on it- hate to ditch my favorite printer. Does anyone have any idea if there's an easy fix?