Cannot access printer utilities.

Question

Cannot access printer utilities.

Hello all;

I am new here so please be gentle. I am running Leopard and am connected to a Canon Pixma iP4500 via network and cannot access the Print Center, Utility or other printer goodies. This is odd because I have re-installed OS X, re-installed the printer and drivers, downloaded the most recent versions of everything, punched the wall, removed and re-added printers, etc. I access my printer via the 'Print and Fax' window, but I don't get any mention of utilities or maintenance or ANYTHING. It's making me crazy.

Could someone please help..?

Mac OS X (10.5.4), Leopard

Posted on Aug 14, 2008 1:45 PM

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Answer 1

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Aug 14, 2008 3:32 PM in response to Butch McFluff

Welcome to the Apple Forums.

To access the Canon utilities, you need to open the printer queue then select Utilities.

Open Print & Fax and highlight the iP4500. Press the Open Printer Queue button. In the new window, you should see a Utilities icon in the top right, probably next to Supply Levels. Select this Utility icon. This will open another window where you can select the iP4500. With the model highlighted, press the maintenance button to see all the printer utilities.

HTH

PaHu

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Answer 2

Aug 18, 2008 10:25 AM in response to PAHU

Hi PaHu;

Thanks so much for taking the time to make that suggestion, but I don't even have a utilities button! I have the 'supply levels' button, but no utilites (I can't even see my ink levels when I click on that). I have a screenshot for your reference, but I have no idea how to post it here...

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Answer 3

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Aug 18, 2008 6:26 PM in response to Butch McFluff

This sounds like you may be using an alternate driver to the Canon driver, such as ones available from Sourceforge called Gutenprint. These drivers do not show the Utilities icon in the printer queue window.

You can confirm which driver you are using by highlighting the printer in the Print & Fax > Printers list and then looking at the right hand pane. Here you will see the Location, Kind and Status. The Kind section will show what driver is being used. My guess would be that you have "Canon PIXMA iP4500 - CUPS + Gutenprint v5.x" showing here. Therefore you will not have the Utilities icon or the ability to check the ink levels with this driver.

To get the ability to check the ink levels, you would have to use the Canon driver for the iP4500. However, since you mentioned network printing in your original post, then you may not be able to use the Canon driver as it does have issues with certain types of network connections. So my advice would be to keep using the driver you have, since it is printing, and don't be concerned about the ink levels. The machine will not print if any colour tank is empty - this would risk burning out the print head. So, if the machine doesn't print, then you can check the inks just in case they are the cause...

PaHu

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Answer 4

Aug 19, 2008 9:35 AM in response to PAHU

My "Kind' says Canon iP4500 series.

I am not so concerned with the levels as I am with not being able to perform certain print functions from my computer, which is problematic here at work. I have to get other people to print on CDs for me because I can't select that media. I don't even get the menu, which is why I need the 'Utilities' to be accessible. It's really frustrating, and if my coworkers aren't here and I have to print CDs for clients, it causes a delay. So yes, while I can print on paper, the lack of printing ability on CDs is a problem!

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Answer 5

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Aug 19, 2008 5:58 PM in response to Butch McFluff

Okay. It sounds like you might have the Canon driver, but something must have gone wrong with the installation, hence the lack of features.

So, the following details my procedure for repairing faulty installations of the Canon PIXMA drivers.

1. Open System Preferences > Print & Fax. Highlight the Canon printer in the Printer list and click the minus ( - ) button.
2. Hold Control key and click in the empty Printers list. Click on Reset Printing System.
3. Close Print & Fax
4. Go to Library > Printers > Canon and delete the contents of the BJPrinter folder.
5. Go to Library > Receipts and delete the Canon driver package file, if one exists. The file name will show Canon iP4500 xxx.pkg
6. Go to Library > Preferences and delete the Canon folder.
7. Empty the Trash
8. Unplug the Canon USB cable and restart the Mac
9. Install the latest version of the Canon driver. Looking at the AU web site, you need v6.9.3
10. Once the driver installation is complete, go to Applications > Utilities and open Disk Utility. Run the Repair Disk Permissions option.
11. Reconnect the Canon USB cable. Then open Print & Fax and see if the Canon printer is listed. If it is, try a test print.
12. If the printer is not listed, click the plus ( + ) button.
13. Select the Default view and select the Canon printer connected via the USB port. The Print Using menu should automatically change to Canon IJ Printer.
14. Click Add to add the printer.

HTH

PaHu

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Answer 6

Aug 21, 2008 1:54 PM in response to PAHU

Sigh...

Still nothing. I can't get anything. I followed your directions step by step, and I still can't get the Utilities button. Thanks for your help, though! You're about a million times more helpful than the meathead I spoke to at Canon.

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Answer 7

PAHU

Level 6

16,723 points

Aug 21, 2008 2:36 PM in response to Butch McFluff

Sorry it hasn't worked yet. I am thinking it has something to do with the network connection it is using.

Can you tell me how the iP4500 is networked? Is it using Ethernet to connect to a hub and then you all connect to it via Ethernet also? Or is some other connection setup being used?

I ask because the network setup will influence the availability of the Utility function and the additional print dialogs, such as Quality & Media, you should see.

Note that the ability to print on CDs is not a function of the Utilities. You have to use Canon's CD LabelPrint application, the driver doesn't work with any other application. Through the Page Setup you set paper type as a printable cd and the paper source as the cd tray. Then when you print, you use the Quality & Media menu to set the print quality.

I don't remember you mentioning it, but have you tried connecting the printer directly to your Mac via USB? This is just for test purposes but it would at least confirm you have all the necessary files on your Mac if you can print with all the options.

PaHu

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