Can't detect ink cartridge levels

Question

Level 1

9 points

Can't detect ink cartridge levels

I have had my iMac refurbished from apple for 1 year. The whole time, I have not been able to check cartridge levels or perform alignment/nozzle cleaning. Whenever I click on Supplies it says "information not available" or some such, and I can't find any screen at all for alignment. This is the case with two different printers; for the Lexmark I downloaded a new driver, and it didn't help. The HP also doesn't show levels.

Anybody have any suggestions? I need to be able to print!
Thanks!

iMac Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5), refurbished, purchased from apple

Posted on Jul 20, 2009 7:18 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,007 points

Jul 20, 2009 9:58 PM in response to canalith

You need not be able to check ink levels in order to print, but you do need to install the printer drivers and add the printers.

Most printer drivers do not provide supply levels unless programmed into the drivers provided by the printer's manufacturer or by use of separate utility software provided with the printing software for the printer.

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Answer 2

Jul 20, 2009 10:02 PM in response to canalith

HI and Welcome to Apple Discussions...

Epson is one of the few printer manufactures that support drivers that have the ink levels available in the printer utility window.

I don't think HP or Lexmark either one supports this.

😟

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Answer 3

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,487 points

Jul 20, 2009 10:33 PM in response to canalith

Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
For some reason HP's driver does not support those things in Apple's utility, but it does in its own. If you open System Prefs:Print & Fax and click Open Print Queue... you will see a Utility button on the right. If you click Utility it opens HP Inkjet Toolbox which will allow you to do all the things for which you are looking.
The pathway to the toolbox on my Mac is; Mac HD:Library:Printers:hp:Utilities:HP Inkjet Toolbox.app:
Dah•veed

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Answer 4

canalith Author

Level 1

9 points

Jul 21, 2009 7:57 AM in response to Dah•veed

Hello, thank you for your ideas!

I am able to get to the toolbox and HP Printer Utility. However, when I open the Printer Utility my printer is not listed there. I select "more printers" and it says "0 printers found" and just goes looking and looking forever.

Any more suggestions?

Thanks!

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Answer 5

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,458 points

Jul 21, 2009 8:01 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Hi Carolyn,

Not true about HP, I have 3 HP printers all connected to my iMac and can see ink and toner levels on each. However there is a caveat (isn't there always 🙂 ) I don't believe all the drivers provided by HP offer this.

Regards,

Roger

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Answer 6

Dah•veed

Level 9

66,487 points

Jul 21, 2009 8:56 AM in response to canalith

Have you added the printer in System Prefs:Print & Fax? Click the + sign and in the resulting dialog all printers attached to your mac should appear in a list. Select the HP and click Add.
Dah•veed

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