Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Canon Pixma MX860

The Canon Pixma MX860 is supposedly supported in Snow Leopard however I am unable to find a drive for this printer (I am running it over the network).

Anyone have any luck?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6), iPhone 3GS, Canon Pixma MX860

Posted on Aug 28, 2009 4:24 PM

Reply
84 replies

Aug 29, 2009 3:56 AM in response to John Blanchard1

I have an MX850 and like everyone else the built in driver only recognises it as a scanner (apparently these Canon multifunction devices do not print using Bonjour). On one Mac I resinstalled the driver BUT word crashes if I tried to print using anything other than standard. Using textedit all the advanced driver options had a line through them in the print dialog box.

Second mac upgraded but not option to select the MX850 other than as a scanner. I then had a good idea, my main home computer, an iMac, was still running 10.5.7 so I simply turned printer sharing on on it. I could then select "MX850@iMac" and the driver autoselected.

I had a number of presents saved from before the upgrade (duplex, draft etc) and if I selected them the upgraded Mac seemed to printer perfectly 🙂. There were however no advanced options to allow me to select any of these options so unless I had presets saved from before the upgrade "standard" would have been my only option.

All my HP printers (work) are still in my printer list.

So whilst we wait for Canon to update their drivers as long as you keep one Mac on 10.5 and turn printer sharing on your snow leopard macs can print ok.

Aug 29, 2009 6:22 AM in response to MacSince85

Like the others there I, too, have an MX860. It works perfectly if you use the USB (which is how my iMac connects to it). However, I prefer to use it as a network printer. And, that is something it doesn't want to do with Snow Leopard.

My wife's MacBook Pro needs to print to an MX860 via the network (she also has an MX860 at her business) - USB is not an option.

Hopefully, Apple can put some pressure on Canon to update this driver for network access (especially since Apple was selling the MX860, if I am not mistaken. I suspect many Mac owners have this printer). Until then, I won't be able to exercise my Snow Leopard Family pack and upgrade her laptop.

As for Snow Leopard itself and the install process? The only hitch was the printer. Nice job, Apple!!!! Glad I switched back from PC to Mac (I was an original Macintosh 128 owner and missed the experience very much).

Aug 29, 2009 6:38 AM in response to MacSince85

I can confirm that Snow Leopard deletes the Canon provided print drivers including the drivers for TCP/IP connection. I backed up a machine that was running Leopard and then Installed Snow Leopard and the installer deleted the printer.

The SL Apple Driver is only for USB Support but installs properly when you connect via USB.

I emailed Canon at carecenter@cits.canon.com

Here is the link for the drivers (when Canon releases)

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&tabact=SupportDeta ilTabAct&fcategoryid=238&modelid=18121#DownloadDetailAct

Peter

Aug 29, 2009 4:23 PM in response to MacSince85

I have reinstalled drivers, they failed. The USB on mine doesn't even work for me. Everything else has worked out to be pretty good for this upgrade to Snow Leopard. My printer however, is critical to what I do, along with my scanner - with the wireless. That is why I purchased this printer in the first place, only last month. So I am really crossing my fingers that support gets out for fixing this.

I have had a freeze up issue with a couple of programs like DVD Hunter and Firefox. I also noticed that Safari will freeze when Firefox is running. I had a slower than desirable experience lately with Safari (still my favorite browser). I also noticed that my screen will sometimes flicker in Safari showing previously view pages that are closed.

Thanks Apple for getting on these things for us.

Aug 30, 2009 6:28 AM in response to MacSince85

I received an email reply from Canon on 8/30/09, which states, in part:

"...Unfortunately, the PIXMA MX860 is not currently compatible with OS 10.6
on a network. We should have these drivers available in two to three
weeks...."

Sounds about right, I bet they are waiting for 10.6.1, the first Apple OS update usually is available within 21 days of a new release.

Peter

Aug 30, 2009 7:18 AM in response to Peter Monahan

I was able to get my MX850 running on 10.6 as network printer.
After the upgrade from 10.5.8 to 10.6 I reinstalled by using my installation CD (which came with the MX850) only the 850 driver and the network tool (custom install). You can download driver and tool via canon-website as well.
After rebooting go to HD/Library/Printers/Canon/BJ Printers/Utilities/Canon IJ Network Tool.
Run Network Tool. Choose “lan”. In the next dialog-window change “Setup” to “Utilities”. After that you will get another dialog box with some weird information. Click “cancel”. Now your MX850 should be detected. Confirm.
After that go to System Prefs/Print-Dialog. Ad a new printer. Wait a second until you see at the bottom of the dialog-window “all available printers”. Click it. Your MX850 will be detected. I confirmed by using “enter” on my keyboard.
It worked for me on three macs running 10.6. My MX850 is hooked via lan-cable to an airport extreme.
Good luck!
Again, see also: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2131616&tstart=0

Canon Pixma MX860

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.