HP Ink Level Widget

I had exactly the same problem with my HP C6180. I un-installed HP drivers (thank goodness....they were cr4p!), then performed a software update to install the drivers built into Snow Leopard.
It took a while to get my head around, but now I can scan and print without problems (the last HP software crashed 5 or 10 times each time I tried to scan a document.........nightmare!).
I had the print widget on the dashboard after installation, but it didn't work, so I deleted it, now I can't get it back and I don't know where to get another one from. I've scanned the internet and can't find a solution. It was one of the most useful widgets on my desktop.

Bob.

OK, just to be clear, the print drivers included with Snow Leopard are HP print drivers. And as far as the widget goes, if you need it back before a full solution for your device is posted and you still have Setup Assistant laying around (/Applications/Hewlett-Packard/Device Utilities/HP Setup Assistant) you can run that app and it will re-install the Widget for you. I can't guarantee it will work, it depends on how old the software you have it, but it works for me.

Just trying to help.

Andrew

I have it. If it's the HP Ink Level Widget V1.2.1 you see [here|http://www.imageno.com/zthcdqqeishipic.html]. Send a mail to gumsee at hotmail dot co dot uk and you can have it.
Incidentally, my upgrade path is a little different from yours maybe that's the issue. I cloned my boot drive, twice. Zeroed the destination drive and installed Snow fresh on there. (During the install as I've heard suggested by [this|http://discussions.apple.com/profile.jspa?userID=1062781] seemingly very knowledgeable chap the printer was connected by USB and powered on).
I then deleted everything I'd heard was not compatible with 10.6 from the old 10.5.8 boot drive before using Migration Assistant to arrive at a perfectly working Snow Leo. There is an update available for my device which I have downloaded but not yet installed as it prints and scans over any medium without issue.

gumsie,

Try deleting your print queue, adding it back, and then re-configuring the widget by selecting the new printer on the backside. If you are still having troubles let me know.

Just trying to help.

Andrew

Hi Andrew, it's not me with the problem. My 7280 works fine. Better than it did before actually.
The OP was talking about the widget that monitors his device. I've assumed that he can just get the right one from anywhere and drop it into ~/Library/Widgets.

Yes, that is true.

Just trying to help. Let me figure out what the latest version is and get back to you.

Just trying to help.

Andrew

I have exactly the same problem. After having "-/+" my C6380, if can now print AND scan.
Everything is working fine, but not the ink level widget. It doesn't show my printer in the 'select printer' dialog box.

same here, all is fine, just the darn widget that wont show me the Ink level on my printer.

Make sure you install the software (if you do it from the download) from the account you're trying to use the widget from. As I usually do, I installed the download from my Admin account. Its widget saw the ink levels properly, but my personal account didn't. Downloaded and installed again, from my personal account this time (authenticating when requested) and now it works.

ODD: the widget appears to show correct ink levels, but the tool in HP Utility doesn't. I recently installed both cartridges, and have printed a few pages and a few DVDs. The widget shows both cartridges mostly full, which is "right", while the tool in HP Utility shows a nearly full black cartridge and a nearly empty color cartridge. (Both are genuine HP cartridges.) It's almost as if it's showing %empty instead of %full, though that's conjecture.

Doug

To get it back working, you need to load the HP AiO software that was released on Sept 14th specifically for 10.6 (on the HP website). It does not seem to override any of the OS control of the printer, but it does give you back all the HP programs (if you should want them) as well as a new version of the widget. Took mine quite awhile to attach to the HP printer initially, but then the widget finally attached and reported back the info.

david

Well, today both the widget and HP Utility (and various other places) all see the same, nearly-full ink cartridges, so maybe it's just erratic or flaky once in a while.

Doug

Doug,

Thanks for the update. We are looking into the problem, but have not been able to reproduce it internally.

Andrew