Updated to 10.6.8, now I can't print

I have exactly the same error message. I have a macbook with an Epson SP RX650 printer attached. Neither Epson nor Apple solutions have fixed the problems. I'm afraid most of the fixes I have read are far too technical for me to understand. I need Apple to acknowledge the problem and get working on it. Now they want to charge me for technical assistance. I have been an apple user since the 1980's but the love affair is fast coming to an end. Surely Apple could add a "Report a Problem" to their downloads as they do in Itunes. I have found it almost impossible to get help from them. I'm far from impressed. They have to make fault reporting simpler so they know what the problems are that they create with these upgrades! Very disenchanted with Apple!

Thanks Pahu. I have the exact same problem as the user you are trying to help. Apple walked me through the process you have outlined and even had me disconnect the printer from the computer after turning it off. Unfortunately the process didn't solve my problem . I'll continue to monitor replies to see if you fix works for others.

I doubt it will make you feel any better, but I had the same problem with my SP 1280 and a previous release of the Epson drivers.

Did you by any chance update to the recently released Epson drivers 2.7? If that is the case, that may have caused the problem. There maybe something wrong with the driver for you printer in that update.

I see that Apple still has the Epson 2.6 drivers available for download at http://support.apple.com/kb/DL900.

I have also seen cases where one of the update scripts did not run when updating Epson drivers.

You bet. My experience with this tells me not to become a first adopter of Lion. I will let a couple of weeks at least go by so that all unwilling and paying beta testers debug it. I may wait even for 10.7.1.

Not printing to Xerox, Konica, HP, etc. network printers is too big of a bug to not have been detected by a proper testing program. To me, this shows that 10.6.8 was not properly tested, period.

And thanks to velocius, again, for getting me back to business!

Matt Broughton wrote:

PAHU suggested that you trash the EPSON folder, located in HD > Library > Printers. You should also trash the EPSON folder in /Library/Caches.

The failure of the Epson filter is not that uncommon. Usually deleting the printer and all the Epson files and downloading a fresh copy of the printer drivers via Software Update will get things working again.

EDIT: There is nothing inherently wrong with the 10.6.8 update and the Epson 1280 printer. Mine is working fine.

Message was edited by: Matt Broughton

thanks Matt and PAHU for suggestions, but unfortunately no change - has anyone with an EPSON printer (mine's an old RX650 but never had any issues previously) who has had the 'filter' problem managed to fix it? Have spoken to Apple locally (AUS) and they are very aware of the problem - wasn't able to tell me if they will produce a patch or wait for next update - any clues? getting desperate...

max dale wrote:

has anyone with an EPSON printer (mine's an old RX650 but never had any issues previously) who has had the 'filter' problem managed to fix it? Have spoken to Apple locally (AUS) and they are very aware of the problem - wasn't able to tell me if they will produce a patch or wait for next update - any clues? getting desperate...

You could try one of the similar models from the Gutenprint drivers. More specifically, you could try the RX640 or RX630, possibly RX680. If any or all of those work, please post back and I will see if I can get the RX650 included in the Gutenprint package.

You can download the latest version of the Gutenprint drivers fromhttp://gimp-print.sourceforge.net/MacOSX.php .

thanks for this - I can see the RX model names in the 'Supported Printers' list, but nowhere to specifically choose the model driver, so I assume they are all supported in the latest version 5.2.7 which I have installed (do you have to first remove previously installed from ~/HD/Library as described above? - sorry am not terribly literate when it comes to installing software...) - either way, does not seem to work, am still getting msg:

max dale wrote:

thanks for this - I can see the RX model names in the 'Supported Printers' list, but nowhere to specifically choose the model driver, so I assume they are all supported in the latest version 5.2.7 which I have installed (do you have to first remove previously installed from ~/HD/Library as described above? - sorry am not terribly literate when it comes to installing software...) - either way, does not seem to work, am still getting msg:

No, you do not need to remove the /Library/Printers/Epson folder.

When you go to add your printer, it will default to using the Epson driver. Use the pop up menu and choose Select Printer Software…

In the new window that will open, you can type in the beginning of the printer model as seen below. You can then select the model you want to try.

Bill, think you may have mis-read the last few posts - Matt's talking about Gutenprint drivers rather than the EPSON printer update 2.7 from Apple - I think it's just a coincidence that the Gutenprint latest version happens to be numbered 5.2.7 - see Matt's post @ 7.04pm for the link to the alternative drivers... It has worked for me - not sure what model EPSON you're running but it might be there...

max dale wrote:

Bingo! Thank you so much... not perfect, but good enough to get me working again. Have not tested all sources, but briefly:

RX 630 - no good, printer scrolls blank pages, had to interrupt...

RX 640 - works well, some colour problems (blues come out as pinks but only on actual printer output, pdfs/scans stored true to colour, although I guess the scan driver is separate?) but otherwise seems good;

RX 680 - same as 640 but takes 10 times longer to print each page...

Thanks for the feedback. That may be one reason the RX650 was not included in the Gutenprint package. It may have just enough difference in codes that it is not a twin of one of the other printers. As the RX650 seems to be an Australian model, it can be hard for the Gutenprint developer for the Epson models to get one to work out the nuances of the coding needed.

At least you can get something out of the printer that will be somewhat useful.

max dale wrote:

Bill, think you may have mis-read the last few posts - Matt's talking about Gutenprint drivers rather than the EPSON printer update 2.7 from Apple - I think it's just a coincidence that the Gutenprint latest version happens to be numbered 5.2.7

There are actually several things here. The Epson v2.7 driver package was released shortly before 10.6.8. It would not be unreasonable that a user would apply both updates at the same time. It might be that the Epson v2.7 driver update is the culprit for some Epson printers. If your Epson printer was working fine with the Epson v2.6 driver package, you might be able to get the printer to work again by reverting to the Epson v2.6 driver package that Apple still has available for download.

It is mere coincidence that the Gutenprint driver version ends in 2.7.

max dale wrote:

you are right again (by the way, I can't find the "Correct Answer" button to flag your posts - do you know where it is?) - I downloaded the Epson v2.6 printer package and it has restored printer, so for my model it appears the problem is the Epson printer driver rather than OSX 10.6.8.

Glad to hear you got things working again with the Epson drivers.

Also re my comments above for the Gutenprint RX640, it seems to work fine on my RX650 now if that's useful for the developers - the colour problem I referred to above seemed to be present on the v2.6 Epson driver too so I checked all of the inkjet nozzles and restored the colour - it was the printer itself rather than the driver...

Just to confirm that the colors and functioning of your RX650 works fine with the Gutenprint RX640 drivers? I don't expect an exact match with the Epson drivers, but I just want to make sure it is within reason. If so, I can probably get the RX650 included in the next Gutenprint release.

Hi I have problems with 10.6.8 and an Epson SP RX650 printer. How do I revert back to 10.6.7. Even the Apple Support guy couldn't tell me how to do it. After spending about 30 hours reading and telephoning Epson and Apple I still have no fix.

Hi Alejandro F.B. I have exactly the same error message and I am using an Epson SP RX650 printer. I have been on to Epson and Apple. Both don't want to know about the probem. The last Epson rep I talked to suggested I buy a new printer because my printer is probably not supported by Mac OS X 10.6.8. What rubbish! It was working just fine until I upgraded to 10.6.8 and Epson V2.7. No body seems interested in the actual meaning of the error message. That says to me they are incompetent! Get onto Epson and give them a blast. If we keep annoying them and Apple we might get some sort of fix!

Hi Ziatron. Can you tell me in simple steps how to downgrade to 10.6.7 using time machine. The Apple support gug couldn't even tell me how to do it. He suggested I get my original Snow Leopard installation disc and reload Mac OS from there. From what I understand with my very simple knowledge of Snow Leopard is that it doesn't take you back to the earlier version when it performs what used to be an archive and install. I have been to Epson and Apple with my problem and they have been useless. The last Epson rep suggested I buy a new printer! By the way my printer is an Epson SP RX650 and it is only connected to my computer. It hasn't worked since I upgrade to 10.6.8 and Epson V2.7.