Optical photoconductor needs to be replaced

I just installed the latest network firmware for my Lexmark E250dn printer via the Web Management console, and behold, no more photoconductor errors on my Lion MBP! I did find it can no longer poll the printer for supplies information, so that may have something to do with it.

I just purchased a brand new C711 & installed it. First print out had the error "Optical photoconductor needs to be replaced". Glad I found this section before returning the printer as defective. Hopefully Apple gets this fixed soon. We'll just chalk it up to the numerous problems I've had with Lion (broken SMB, print drivers, etc)... Sadly, this is the worst release for me that Apple has put out on the market in a decade...

I think the problem is related to no rosetta in lion. I have had the problem since i upgraded to lion. My wife got a new mac so I tried to install the drivers for my Dell 3100cn printer but I was not able to install the drivers due to not having rosetta so i had to use a generic driver instead of Dells drivers for mac.

Rosetta is not the issue. This error has been on going since Mac OS 10.6.8. It's not exclusive to Mac OS Lion. As far as drivers go though, you will need to use the generic post script drivers for Lion which it looks like you have already done since Dell used PowerPC code for their installer. For drivers we can only hope dell updates their installer package but due to the age of the 3100CN (I've had mine for probably 5 years now) I doubt that will happen.

Hopefully apple is dilegently working on updating their printing subsytem which is the actual cause of the photoconductor error.

I've got same problem on Lexmark C543. Brand new out of the box.

Windows PC connected to same printer reports no errors and prints quickly, however Mac with OSX 10.7.2 takes ages to print and reports the photoconductor error.

Real pain....

Same error message running Lion with Oki C810, have finally managed to print, but now I can only print double-sided, ecologically sound yes, but this is a decision I would like to be able to make, as this is not always convenient. One of my colleagues is also experiencing exactly the same problem, those not running Lion can print as before. If anyone has a solution would be most grateful.

I am having the same problem printing from Lion to Lexmark X543 - earlier on this list of posts changing to LPD was mentioned, but not how to do this! I have done a software update on Lion - no change. Any help gratefully received!

Thanks! The technique that Wayne Connor linked to provided a good work around for me.I have a Dell Laser printer 1720DN and was getting the "optical photoconductor needs to be replaced" and was unable to print. So I tried the suggestion and set up a new printer using the IP printing and HP Jet direct - socket. I was able to print using this setting no problem at all (although the message is still there).

BioTechnician wrote:

I think the problem is related to no rosetta in lion. I have had the problem since i upgraded to lion. My wife got a new mac so I tried to install the drivers for my Dell 3100cn printer but I was not able to install the drivers due to not having rosetta so i had to use a generic driver instead of Dells drivers for mac.

As IdleWander indicated, this is not a Rosetta, or lack thereof, problem. The Dell 3100cn is a PostScript printer. You can use the PPD (driver) from the cups.org page.

Partial Solution: I found a solution for getting printing working in Lion, at least with my Dell 3100cn, and it likely works for most other printers. It doesn't fix my photoconductor warning, but at least I can print (and the warning is much less annoying, and no longer causes the print cue to stay open after printing completes).

First, you need to get the PPD for the printer, either from the CUPS site (as for the 3100cn Matt provided) or from the manufacturer. If you have upgraded from SL to Lion then you likely already have the PPD for your printer installed in /Library/Printers/PPDs/Contents/Resoures (and potentially in a language specific folder, as for Dell). Other printers might install their PPDs in custom folders inside the /Library/Printers main folder.

Once you have located the PPD for your printer and either installed it or copied it to the approrpiate location in /Library/Printers you can then modify (or add if you have not already done so) the printer having issues. In the pop-up menu for the driver ("Print Using"), choose the "Other..." selection. This will bring up a file nav dialog, where you will navigate to the location in /Library/Printers where the PPD for your printer is located. Select that PPD and click Open.

This should then give you all the capabilities for your printer. In my case, for the Dell 3100cn, I was able to select the memory and cassette trays, get the correct supply levels, etc. It also reduced the annoyance of the photoconductor warning, even though this didn't completely solve it.

I am having the same issue but with a OKIDATA C3400n I tried removing printer drivers and reinstalling them this had not effect I thought it might have been Printopia v2.1.5 but after discovering it is a whidespread problem and trying everything I could think of I need help.

The error reads the optical photoconductor needs to be replaced. The optical photoconductor will need to be replaced soon.

I've been having the same issue with a Brother DCP 8085DN Postscript printer. Thankfully, the printer works regardless of the warning. In the last day or two there was a printer software update but it didn't fix the problem.

I own the Lexmark E250dn laser, and I just got the Lexmark Software Update 2.7, but it didn't fix this issue. I am still receiving the photoconductor error, however the printer continues to print. It's amazing to me that so many printer software updates have gone by, and Apple has yet to fix this ridiculous issue...

I just submitted another bug report to Apple, quoting this thread, as this is utterly ridiculous. This error has been going on long enough.

I am having the same issue w/my Xerox 6360 and my 10.7.2 installation. Apple, please resolve this one soon.