'Filter' failed error when printing from EPSON

I have an Epson TX420W all-in-one printer, and recently upgraded to OSX Mountain Lion, after reading that I wouldn't have any issues printing after the upgrade. Before the upgrade, I had all Epson drivers up to date (through Software update).


Now when I try to print, after 'Looking up printer', this is what I see:


User uploaded file

I can't check the supplies level either. 😟


I checked the EPSON support & drivers page, but couldn't find an updated driver for my printer (only up to 10.7.x)


Does anyone had the same experience or a workaround to this until an driver update comes out?


Thanks in advance!

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on Jul 30, 2012 12:21 PM

Reply
129 replies

Aug 20, 2012 11:45 PM in response to cozthegrov

What do you mean is not a solution, but only a workaround? What is the difference between the 2 from your point of view?


I am sure this is the solution, because the issue is that if you use the automaticaly settings that are setup by the OS, it chooses wrongly the way of comunicating with the printer.


Also, if WiFi printing is an issue, check for WiFi neighbours. Too many networks in the area can disturb the normal function of the system, especially if you have other networks working on the same channel with you.

Aug 31, 2012 11:19 AM in response to midorichan

and i have the same problem to..


How is it possible that since i got my mac, i felt from the one problem into the other....


Last night i reinstalled my os, and installed the driver again for my printer. The same that i used before and then worked. At this time i get the error 'filter failed'.


with a nothebook of 1300 euros and problem after problem after problem.... Thank you very much Apple for convincing me that Apple does not fail, or anything.


<Edited By Host>

Sep 13, 2012 11:03 PM in response to Ltlmn

A solution is one that let's me choose from the published features of a printer and OSX and print under my terms. Being forced to connect a printer via IP is simply a workaround. Yes it works but doesn't solve the real problem, especially because with my printer there isn't a network option.


I now have an Artisan 730 and via IP and via USB the same error happend. If I delete all printers info from the Library > Printers folder and reinstall the printer it will work until the computer reboots again.


Clearly there is something that either epson is doing incorrectly in the printing subsystem or a bug in Mountain Lion.

Sep 18, 2012 4:15 AM in response to midorichan

I've had very similar problems printing to both my Epson printers (an SX600FW and an RX700) from both my iMacs - which are set up using a wifi network with both printers connected to a Time Capsule, one by ethernet and the other on USB.


The 'filter' failed response came up yesterday for the first time and has given me about 12 hours of seemingly insuperable problems. I've just downloaded (from Apple) the EPSONPrinterDrivers2.11.dmg package. All is back in order!


Hope this helps - good luck...

Sep 21, 2012 6:52 AM in response to Grubbynails

I don't know of a cure. 2 weeks ago with a new AirPrint Canon I tried everything, 90% of the the time it wouldnt print, either not finding the printer or not finding the filter. Tried deleting and reinstalling, USB and/or wireless connection, finally returned the printer. My old one, which is 5 years old now (HP deskjet 580), as soon as I plug it in, works fine.

Tried yesterday again with a new HP Envy 110 Series (114) and it's exactly like with the Canon. I tried to install it wirelessly, it wouldn't printe. Tried with the USB cable, same thing. Laters drivers from Apple, ML drivers from HP, same thing. In 2 days I've been able to print about 6 pages; 5 of which only print at 99% then the connection is lost. Again, I plugged in my old HP and it works fine....***, why?

Oct 1, 2012 10:40 AM in response to cozthegrov

Sorry, cozthegrov. I shoulda reposted.


No, It didn't work but I didn find the probl;em (which is more than Epson tech supprt could do over two phone calls). I had to learn a bit about LAN to fix it.


The printer wasn't getting the right IP address for the gateway (the router). I determined the router IP addres (using Airport utility in my case) and set the Gateway IP manually.


Then I manually selected an IP address for the printer and reserved it in Airport utility - under "advanced/network).


If you know networking it's easy. If not, it's a bear!

Oct 4, 2012 6:49 PM in response to Diane1349

"Chrome" is the Google Chrome browser ... but in my case that was a bogus issue.


The entire problem in my case was that the printer was incorrectly identifying the gateway (router) IP address when it automatically tried to join the network.


I have a theory on why that happened: My desktop computer had WiFI on and the printer MAY have grabbed THAT address instead of the router address. So I figured out the IP address of the router (I'm using an Apple router so I used Airport Utility) and I entered it manually. It's worked perfectly ever since.


Make sense?

Oct 4, 2012 7:19 PM in response to HenryTen

Thank you that's what I thought you meant but I don't use Chrome. BUT...got 3 update notices from Apple about 10 minutes ago. One of them is an Epson driver update. I sure hope that fixes the problem. What a vexing problem this has been. Epson hasn't a clue and what they told me to do was useless and time consuming. I kept telling them that there were no update for the Epson, they kept telling me the same stuff over a over. I'm crossing my fingers!

Oct 12, 2012 3:05 AM in response to midorichan

I was also having this error - updated all firmware etc without a fix and then finally realised that the print settings were set to print even pages only and I was selecting an odd page I wanted to print, hence the filter error message.


User error in my case. 😊


Might be worth checking the preferences haven't changed in error to only print even or odd pages?

Oct 12, 2012 9:37 AM in response to Nobbie67

Within a few days of my post Apple had an update that contained drivers for Epson printers. That didn't work. But it did give me enough numerical information to go looking for newer drivers. I found a driver of a different release that solved my problem. Thank goodness. I was not looking forward to buying another printer just when Costco decided to fill those particular ink cartridges.

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'Filter' failed error when printing from EPSON

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