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'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

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 8, 2017 7:20 PM

Hi! I had the same problem. I solved the Epson "filter failed" problem by deleting the printer from the System Preferences printers list and re-installing the last version of the Epson printer driver for my Mac OS version.

Problem solved!

Have a great day!

129 replies

Aug 19, 2013 8:45 PM in response to Wraith121212

Thanks for the fix. I had a missing computer name causing issues with my Epson. I tried uninstalling, restarting and other fixes suggested in vain.

However, simply adding the computer name fixed the issue without the need to do anything else.


Ps. The printer drivers were automatically installed by apple when I chose to print for the first time


Mac is a Mid 2013 Air

Aug 23, 2013 1:45 AM in response to Wraith121212

This fix works. Before I discovered it I reinstalled Mac OS operating system, new drivers... the lot but it did not work. I contacted Epson and finally got a reply from Epson suggesting exactly what you suggested and it worked. I wish I had seen your post earlier. 😟 Thanks a valuable lesson learnt. I have included info from Epson below.

Wraith121212 wrote:


Hey there 🙂


Try going to sharing in system preferences and make sure there is a computer name and the field is not blank. Kind of an odd solution but it seemed to work for me. Good Luck!


All Hail Apple.


How to Fix “rastertoescpl” Error on Mac

1. Go to the Apple Menu

2. Select System Preferences

3. Open Sharing

4. Enter any name on the computer name field; eg My iMac. Close the page once done

5. Restart the computer. You should be able to print now.


User uploaded file

Aug 28, 2013 7:00 PM in response to chrisfromnzl

Hi chris, no more need to sigh buddy. Click "system preferences" then click "sharing" icon then type a name in the "Computer Name:" field. Any name will do. Problem solved.

Problem is a bug in the auto updated software from apple. This gets around it. Not long to go now dood until "thy Kingom comes" and computers will not exist!

Cheers Berty Beatle

Sep 6, 2013 12:57 PM in response to midorichan

I own a 13" MacBook Pro and the Epson Stylus NX420 printer, which had the same error wirelessly and while the connection is wired. I just got off of the phone with Apple technical support and he told me that he contacted Epson, who said that this was a glitch in their newest firmware update. For this to be fixed, he told me to go into System Preferences --> Sharing and where it says name, I literally just gave my computer a name and it hasn't given me the error since. I'm not sure if this will fix others' problems, but it definitely worked for me!

Sep 9, 2013 11:11 PM in response to henryten2

For me, it was a related networking issue: After many months of working perfectly, suddenly our Epson Workforce 845 stopped printing over WiFi. I tried these solutions:


1. Delete printer, add Nearby printer. Failed.

2. Delete printer, add Printer, Add Epson Workforce 845 (IP). Failed.

3. Check to see if computer has name under System Preferences: Sharing. It did.

4. Download latest drivers from Epson (epson14441.dmg) Failed.


The next tip was to download a 2GB Epson Driver package from Apple. This would be a major hit on my smallish SSD. So on a lark, I reset the network settings on the Printer, manually typing in the password.


SUCCESS! I suspect the printer had either an IP address conflict with another device, or the router name explanation described by henryten2. In either case, wifi printing works fine again.

Oct 12, 2013 11:47 PM in response to Grubbynails

Thank you soooooo much Grubbynails!!! This totally solved the problem. I had been trying all afternoon after I kept getting this bloody "filter failed". I'd go into System Preferences, reset printing system (as this worked on my old mac) and usually it would solve the problem until next, but just upgraded to this software and BAM!!!! I am printing away. For anyone who is having the same problem, google "EPSON Printer driver 2.11.dmg" and go from there..... It totally fixed my problem hope it does yours. Thanks again GrubbyNails....


Ok so just read later posts and I will let you know how I get on in the coming weeks 😉

Nov 5, 2013 2:49 PM in response to midorichan

I'm having a similar problem.


When I start the printer it prints fine.


When the printer goes into sleep mode I can't print and get the "Filter failed" error.


I've tried resetting the printer, unistalling and reinstalling drivers. The computer has a name (in Sharing) etc...


Has anyone any idea where to try next?


Macbook Pro 13, OS X 10.8.5, Epson Artisan 725, Driver version 9.


Thanks in advance

Paul

Nov 14, 2013 1:02 PM in response to paul_brown

The problem is really strange. I have two Epson Pro printer with USB conncection on my Mac Pro, a Sylus Pro 3380 and the 7900. Everything prints fine with the 3880 but I got the "Filter failed" error with the 7900. It appears after the update to OSX-10.9.


I have tried resetting, new driver, change the name in Sharing, and I still get the "Filter failed" error. This really bad, since I have many large prints to produce for clients.


I realy do not know what to do now. Any idea ?


Thanks,

Rejean

Nov 14, 2013 2:15 PM in response to Rejean Samson

Hi Rejean


As you will know from my earlier post I'm also experiencing this problem but on a much cheaper printer. I've now had extensive talks with Epson and they have been very supportive but have been unable to solve the problem. So I am now using an old Macbook Pro running OS X 10.6.8 (it's an old single core system so can't (luckily) be upgraded) as a print server. It can run the printer fine and then it can be Shared over the network with my other studio machines. It's not ideal but it works. My printer is a multifunction (Artisan 725) and just to note this doesn't work for the Scanner (which won't share) - so I can only use this function on the 10.6.8 system.


Hope this is helpful.


Paul

Jan 27, 2014 6:08 PM in response to Alebeta

On Mavericks - Uninstalled and reinstalled several times before finally getting my Epson 2200 to not get the "stopped" message and print nicely.


Keep adding and deleting until it works.


I did this by selecting from printer list in "bonjour", not "neighboring" printers. Took about 5 times for me.


BTW- It was working fine until a recent automatic Apple software installed an Epson driver update for this printer.

Feb 3, 2014 2:27 PM in response to midorichan

I had the 'Filter Failure' problem too (on my Epson PX730WD).


Tried everything but nothing helped.

then I noted that I could print from Word but not from Adobe Reader (pdf).


My problem was that Ghostscript (postscript / pdf interpreter software) apparently was broken.

http://www.ghostscript.com/download/

does not provide installers for Mac OSx (just sources)


With google, I found

http://pages.uoregon.edu/koch/

and

http://www.bestfreewaredownload.com/download/t-free-ghostscript-for-mac-os-x-fre eware-hlidifhu.html


that provided packages for Mac OSx (Mavericks in my case).

Download, Install

Problem solved!

'Filter' failed error when printing from EPSON

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