OS 10.8.2 not detecting Canon MP810

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OS 10.8.2 not detecting Canon MP810

I have been gradually setting up my iMac 27 bought a couple of months ago and have found that it does not recognize the Canon MP810 printer/scanner I have been using the past few years. "Add Printer" does not detect it. The USB tree under System Information does not list it. The MP 810 software is listed as available for download on the Apple Support page.

I've tried changing the USB cables and using different ports. The printer itself works fine when connected to my old iMac (G4) running OS 10.4.11. I have done a complete power-down, disconnect, and reconnect. I have even tried using the installation software that came with the printer. This hangs at a 71% install until I have to use force/quit in order to shut down.

I do not wish to replace the printer as I have been very satisfied with how it has worked. Any idea what the problem here is?

Thanks.

Message was edited by: Hangtown Fry

Posted on Jan 1, 2013 5:01 PM

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Answer 1

PAHU

Level 6

16,705 points

Jan 1, 2013 10:17 PM in response to Hangtown Fry

Hangtown Fry wrote:

The USB tree under System Information does not list it.

Until it does, no amount of printer driver installation, removal or reinstallation is going to help. The detection of the device on a USB bus is not printer driver dependent - it is something built in to the Mac.

With all the steps you have taken already, I wonder if there is something about the new iMac's and USB power? This is the second new iMac in this forum that is not detecting a Canon printer (a different model altogether and much newer than your model) on the USB port. I don't have access to a new iMac to test this theory. If you know someone that does have a small printer that they can bring over for testing, it will help with isolating the cause.

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Answer 2

Hangtown Fry Author

Level 1

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Jan 3, 2013 2:13 PM in response to PAHU

The problem appears to corrected now. I tried connecting a fourth USB cable and the computer recognized the printer and asked to download the software. Unfortunately the download failed due to corruption. A bit more searching the Mountain Lion/Printer Support Community and I found your 3 Dec. 2012 advice to LeeNixon regarding connecting a Canon MP500 and OS 10.8.2.

"Well you can trash the BJPrinters folder located in HD > Library > Printers > Canon."

"And then trash the Canon folder in HD > Library > Caches"

"And finally see if there is a Canon package in HD > Library > Receipts. If so, trash this."

"Then disconnect the MP500 USB cable from the Mac, restart the Mac and after you have logged back in, connect the USB cable again. If the device is detected by the Mac, it will attempt to download the driver from Apple. You can also open System Information to see if it is showing under one of the USB busses."

This worked and I am now able to print. I haven't tried scanning yet, but we'll see.

Thanks.

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Answer 3

PAHU

Level 6

16,705 points

Jan 3, 2013 4:14 PM in response to Hangtown Fry

Good to see that you got it working. Not surprised to read that it was the USB cable after all. Cannot tell you how many times the cable has been the cause of connection problems. Even cables that were working with a previous OS or from another computer...

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