Epson USB or USB not appearing as an option in Printer Set Up Utility

Question

Epson USB or USB not appearing as an option in Printer Set Up Utility

I am trying to get my Epson Stylus RX510 (RX500 outside Australia) multi function printer to work with my MacBook Pro. I have the latest, correct Intel drivers installed (3.0aEs and scanner software C SPC3_PCF_OSX_27w41). When I connect via USB and select "Add" in Printer Setup Utility, the printer shows up but the drivers do not appear.

The "Auto" option is greyed out.

There is no option for USB or Epson USB available. I think this is the key but...

Having spent days trying to resolve this, speaking to Epson and Apple techs, I still have no luck. This is what I have done so far:

- Unplugged the printer from the MacBook
- Reset Print Setup Utility
- repaired permissions
- in Command "I" I have selected "Open using Rosetta"
- uninstalled all the old Epson drivers
- reinstalled the new drivers
- run Disk Utilty (no problems found)
- run printer setup repair
- reinstalled Mac OS X without the old epson drivers and gimp drivers
- reinstalled the new drivers again - no luck.
- went to the Epson USA site and downloaded the drivers for the RX500 instead of the RX510 - still no luck.
- cried!!!! (kidding - but almost made everyone around me cry).

Incidentally, printer is working perfectly when connected to my G4 with the old drivers, so it isn't a printer problem or dodgy USB cable.

Epson tech says there is nothing wrong with the drivers and I have done everthing correctly.

Apple tech says I have done everything they would tell me to do and to post it in discussions. Here's hoping one of you gurus can help me please.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.7), Currently updating to 10.4.8 as this is being posted.

Posted on Oct 5, 2006 6:50 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 3, 2007 8:27 AM in response to juonamacbookpro

Just in case any one else comes across the same
problem, I have not solved this one.

Indeed, it appears you are not the only one with this problem. See this recent thread. Different printer model but the same problem.

While two reported incidents aren't conclusive, it would appear that there is a problem with the Epson driver package for Intel Macs.

Matt

Mac Mini G4; B&W G3/300

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Answer 2

greg sahli

Level 7

25,508 points

Oct 5, 2006 8:40 PM in response to juonamacbookpro

USB is not a normal option (or menu choice) - USB printers just show up in "Default Browser." Epson USB, on the other hand is only a choice after you click on "More Printers." Did you do that?

It is normal for no driver to be found when the printer is seen in Default Browser - you didn't install the driver that would show there (Gimp-Print).

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Answer 3

Oct 5, 2006 10:19 PM in response to greg sahli

Thanks for replying.

Yes, I clicked on More Printers and Option Clicked More Printers.

The printer does not show up by default. The initial screen is blank and it only shows up when I click "add".

Then I get:

Name: Stylus Photo RX510
Location: [correct]
Print Using: [greyed out] Please select a driver or printer model.

When I click More Printers (or Option Click More printers) a pop up box appears stating "New printer drivers detected. Would you like to reload the browser?" to which I click "OK". But nothing new appears.

Pull down options are only:
Appletalk
Bluetooth
Windows Printing
Canon Network (wireless network for the office next door)
Epson Appletalk
Epson Firewire
Epson TCP/IP

Cheers.

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Answer 4

Oct 6, 2006 12:25 AM in response to juonamacbookpro

Hi,
Try this - it worked for me.
Reinstall the printer driver, but FIRST select "deinstall" in the drop-down install/deinstall menu in the Epson installer software.

This will remove all the bits and pieces of files (several hundreds of them) related to the printer driver that are spread out all over your disk.

THEN install the printer driver.

I did this and had no probles selecting the printer.

I advise taking additional precautions just in case, like repairing permissions using the Apple disk utility and re-starting the computer, but maybe I'm just getting paranoid after a bad experience with OSX 10.4.8...

Good luck!
Garry

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Answer 5

Oct 7, 2006 12:46 AM in response to communiquer

Thank you, unfortunately already tried this. Tried again anyway but no luck.

I am kind off guessing here but the fault seems to be in the installation process. The installer says the "installation successful" but when I do a search on any files created or modified today it only seams to have added the Epson Printer Utility 2 but no actual drivers. No .plist or suchlike.

To confirm this, maybe someone could give me the individual file names to look for after installation, and where they should be located please?

Thanks so much.

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Answer 6

Oct 7, 2006 2:15 AM in response to juonamacbookpro

By the way, I have also just tried:

"throw away all files containing com.apple.print, throw out the epson folder in library>printers, restart, reinstall driver, reset printing, add printer"

...as recommended on the MacFixIt site.

No success - Epson USB still does not appear in PSU.

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Answer 7

Oct 12, 2006 5:50 PM in response to juonamacbookpro

Would you go to the /Library/Printers folder and highlight the Epson folder. In the search box type "USB" (without the quotes). That should find everything with USB in the title. Please post a listing of what is found.

My Epson folder contains an item USB.plugin. That is the item that generates the EPSON USB in the Printer Setup Utility. I believe that the Intel version of the Epson drivers have a bit different file structure, but there should still be that item somewhere. You should also fine the TCPIP.plugin etc in the same directory.

Matt

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Answer 8

Oct 15, 2006 9:08 PM in response to Matt Broughton

Thanks Matt,

In answer to:

Would you go to the /Library/Printers folder and
highlight the Epson folder. In the search box type
"USB" (without the quotes). That should find
everything with USB in the title. Please post a
listing of what is found.

This is the listing:
EPSONUSBPrintClass.plugin
USB.plugin

Cheers
Ju

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Answer 9

Oct 16, 2006 6:24 PM in response to juonamacbookpro

This is the listing:
EPSONUSBPrintClass.plugin
USB.plugin

Sorry to say that I cannot verify that these are all the proper files you need. I cannot install the Intel drivers on my PPC Mac. Even though they are universal binaries, Epson's installer will only work on Intel Macs.

With the USB.plugin being present, I am surprised that it doesn't show up. Getting desperate here. You might try opening the Console (/Applications/Utilties). Then try to add the printer and click on More Printers. Does anything new appear in the Console log? There might be some corruption that will show.

Alternatively, you could try forcing the Printer Setup Utility to open with Rosetta. Highlight the PSU and do a GetInfo (command-I). There will be a place to designate to open with Rosetta. This might work if there is some corruption in the i386 portion of one of the files.

Last thing to try would be to uninstall the Intel drivers and install the PPC drivers. You will again have to force PSU to run under Rosetta. Not the best alternative, but I think you have stumped everyone.

Matt

Mac Mini G4; B&W G3/300

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Answer 10

dalehugo

Level 1

4 points

Oct 17, 2006 10:13 AM in response to juonamacbookpro

I am having the exact same problem with an intel-based imac and an epson cx5800f. Have uninstalled and reinstalled countless timess. Was on the phone for an hour with epson. Installed the 10.4.8 combined update. hand deleted files. I can see the cx5800f.plugin file in the printrs folder in the library but cannot get the printer browser to recognise it.

Am stuck in the middle.

Dale Hugo

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Answer 11

Oct 17, 2006 5:28 PM in response to dalehugo

I am having the exact same problem with an
intel-based imac and an epson cx5800f.

<snip>

but cannot get the printer browser to
recognise it.

With all due respect, this is not the same problem. Failure of the system to recognize your printer is not the same as choosing a communications channel for a printer that is recognized. If you want help with your problem, please start a new topic.

Matt

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Answer 12

Oct 18, 2006 12:36 AM in response to Matt Broughton

Hi Matt,

thanks for trying to help.

I have tried everything you suggest, still no luck.

I have even guessed at a couple of things, like command "I" on Printer Setup Utility and added the EpsonUSB plug in (USB.plugin already appears ticked), and any other plugin I can find related to my printer.

In PSU, after I option click 'more printers' and then click "Advanced" my RX510 printer appears on its own at the bottom of the list, so I select it but when I direct it to the driver it is greyed out.

Sadly, I think I will just have to buy another printer. But I will take my MacBook Pro into the shop with me, install the drivers on the spot and test it before I buy.

Hate being beaten by these challenges though.

Ju

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Answer 13

dalehugo

Level 1

4 points

Oct 18, 2006 6:48 AM in response to Matt Broughton

Actually it IS the same thread. I summarized the details. The symptoms are EXACTLY as the gentleman from Australia described. No channel, no driver, uninstalls and reinstalls did not alleviate the problem. What he saw and went through was the same as I did almost to the letter.

And I have a possible solution (after 1 hour on the phone with Epson and 1 1/2 hours on the phone with Apple).

Apple suggested installed a 3rd part utility called Printer Setup Repair at fixamacsoftware.com It ran diagnostics, solved a few threads. I deleted ALL the Epson drivers with the utility and reinstalled fresh drivers. Now I can see Epson USB printing as an option.

Hey, Aussie...give it a shot. After 5 hours and stumping 3 techs on the phone, this finally fixed ALL the printing problems of channels and drivers not being seen.

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Answer 14

Oct 18, 2006 8:09 PM in response to dalehugo

Thanks - I did already try PSR but on your advice just had another go and below is the log, wherein I suspect the answer lay (for any of you mac guru's anyway). Do I need to find and install all the missing files to get my Epson printer working using the Epson drivers (ie. don't want to use CUPS)? If so can I load them from the Mac OS X install discs without having to reinstall Mac OS X all over again?

Printer Setup Repair Log:
The directory /Applications/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility.app/Contents/PlugIns/CUPS.plugin is missing!
The directory /Applications/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility.app/Contents/PlugIns/CUPS.plugin/Contents is missing!
The file /Applications/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility.app/Contents/PlugIns/CUPS.plugin/Contents/Info.plist is missing!
The directory /Applications/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility.app/Contents/PlugIns/CUPS.plugin/Contents/MacOS is missing!
The file /Applications/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility.app/Contents/PlugIns/CUPS.plugin/Contents/MacOS/CUPS is missing!
The directory /Applications/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility.app/Contents/PlugIns/CUPS.plugin/Contents/Resources is missing!
The file /Applications/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility.app/Contents/PlugIns/CUPS.plugin/Contents/version.plist is missing!
The directory /Applications/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility.app/Contents/PlugIns/USB.plugin/Contents/Resources is missing!
The file /Applications/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility.app/Contents/PlugIns/USB.plugin/Contents/version.plist is missing!
Recreating symbolic links...
Done.

Verification complete.

1924 files examined. No problems were found.

9 missing files/directories found during the verification process. They may be responsible for certain printing problems. Printer Setup Repair cannot replace these items. Please refer to the log file for a list of the missing files/directories. You may need to reinstall OS X to resolve your printing issues. Certain files and directories are deleted when using the Reset Printing System option. These files and directories, if required, will be recreated during normal printing.

Thanks again! Julie

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Answer 15

Oct 19, 2006 10:09 AM in response to juonamacbookpro

Do I need to find and install all the
missing files to get my Epson printer working using
the Epson drivers (ie. don't want to use CUPS)? If so
can I load them from the Mac OS X install discs
without having to reinstall Mac OS X all over again?

You can and should use Pacifist to extract the missing files from your install disks. On the Intel based Macs, these plugin files from the install disks are the latest version. Install only those files that are missing. Many other files included in the Printer Setup Utility have been updated by later system updates. You will need to have Pacifist start looking on your install disks in /System/Installation/Packages. The AdditionalEssentials.pkg will most likely be the package where you will find the Printer Setup Utility.

Printer Setup Repair Log:

...

9 missing files/directories found during the
verification process. They may be responsible for
certain printing problems.

I do hope this solves your problem. I tried removing the files that were listed as missing on your computer. While PSU could no longer see my printer, the EPSON USB, EPSON Firewire, etc. were still listed when I clicked More Printers. I even did a full cache cleaning and the EPSON entries were still there. I hope this is a case of YMMV (your mileage may vary).

Matt

Mac Mini G4; B&W G3/300

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