Page 1 of One day my prints will come.

I have an Epson all in one SX515 which up until retiring the old XP PC was working absolutely fine.
Since moving to Windows 10 it initially worked well enough on the generic driver already in Win 10 but Epson don't do a driver for this OP.  It now keeps refusing to work as it says it doesn't recognise the ink cartridges, which it wouldn't as they're not Epson, but I've always managed to get them to work in the past.

Anyway, cut to the chase.
Is it possible to get it to work with a driver from a previous release of Windows or do I need to retire it. I really hate throwing something away that works but given that you can get a new Epson for under 40 quid I can't see there being a market for it S/H.
If I get a new Epson are they easier or more difficult to use with non Epson cartridges.

Snaps

You may be able to get it to work with any driver from Windows Vista onwards, obviously the later OS that driver supports the better. But MS dramatically changed their driver model for Vista which broke all XP drivers (although some 32 bit drivers kinda worked for printers, though post XP nobody should be using 32 bit OS').

Another alternative, which is what I do, because I have an Epson Photo Color 950 that the arseholes at Epson also deemed "not worth our time supporting beyond XP, throw it away and give us more money for a new one please" is run a WinXP virtual machine using VirtualBox (which supports USB).

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Quote:
Rob Shepherd says...
"run a WinXP virtual machine using VirtualBox (which supports USB)."
Check out my new avatar. That may be above my pay grade.
I think your printer is older than  mine then, I seem to recall having a Photo Colour 850 which, without checking,  must have been concurrent.

I'll see what the latest driver available is from Epson (show me the money) UK.
Are Epson still the easy route for third party inks as I recall most other manufacturers made it a lot more difficult.

EDIT: Just tried to download a different driver with no luck and tried my usual dodge to get it to recognise the cartridges, also with no luck.

As I put a higher value on my time than 40 quidish to spend the next couple of hours arsing about trying to get it to work I guess Epson have won.
But I'll still be using third party cartridges so  Epson.

Snaps

This item was edited on Thursday, 5th January 2017, 11:31

I can't remember which brands are good/bad but I've seen posts on hukd regarding cheap printers, where people have replied saying that they can have problems with 3rd party cartridges, or refill kits, so you "have" to buy the proper ones, costing more than the printer :(

I have a Samsung laser, I bought a refill kit, which works, but only prints in toner saving mode now, which isn't a problem for me as I don't have to print anything important.

http://mobro.co/admars

Print cartridges are a big con as far to high priced in the UK, I tend to bring a load back with me from my Australia holidays, where they are less half the UK price.

Yeas ago here in the UK it was actually cheaper to buy a new cheap printer with a free full black and coloured ink cartridge, rather than buy a cartridge on its own. Did that for quite a a few years, but companies got wise to that and now just give you a quarter full cartridge with a new printer, to stop that.

I've been using third party cartridges for years from a local shop which only does printer inks. From way back when I bought the printer Epson was the route to go as they were the one brand which gave least problems using other inks. I'll probably have a quick word with them before buying.
Supplying printers with just a set of 'sample' cartridges is the biggest con going.
Just found a little dodge on t'internet to reset the cartridge empty warning stemming from the actual cartridge (paperclip to push reset on the chip) as they can flag up empty when damn near still half full.

Snaps

https://www.myreviewer.com/Article/117039/Beware-of-Third-Party-Inks

That's what I think of third party inks. Not that I like being limited to the official overpriced ones. :/

One advantage of an old printer, you can still find the inks on ebay cheaper than third party ones would have cost you.

Snaps, it's pretty much as easy as "Can I install an operating system?" if the answer is yes, you should be able to manage VirtualBox. I could find a guide if it would help?

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I suppose a lot of it comes down to what you're printing out and why. if you're just printing out directions from google maps (yes I still do that) then it's not an issue, but I guess if you want to keep some photos it is, unless you can just print them again that is.

I don't have a colour printer, if I want to print photos, I either use photobox when I have a few to print or am getting a photobook, or just use the machine in Tesco or Boots. The results on those are good, I'll have to print them same photo on one of them, and on my mum's HP and run some experiments. I remember when my dad was looking at printers he was talking to the guy in Jessops who told him if he wasn't going to print very often he'd be better off using their equipment rather than buying a printer, but I suppose he would say that ;)

On your recommendation I would take a shot at it but I'm beginning to think the refusal to recognise the cartridges is a bit more than a driver issue.
When all said and done it must be something like 7 years old at least.

On the quality issue it's just used for general stuff. Kids are now well past school so when photo is needed it's only for invites, cards and stuff that isn't required to last.
I printed out some stuff for framing at the local Asda this Crimbo and was pleasantly surprised at the quality. Also use Photobox and a professional lab for the occasional 'must knock your socks off' print.

Snaps

Quote:
admars says...
"if you're just printing out directions from google maps (yes I still do that) then it's not an issue, but I guess if you want to keep some photos it is, unless you can just print them again that is."
This is true, if you are printing anything but photos I can totally understand buying third party inks.

But if photos is your thing, definitely keep with official inks, because otherwise you will find yourself exponentially printing out an ever increasing number of photos!

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