Epson Stylus Photo RX500 - 'Service Required'

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gilescross
Newbie

Registered: Jul 2005
Location: ink-n-paper
Posts: 6

OS: Apple Mac OSX 10.4.3

Epson Stylus Photo RX500 - 'Service Required'

Operating System: Apple Mac OSX 10.4.2

July 28th, 2004. Cheshire, United Kingdom

in the thirteen month of ownership (isn't this just typical?!), i started to receive messages on the printer's little screen saying a service is required, and thus when the message was displayed the machine couldn't be used. i was able to restart it and it worked ok off and on for about a week, erm, up until yesterday when now all the little screen says is 'printer error - see your documentation and call service if necessary'

so, there's nothing in the manual (is there ever?!) and have no clue what to do. i've read other people's comments on the internet about not using the correct cartridges (originals) or to clean the ink pad that catches dripping ink just below where the cartridge tray sits when not in use (clean it, let it dry and then reset the counter). Apparently, there is a free download for windows users that resets a chip or something, so does anyone know how to get rid of the service message as i know full well there is absolutely nothing wrong with the printer.

i'm bloody annoyed at epson for doing something as sneaky as this... perhaps i should buy an hp next time...

thanx for anyone's help in advance.

giles

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07-28-2005 06:10 PM

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billyd
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USB Tech Specialist

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 10160

OS: All Windows

Ahhh - good old Google.

http://www.google.com/search?source...equired+message

I think I'll start charging people for teaching them how to search effectively.

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Please do not use Private Messaging to ask technical questions. Keep it out in the open.

Please update your virus protection, visit Windows Update and beware that overclocking your CPU can cause odd USB behavior.

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07-28-2005 06:19 PM

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gilescross
Newbie

Registered: Jul 2005
Location: ink-n-paper
Posts: 6

OS: Apple Mac OSX 10.4.3

hi,

as stated, i'm using Apple Mac OSX 10.4.2. no viruses for five years.

thanx though!

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07-28-2005 06:25 PM

billyd
Forum Moderator
USB Tech Specialist

Registered: Jan 2002
Location:
Posts: 10160

OS: All Windows

It's not operating system-dependent. If you read the very first hit in Google, you will see this reply:

"TERRY-

I HAVE A R300 AND THE BEST ANSWER I FOUND WAS ON ANOTHER SITE, FROM A USER CALLED SNEAKER. AND ALL YOU DO IS PUSH AND HOLD DOWN THREE BUTTONS. PUSH POWER, PRINT, AND MAINTENANCE BUTTON(THEY ARE ALL TOGETHER,GREEN, LIGHT GREY, DARK GREY) AND HOLD DOWN FOR TEN SECONDS AND IT WILL MAKE A NOISE,TURN OFF YOUR PRINTER. TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND TURN IT BACK ON AND IT IS AS GOOD AS NEW. I SWEAR, I DID IT AND IT WORKS. YOU BYPASS THE SERVICE. ITS AWESOME! HOPE THIS HELPS YOU. PLEASE RESPOND AND LET ME KNOW.

TONIA"

Don't assume. That's good advice. I'm sure that you've heard the pun about how to break the word 'assume" down.

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07-28-2005 06:29 PM

gilescross
Newbie

Registered: Jul 2005
Location: ink-n-paper
Posts: 6

OS: Apple Mac OSX 10.4.3

hehe, thanx, i'm actually reading the google one right now. i'll let you know...

giles

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07-28-2005 06:41 PM

gilescross
Newbie

Registered: Jul 2005
Location: ink-n-paper
Posts: 6

OS: Apple Mac OSX 10.4.3

shame. no such buttons on mine. his was an RX300 and mine's a RX500. i'll keep looking...

ugh!

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07-28-2005 06:47 PM

gilescross
Newbie

Registered: Jul 2005
Location: ink-n-paper
Posts: 6

OS: Apple Mac OSX 10.4.3

I HAVE FOUND A SOLUTION!!!!!!!!

with the power off do the following:

for a few seconds, until the exclamation mark continually flashes (the screen will flash a few times during this process), hold down the below buttons, all at once :

power
load/eject
b&w
colour
stop

the machine powers up automatically (keep the buttons pressed until the exclamation mark starts to flash)

the following message shows on the screen:

'init eeprom'

all you do next is press the colour button

voila!

... or viola if you play a musical instrument

apparently, we have to make sure the ink-catch-pad (or whatever its official name is), which is located underneath where the ink cartridge cradle sits when idle, is either replaced with a new one, or cleaned under a cold tap, left to dry and put back; otherwise it will overflow with ink and leak all over the surface of where the machine is located (desk, floor or shelf etc).

giles cross

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07-29-2005 04:19 PM

Jens
Newbie

Registered: Dec 2005
Location:
Posts: 1

OS: Windows XP

Thank Thank you sooooooooooo much. You fixed the problem that Epson had no idea about. I contacted Epson about this problem about the error message and after 10 mins of Bull----- that I already did myself they said I need to take in my printer for servicing. I told them I'm not paying for something I could have done myself. They agreed not to charge me. They did not have an answer to this error message in Tech support. How is it a manufacturer of a product cannot give you an answer to a problem you are having. What a scham Epson is. I think they make great printers but.... everyone at some time will encounter this error messsage. Does this mean that service depts are all making a lot of money off this when you could fix it yoursefl in 3 seconds!!! I'm disqusted. I was going to go out and buy a new printer because it's cheaper then getting it serviced taking it in and the time it requires to fix it, down time etc. Thanks again you guys are the best. You Rock. Jens

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12-28-2005 10:01 PM

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gilescross
Newbie

Registered: Jul 2005
Location: ink-n-paper
Posts: 6

OS: Apple Mac OSX 10.4.3

... but it didn't last long...!

excited as much as i was, i was unable to make it work a second time a few weeks later when the same error message returned.

the epson RX500 now sits under a table in the stock room not plugged into anything because i haven't been able to get it working again.

naturally, i purchased an HP and am thoroughly satisfied thus far.

go HP, go away epson!

giles

Last edited by gilescross on 12-29-2005 at 01:50 PM

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12-29-2005 01:47 PM

Postal Ink
Newbie

Registered: Aug 2006
Location:
Posts: 1

OS: XP

I had this problem with my R300 but the fix above sorted it.

I'm sure there must be an easy fix for the RX500 too!

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Ink Cartridges

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08-09-2006 07:46 PM

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Shelley Lewis
Newbie

Registered: Jul 2008
Location:
Posts: 1

OS: Windows XP

'Service Required' error message.

I have been receiving same 'Service Required' message but the printer went on working despite it. Then - it stopped! Error lights flashing all over the printer!

I called Epson and despite being OUT OF WARRANTY - they have arranged for a brand new replacement printer to be delivered.

They know about problem and it was immediate offer from their Customer Service dept.

Good luck!!

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07-05-2008 11:32 AM

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gailouise
Newbie

Registered: Sep 2008
Location:
Posts: 1

OS: Windows XP Home SP3

Shelley-

I'm curious about how old your printer was when they agreed to replace it? And did they come through?

My RX500 is 4 years old and this is the first "service" message I've received. I've sent them an e-mail requesting info.

Thanks for some hope!

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gailouise, CA

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09-30-2008 12:29 AM

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chriscadiente
Newbie

Registered: Nov 2009
Location:
Posts: 2

OS: XP, VISTA, OS X

I was having some printer plm with my Epson RX500. The lines were extremely small, and one of the brand new recycled ink cartridges was being read as defective by the printer. Printer has not been used for 3-4 years.

Printer keeps saying No Ink even though the cartridges have some ink.

I used the SSC Service Utility to change some ink settings, (like freezing the counter) but no change. And the utility also read the cartridges as empty.

Replaced all the ink cartridges and the printer quality was unacceptable. Text looked like scribbly lines. Also, the printer kept reading the Light Cyan as "Error, Replace Cartridge." I checked the cartridge and the ink was fine.

I found the reset here (ON, Load Eject, B&W, Color, Stop buttons when printer is OFF, the press Color) twice. I had to do a lot of Nozzle Cleaning after the first reset, but now my RX500 is printing again.

How to Reset a RX500:
Press the ff buttons while the printer is OFF.
ON
Load Eject
B&W
Color
Stop

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11-19-2009 05:50 PM

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chriscadiente
Newbie

Registered: Nov 2009
Location:
Posts: 2

OS: XP, VISTA, OS X

Re: 'Service Required' error message.

quote:
Originally posted by Shelley Lewis
I have been receiving same 'Service Required' message but the printer went on working despite it. Then - it stopped! Error lights flashing all over the printer!

I called Epson and despite being OUT OF WARRANTY - they have arranged for a brand new replacement printer to be delivered.

They know about problem and it was immediate offer from their Customer Service dept.

Good luck!!

Lucky u. Printer has been very good after I did a reset. Nothing seems to be wrong with the hardware.

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11-19-2009 05:56 PM

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