Canon firmware/driver updates - A matter of concern?

[The Hat]

stratman wrote -
The Hat:

Can you describe your computers and printers and how they are set up? Do you have a LAN where several printers and computers are shared, or is it one computer and several printers? Or do you have a combination of some printers and computers shared on a LAN and some not?
I have three PCs and a Mac in my setup which are not connected to each other (stand alone).

I dont use the LAN connections on any of my printers but use a Manual share 4 port USB 2 switch
connected to four USB hubs, three which are USB 2 hubs and one is USB 1.

To that there are six inkjet printers and two Laser printers that are connected to my four computers via USB cables.
It means I can print from any one computer at a time and can also print from all of my printers at the same time.

None of my printers are ever switched off but are just asleep except for the 9500 which has to be switched on manually
for a connection to be established and registered by the computer.

So to commutate with any of my printers its only a matter of a click of the mouse button
and they automatically wake up waiting for the next command.

A print command for any of the printers goes through Windows Explorer first then that
connects you to the print setup screen which seems very odd but it does,
when your finished in setup youre returned back to Explorer for the printer to commence its print run.

So despite having different printers all of the print commands are stored in the same location
and handled by Windows and not the print drivers as one would expect.

Even if your printers are shared on a LAN, how would the firmware of printer "A" that is turned off when you update the firmware of printer "B" get updated as well? It can't. The changes (files and registry) are therefore on the local computer that is shared between both printers. Once the firmware is updated on printer "B" then no matter what computer accesses that printer "B" it will use the updated firmware. But updated drivers on a computer should not flash the firmware on a printer "Z" that is newly connected to that computer.

I think I have answered you question about the relationship between the operation systems and the printers,
one further thing to note is that the Mac computer has no connection with Windows
or its commands and cannot be affected by them in any way.

But when the Mac sends a print command it still has to use the same margins for printing which were originally set in Windows,
because the printers themselves have being upgraded to these new settings and not the print driver software.

It would be shoddy coding if an update for your 4700 also updated your 9500 MkII since these two printers have markedly different parameters. That wouldn't make sense.

All of my printers have the same print margins from the old i865 to my Pro 9500 but not the Samsung Laser printers thankfully.
Since when has Canon ever cared for what the print owners think just so long as we keep buying their inks, its profit before services remember?

 

[stratman]

Hmm. Correct me if I am wrong. You use USB hubs to connect several printers to a switch. The switch is then connected to each of your 4 computers via USB cables. The switch is "manual", which means you must set the active port by hand and that all ports are not active at the same time. All printers are kept on except for the 9500 MkII which needs to be turned on before a printing session.

Since your switch can only access one of the four ports at a time, your update on "Computer 1" can only effect changes to whatever is on the other end of the switch's selected single port - refered to here as "Port A". If you have a hub that you are accessing via that single port on the switch then you may have access to anything connected to that hub that is powered on and recognized by "Computer 1". All other computers and peripherals not connected to Port A are not recognized. As such, any computer not attached to Port A cannot be updated or flashed - if I understand the properties of your switch.

Furthermore, usually it takes Enterprise grade software (probably using a Server operating system) to update more than one computer or peripheral in a network at one time. The Canon drivers I've seen are not Enterprise grade software. You must run the driver update on each computer for each printer (unless it is a universal driver that spans multiple model printers - which Canon is not).

But I am not experienced with the use of hubs or your particular switch, so maybe there is something I am unaware of. Can you explain more about print jobs that must utilize Windows Explorer. I have not heard of this arrangement before. Is this Windows Explorer initiated by the same computer on your network, as in all commands go through a single computer, or, does this occur with all computers but one turned off - even if you use a different computer each time while the others are powered off?

Even if all the printers have the same margins, other parameters controlled by the firmware are different between printer models. For instance, the number of nozzles, ink colors, and color management is different for each printer. Flashing with a different printer's firmware would cause unusual results and lots of calls to Canon tech support. While there may be some universal aspects in the firmware for certain different models, there is no way there is sufficient commonality to flash all of your printers with the same firmware and not get poor printing results. Whether Canon is savvy enough to prevent an incorrect firmware flash can be debated, but the results of an incorrect firmware flash are not debatable. It would be a mess, possibly a bricked printer.

You didn't explain why you think the firmware has been altered on all your printers. From what you've written so far, I don't think you updated the firmware of all the printers, maybe some but not all, and the rest of the changes are due to driver update which changed files and registry entries in your operating system.

You've said the changes occurred after a SINGLE driver update and that all computers on your network bring up a Windows Explorer screen before you get to Windows Print screen. Does this happen with the Mac computer?

You said that the change you dislike is not being able to use a 3 mm margin and that you were unable to change it back to 3mm. I take it this is a setting in the Windows "Print" screen. This still could be due to a file/registry change and not firmware. Obviously connecting your Mac computer directly (not through a hub and switch) to the printers and testing out margin settings would be a test. It could also be the image software you are using to print has been changed, either by an update or a manual setting.

I doubt firmware changes were made on all your printers at one time from a single driver update for a specific model printer. Anything's possible but I doubt I'll wake up next to Miss America tomorrow morning. There is more than to this than at first blush, my friend, or we're having a failure to communicate (Cool Hand Luke ).

 

[The Hat]

stratman
I have no idea how all of my printers use exactly the same settings but they do,
I maybe right or wrong in my earlier statements as to how this occurred,
it could be something else that I missed entirely.

I have to accept the changes that were made but dont have to like them and
I have not found any easy work round especially on Avery labels.

As far as I can see the changes that were made were to the printers and not to the software that they use.
It could be that from a certain date ALL new printers installed on any computer
have the same setup layout and margins I dont really know.

None of my Computers are connected by any network of any kind and are not controlled by anything
other than their own operating system and the USB cable only commutates commands outward.

The software I mainly use is Illustrator and I use it on both platforms Mac / Windows XP and
now use a newer version of Illustrator on Vista/Win7 64 bit I still ended up with the very same margins.

The internal control of the individual printer is solely down to the Canon software i.e. (The print driver)
like print style, quality of colours and type and size paper used and everything else that a printer is capable of
including duplex, greyscale orientation of sheet etc, BUT never any output not even the printing.

All output from the printer is directly controlled by the operating system whichever it maybe.
When a software program (whichever one that you selected) is used to print a sheet out from any printer
regardless of it been HP, Canon, Epson, Oki, Kodak, Lexmark
the print command is handled by whats known as the print spooler in that operating system.

It doesnt matter whether its Mac or Windows system it is still uses the same independent print procedures.
The print spooler on a PC is directly controlled by Windows Explorer.exe not by Canon software at all.
So when you go to print the window that comes up will look like the Canon printer window but it is not
its Explorer.exe with a little bit of code supplied by Canon which then passes it
onto Spoolsv.exe to actually print the job for you.

I wish you well if you happen to meet Miss America in the morning..

 

[stratman]

It doesnt matter whether its Mac or Windows system it is still uses the same independent print procedures.
The print spooler on a PC is directly controlled by Windows Explorer.exe not by Canon software at all.
So when you go to print the window that comes up will look like the Canon printer window but it is not
its Explorer.exe with a little bit of code supplied by Canon which then passes it
onto Spoolsv.exe to actually print the job for you.

Why would a Mac computer bring up a Windows Explorer window?

None of my Computers are connected by any network of any kind and are not controlled by anything
other than their own operating system and the USB cable only commutates commands outward.

Yes, they are old-school networked and the USB cable must be bi-directional in order for printer and computer to function properly. But that still does not explain how printers located on a different port on your manual switch can have their firmware updated when the switch is set to a different port. There are no trojans or time bombs or scheduled installations with Canon driver software, at least the non-Enterprise versions available. You must install the driver update on one computer at a time, and any effect on that driver's associated printer (as there is no universal driver for Canon printers that I am aware of) is solely on that one printer (not other models) connected to that one computer.

What you are saying about your printers doesn't make sense. Firmware doesn't get flashed across operating system platforms or onto different models from a single install or via a port that is not selected on the switch - all from a single driver update installation. I am now sure we are having a failure to communicate. I can live with it if you can.

 

[PeterBJ]

I am trying to follow and understand your posts guys, but am not sure I got every bit of it.(pun intended)

The Hat, Have I understood this correctly? You use Windows Explorer to locate pictures on Windows computers. Then you right click the picture you want to print and select "print". From new window you can now change printer properties and settings like this (click thumb to enlarge):



The Danish "Angiv margen" translates into "Set Margin" or similar, my OS is Danish, I don't know the English Microsoft term. Clicking the highlighted button gives this dialogue box (click thumb to enlarge):



I am allowed to set margin to 0-30 mm. This is for a Pixma 4000 connected to a Win Vista 32 bit desktop computer. I have done similar tests with Pixma 5200 and MP 540 connected to a Win 7 32 bit laptop. I get the same 0-30 mm margin limits.

Is this your problem? You are limited to a 5-30 mm range?

I have Canon printers MPC 190, Pixmas 4000, 4200, 5200, MP540 and 2 NIB Pixma 3600. The latter were bought at a bargain price just to get the printheads and OEM cartridges that also fit the MP 540. The MPC 190 only works with Win XP, no newer driver availlable.

I have computers using Win XP Home and Pro, Win Vista Home Premium and Win 7 Home premium, All OS's are 32 bit. I also have Kubuntu 64 bit and Linux Mint 32 bit, but I have very limited Linux experience. Printers used with Win Vista and 7 were installed using plug-and play with drivers from Windows Update. The drivers from Windows Update are supplied by Canon.

Any combination of these computers and printers, you want me to check out? Am I looking at the right settings? Else tell me where to look.

Canon printers may be choosey about USB connections. In some user manuals it is recommended that the printer is connected directly to the computer, without the use of a hub. Also the USB system itself has a max allowable cable lenght of 5 metres.

Unlike other printer manufacturers Canon has AFAIK not (yet?) used dirty tricks in fighting refillers. I consider design and chip changes fair, but annoying. They are protecting their interests after all. Sneaking in firmware updates, in Trojan style, as other manufacturers may have done is another thing. That fits the description of distributing Malware in my opinion. I think that is a dirty trick and possibly illegal. This has been targeted at refillers and CIS users.

The possible Canon firmware update also affects loyal customers, who only use OEM cartridges, so I don't understand why?

 

[The Hat]

stratman
OK lets start again

Why would a Mac computer bring up a Windows Explorer window?

Both Macs and PCs use completely different named software to do the same job.

But that still does not explain how printers located on a different port on your manual switch can have their firmware updated when the switch is set to a different port.

All of the printers are connected together on the hubs but not so the Computers.

Firmware doesn't get flashed across operating system platforms or onto different models from a single install or via a port that is not selected on the switch

Right I have look into this a bit further and the print driver uses small DLL files that are stored in the Explorer.exe
and its these files that are normally changed or upgraded whenever a newer DLL file is found or used
and that I believe is how all my printers are singing from the same hymen sheet.

Just so you know that its Explorer.exe that I am referring to and NOT Internet Explorer.exe
if not the men with the white coates will be here in the morning telling me that their Miss America..

 

[The Hat]

PeterBJ
I am allowed to set margin to 0-30 mm. This is for a Pixma 4000 connected to a Win Vista 32 bit desktop computer. I have done similar tests with Pixma 5200 and MP 540 connected to a Win 7 32 bit laptop. I get the same 0-30 mm margin limits.

Is this your problem? You are limited to a 5-30 mm range?

OK
I am allowed choose margins in all but two of my printers and have the same dialogue box as you have shown for specifying margins.
Regardless of what figure I put in to this box I am still limited to 5 mm it has for some reason defaulted
to that figure in my printers even the ones that dont have the ability to specify margins.

When I click to print a sheet Explorer brings up a Canon print window like this one below and by clicking on properties
can further change the print setup to my own satisfaction and all of these little print windows are displayed in Explorer also.

All my drivers were Microsoft supplied and signed.

Canon printers may be choosey about USB connections. In some user manuals it is recommended that the printer is connected directly to the computer, without the use of a hub. Also the USB system itself has a max allowable cable lenght of 5 metres.

The only time Canon recommends connecting their printer to a Computer directly is with their all-in-ones and not with their stand alone models,
its got something to do with their scanners not being recognised by another software packages.

The length of the USB cable can be longer than 5 metres when it is powered by a hub and not by the Computer itself,
it can be even 50 metres just as long as there is a hub every 10 metres or so to maintain the powered connection.

 

[stratman]

Why would a Windows Explorer window pop up at all? I'm not sure we are defining things the same way. Never have I seen Windows Explorer pop up as a requirement to print a picture - unless I am working out of Windows Explorer in the first place or selecting a file (browsing) to open in my image software. Can you post a screen grab of the Windows Explorer and also detail the steps you take to print an image beginning with the software you are using to print from.

I also don't have complete understanding on how your printers, hubs and the switch are connected together. Can you provide a link to the specific Manual share 4 port USB 2 switch you are using. Not every switch is configured the same.

DLL files are not stored in Explorer.exe. An application "calls" these DLL library files for often used "universal" code routines. They are used as shortcuts by software developers - instead of writing the code into their software, the developer uses the Dynamic Linked Library file. Saves a lot of time writing software and hopefully avoiding headaches decoding bugs.

Back to the point, the changes you mention may be firmware changes, which you might be able to roll back by flashing with older firmware, or they might be due to changes in files and/or registry entries and may be rolled back under proper conditions. Sometimes firmware developers can make it near impossible to backwards flash. Usually you can rollback driver updates, especially if you use something like Total Uninstall or Ashampoo Uninstaller - either is incredibly useful especially if you like to tinker trying out new software or just like to keep a clean disk and registry. (You can also use the free Sandboxie to try new installs within a virtual environment that is wiped clean as if the application was never run when you close it. Great to use if you are concerned with malware infection.)

If none of this issue is a concern to you then let me know and we can forget about it.

... all my printers are singing from the same hymen sheet.

Please tell me that's a typo. Otherwise we need to stage an intervention.

 

[PeterBJ]

The Hat wrote:
... all my printers are singing from the same hymen sheet.

Must be related to virgin empty OEM cartridges

 

[PeterBJ]

I can get the same printer dialogue box if I choose to print a WORD document. If I want to print a text file from Notepad, I get a simpler dialogue box, and wanting to print a .pdf file brings a larger dialogue box.

Where do I go now from here to check if the problems with margins also affect my printers that have Microsoft supplied drivers on Win Vista and 7 installations, and so may be a general problem ?

This is not printer related but maybe similar to your problem: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=781082

I didn't know that USB hubs only were a problem with AIO's. That explains why only some manuals advise not to use hubs. I did know about USB repeaters/amplifiers and that a hub also can serve as a such range extender though. I just thought that hubs were a no-no with Canon printers.

So how do I check my margin settings ? I use my printers mostly for plain paper printing of documents, and occasionally for photo printing. I'm able to print borderless photos.