Greyed out service tool

[Harold Slater]

Have moved countries and I am trying to reset my region.

I finally got a copy of the v3400 service tool from 4shared.

When I open the service tool all the buttons are greyed out.

I 'think' I have the printer in service mode but not sure. The method from 2manuals certainly does something but there is no green light the LED is always blue. But the screen is blank and it does a mechanical check (sounds like it anyway).

It also talks about selecting a USB port on lots of these sites but there is not anh option for that on the software.

Any ideas? Thank you in advance!

 

[Harold Slater]

 

[PeterBJ]

What is the printer model you are trying to execute service mode operations on? If it can be found, the service manual has the proper procedure for entering service mode and performing service mode operations.

Maybe the procedure from 2manuals for entering service mode is not the proper method for your printer; for most printers the resume button should be pressed two times instead of five for entering service mode. I have also seen mentioning of four and six times pressing the resume button.

But trying to execute service mode operations on a printer that is supported by the service tool, but has not entered service mode, should not result in a greyed out service tool, instead the service tool should produce an error message, error 006. See this post.

The part about USB ports could be the reason the the service tool is greyed out. The service tools only work with an USB connection, and only the printer you want to perform service mode operations on should be connected to the computer; if you have more printers attached to your computer, the other printers should be disconnected.

So for the service tool to work the printer must be able to print in normal user mode, when connected to the to the computer via USB. If it is not, then the simplest way to install a copy of your printer for USB printing is to connect the printer to the computer via USB and turn the printer on and let Windows Update install the printer. This works with Windows versions newer than XP.

When USB printing in normal user mode works, then turn off the printer and try entering the service mode again, using either two or five presses of the resume button when trying to enter service mode. Then open the service tool and try service mode operations again.

BTW the service tools only work with Windows, Linux and MacOS cannot be used, but from your uploaded picture I guess you are using Windows 7 or probably Windows Vista. The version 3400 of the service tool supports all versions of Windows from XP and newer both 32 and 64 bit.

You can read more about the service tools in this lengthy thread, note how the knowledge increases with more posts and reports from members.

 

[Harold Slater]

Thank you Peter

The printer is MG4140 (can't believe I forgot to put that!)

Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.

I'll look for the manual and post again later

 

[PeterBJ]

I missed your first question. The newer Canon printers and cartridges are regionalized, meaning that a printer only works with cartridges from the proper region.

But changing the region setting from service mode won't change the cartridges needed. This seems locked in the printer's firmware. Changing the region setting only unlocks or locks CD printing, if the printer has this feature, and determines which driver to install.

So sadly you will still have to use the cartridges from the printers original region.

 

[The Hat]

I missed your first question. The newer Canon printers and cartridges are regionalized, meaning that a printer only works with cartridges from the proper region.

But changing the region setting from service mode won't change the cartridges needed. This seems locked in the printer's firmware. Changing the region setting only unlocks or locks CD printing, if the printer has this feature, and determines which driver to install.

So sadly you will still have to use the cartridges from the printers original region.

If you do change the region on your printer you’ll find no difference as @PeterBJ has explained all ready, but if you need to change only the language then open the Maintenance tap and click on the “About button”, in here you can select your new regional language..

Click to enlarge.

 

[Harold Slater]

Wow that's really rather bad news!

The printer was bought in Egypt originally so I'm not sure how easy it will be to get them from there!

My friend changed region on his HP - starting to wish I'd bought one of them now!

Ok I do still have the empty original 440 and 441 cartridges (and some full 540/541's!)...can I do anything with them?

Otherwise looks like I am buying a new printer?!

Thank you both very much indeed for your help

 

[PeterBJ]

You can refill your original region 4 cartridges. Like with the bigger printer models with separate print head and ink tanks ink level monitoring can be disabled to allow printing with refilled cartridges.

Here is a druckerchannel instruction for refilling the combined sponge/print head cartridges. The cartridges are not the same as your cartridges but the cartridges described are very similar to yours, only the capacities may vary. The instruction is in German, but here is a Google translation to English.

By using a knife and a small hammer (and preferably leather working gloves) you can separate the lids from the cartridges. You can then transfer the ink filled sponges from the region 5 cartridges to the region 4 cartridges and glue the lids in place using super glue. You will need to disable the ink level monitoring to use your "transplanted" or refilled cartridges. This way you will have refilled cartridges with Canon OEM ink.

For the printers with separate print heads and locked CD print capability, changing the region from North America to Europe to allow CD printing doesn't require the Americans to import European cartridges after the region change.

I have seen no reports about region change for the two cartridge printers. Maybe, just maybe a region change to Europe will allow you to use your new PG-540/CL-541 cartridges? I think it is worth giving a try. Please report your results.

I guess that a new printer will not be much more expensive than buying a set of XL cartridges, so maybe this is the best option?

For some HP printers changing the region setting will allow you to use your local cartridges. This is normally done by a service centre, but maybe someone has found out how to do it yourself. If somebody has successfully done a such region change on an HP printer, please post a note in the HP inkjet printer forum.

 

[PeterBJ]

Important news!

It seems that the Canon MG4140 was also sold in Europe, so PG-440 and CL-441 cartridges are also available in Europe. Here is a British supplier. So it seems there is no problem using your printer in Europe, you just have to buy the proper cartridges