check the remaining ink level on your printer. i could on os9 but cant seem to on osx the reason is the printer keeps printing really weird some times it will print ok then it wont. i cant even find how to clean the nozzles, and when it won't print properly at all the only way to sort it is to buy new ink cartridges but it's gone again and they haven't been used that much so i dont think they are empty just need cleaning. the printer is an epson photo 810 if it helps

 

I can check mine by visiting

/Applications/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility.app

Then clickthe Utility icon and that brings up a window for me with all the info. I'm using a Lexmark right now, although the HP one at work also does this.

 

You don't say what version of OSX you're running, but 10.3 has an app called Printer Setup Utility in the utilities folder of the applications folder. That should have a utilities icon in the top of the application window. If you click the icon it should bring up diagnostic options for your printer. I have an HP5550, and can test/clean/check ink levels.

In earlier versions of osx it's called print center.

 

angrynorth, damn you and your fast typing!

 

right i got in to printer utilitys but the utility icon is not highlighted like the others i can't select it and i think i need to by the sounds of it to run the tests any ideas?
it's running osx 10.3.5

 

It seems you may be running OSX's included drivers, not the Epson ones.

Try getting the latest OSX ones from www.epson.co.uk, click support and then downloads.

I got some results and here is the link to what I found but the URL may not work for you as it looks like a cookie thing search.

 

downloading as we speak hope it works will let you know

 

it didnt work downloaded it ran through the install ok but it still wont highlight the utility option.

 

hmm, I am on a slow connection here so I can't do much. I will try the Apple support tomorrow. Might be worth asking on a Mac forum, or searching the Apple site.

I take it nothing that you downloaded helps?

 

Try removing the printer then re-adding it using the Epson application. The OS might still be using the CUPS driver which doesn't allow monitoring/cleaning IIRC.

 

this gets worse i removed it ok but when reinstalling it it opens up os9 automatically and when installing the stuff i downloaded last night it wont put it in to the printer utility bit and when clicking on add it brings up a list but my printer doesn't seem to be on it. maybe i need to get a new one then

 

If there are OS X drivers for it then they should be working. Find the OS X Epson printer utlity and give that a run, see if it does the job for you

I had a Stylus 777 and used the epson util to check the ink level.

If it's launching classic then it sounds as though the printer is not compatible with OS X, which I find a little hard to believe, but it might be possible.

You might want to unplug it (power and USB) then jump into print center/print utility and delete all the listed printers. Then plug the printer back in (power and usb) turn it on, Then click 'add' in print utility, see if the printer pops up, and if so, if it picks up the correct drivers.

 

right after 4 hrs i've managed to get it to highlight the utility option but click on it and theres nothing. it opens up a window titled printer list but theres nothing in it.
so it's took nearly 2 nights to highlight an icon but im still nowhere near being able to do what i want to you can really go off computers you know!!!!

 

what mac ox forums exist ?

 

http://www.macosxhints.com/

http://www.macfixit.com/

http://www.versiontracker.com/

http://discussions.info.apple.com/

There are loads of other links, but these will get you going

 

Is this the driver package you downloaded?
epson6166eu.sit