Rants

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Fri 27 Jan 2012

My HP Photosmart C6250 – Ink System Failure

Posted @ 10:26 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Rants

First off, let me say I have not had a single good thing to say about HP printers or computers for 10+ years. Somehow, I keep getting roped into replacing with newer HP hardware. I keep thinking, “HP is a huge company, no way they’d do that to their customers on purpose”, and the saga continues into a new generation of hardware/software. (I admit I am a little thick at times).

This experience has been a good one for me. Maybe I am finally ready to cut the ties on my last piece of HP hardware – permanently. Time will tell.

So what does one do when they replace ink cartridges and you get the error:

Ink System Failure
Error 0xc18a0101

The printer driver also prominently displays the same error, saying click here for more information. I click, what do I get? Nothing except “check the users manual”. Now I know where this is going. I can see the writing on the wall. But so I can say I tried I download the users manual – because they don’t give you a users manual in writing and I guess it costs too much to include the extra bytes with the driver install. As I suspected, the user manual does not even hint that such an error can even occur.

I speed out to the Internet. I get lots of results for Ink System Failure and Error 0xc18a0101. I am almost literally standing on my head through some of these procedures. Here is some advice I get:

  • If removable printhead place in boiling water for 30 minutes
  • Unplug power for 2 minutes
  • Do not turn off, unplug power, wait 30 seconds, remove all print cartridges, plug in, turn on, install print cartidges, power off, turn on.
  • Use a pin to clear both holes in each of the 5 ink cartridges housing assembly
  • Find the circuit board that hosts the battery for the CMOS chip and remove battery for 30 minutes
  • File a class action lawsuit because HP advises discarding printer and upgrading
  • On the HP site, the information is “curiously sparse” – hmmm, printer is out of warranty. BUT I can pay $20 to ask a rep my question. Not an option!

Now, for the last 2 years I have been using remanufactured cartridges from (as far as I know) a reputable Internet firm that stands behind their cartridges with a 100% money back guarantee. I suspect from the online chatter that HP has built some type of “counter” into the printer that tracks usage of non-OEM inks. We all know they figured out many years ago that the money in printers is in the ink, not the printer itself. Give away a printer and you have a customer for life – until those REMAN vendors came into the picture… You get the chatter. True or not, something here rings fishy – especially when you see the SOLUTION to my dilemma which I post below.

Five hours of my life were exhausted before I found the solution at Fix your printer!.

So here goes… This will get you into the “super secret” menu. Who knows, maybe HP would have given me an upgrade credit for my printer so they could send to their remanufacturing unit for resale – and a tidy profit for less than 2 minutes of “techy work” to make the printer usable for some new sap.

  1. Perform the below steps on the front panel of the printer
  2. Press and Hold the “Print Photos” & “Red Eye Removal” buttons.
  3. Release both buttons.
  4. Display should say “Enter Special Key Combo” (if it doesn’t proceed anyway, as if it does)
  5. Press and release in sequence
    “Red Eye Removal”,
    “Print Photos”,
    “Red Eye Removal”
  6. Display should say “Support” and display the firmware rev (something like R0616R)
  7. Press and release the right arrow button until the display says “System Configuration Menu”
  8. Press and release the “OK” button.
  9. Display should say “Hardware failure status: Clear. Press OK to clear”.
  10. Press and release the “OK” Button.
  11. Message changes to “Hardware failure status Cleared. Press Cancel to continue”.
  12. Press and release the “CANCEL” button as many times as necessary, so that, either the “Welcome to Photosmart Express” screen appears, or the “Ink System Failure” screen appears.

    13. PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO PRINT AT THIS STAGE.

  13. Using the Power Button, turn the unit OFF and unplug the power cable from back of the printer and wall outlet.
  14. Wait 30 seconds for the power to get discharged and then plug the power cable into the wall outlet first and then into the back of the printer.
  15. Turn the unit on. The printer may display message “USE POWER BUTTON TO SHUTDOWN THE PRINTER” followed by “PRESS OK TO CONTINUE”.
  16. Press OK.
  17. Print a self test page from the printer.
  18. Make sure that the printer is on and loaded with unused plain, white paper.
  19. Press Setup . The Setup menu appears.
  20. Press the down arrow button to select Tools.
  21. Press OK.
  22. Press the down arrow button to select Self-test Report.
  23. Press OK.

Thank you very much, HP!

 

Fri 2 Dec 2011

Google Groanings

Posted @ 4:42 pm      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Rants
Does Google frustrate anyone besides me?  Overall, I’d have to say it’s my preferred search engine in quality, flexibility and presentation of the data I search for.  BUT…
 
And these are huge… it’s
  • Awkward with places you dare not click or something appears (in the olden days white space was always a safe clicking area to gain control the the mouse)
  • Sluggish when entering my search terms
  • Multi-frames each with independent scroll bars means excessive scrolling (esp. images.google.com)
  • Bookmarks has twice lost all are some of my bookmarks
  • All these “newfangled” icons for entries (+1, etc.) aid to confusion
  • Browser “back page” yields initial Google home vs. list of search terms – argh!  Now I have to use the slow search box again!
 
OK, to be fair these are ONLY the ones on the top of my head.  There are a lot more.  Whatever happened to the old days when a search was simple and not some bloated do-everything-in-one-neat-package-so-you-slow-the-function-down.
 
Come to think of it Microsoft went the same route, as have many other software companies (Intuit, etc.)
 
Why can’t you add bells and whistles and make them 100% optional.  Remove all their functionality (and resulting slowdowns) if I decide they’re not worth the price.  Give me the option to keep what is working fine, working fine.
 

Mon 15 Aug 2011

A Product of Goodwill?

Posted @ 10:04 am      {Click to post comment} (1 posted) 
Category: Rants
What’s with the prevailing attitude of this younger generation?
 
At the risk a a broad-brush stereotype why is the merging generation of young adults sitting around waiting for their ships to come in?  It’s a tough job market.  I have several peers, advanced in decades, who have lost their jobs for various reasons over the last 10 years.  For the most part they have jumped in and taken whatever they could find – some even working 2 jobs at fast food and mowing lawns to reduce the impact of the reduction in income.  These are men who have “paid their dues” jumping in and moving back to ground zero in the job market.  They do what it takes.  Most have, after a few weeks, months or in some cases years, finally found the job they were hoping for in the first place.
 
Then there’s this emerging generation of adults.  They refuse to look at “menial” jobs.  They know the one they are looking for is just around the corner.  Give me a break.  A year later and still not working?  Why is it you’re so much better than my peers who break their backs and do what it takes?  Do you deserve better?
 
Or have you been trained to “not get stuck in my dead-end job” and the unintended consequence of my generations training is to create and attitude of entitlement?  I have observed my generation as a whole and we are pretty spoiled.  We pretty much grew up thinking we should have the cars, houses, furniture of our preceding generation without the years of work it took them to get to that point.  We saw credit at the answer to our dilemma and so many of us dug ourselves in pretty deeply.  Why didn’t we have to pay our dues?
 
Guess the wheels keep turning and we get what we perpetrate.  Thank goodness there are exceptions to the rule.  These will be our leaders while the majority stay on their little wheel striving for the futile.
 

Fri 12 Aug 2011

PC or Personal Computer?

Posted @ 9:03 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Rants

THE PC IS OFFICIALLY 30 YEARS OLD TODAY
1981: The IBM 5150 Is Born
IBM launched the 5150 PC on Aug. 12, 1981.

 

It wasn’t much by today’s standards, or even yesterday’s. The 5150 featured a 4.77 MHz 8-to-16 bit Intel 8088 processor. It was less powerful than other processors available from Intel and Motorola, but those were thought to be “too powerful” for a PC. IBM also gave the 5150 a full 64 kilobytes of RAM — expandable to whopping 256 kB — one or two floppy drives (your choice) and a monochromatic display.

 

The 5150 was developed in less than a year by a team of 12 led by Don Estridge. The project was given the codename “Project Chess” — which we mention only because it sounds so cool — and built using off-the-shelf components.

 

Depending on how you configured your 5150, you’d shell out anywhere from $1,565 to $6,000 for one. That comes to $4,000 to $15,000 in today’s dollars. The success of the 5150 made the IBM PC the industry standard, and before long a whole bunch of “IBM compatibles” and clones jumped into the burgeoning PC market.
Wired Magazine – August 12, 2011

 
Sounds great but a bit misleading.  IBM was a little late to the forray… so I did a little homework.
 
Was it the IBM PC?
Bzzzt! The IBM PC was introduced in 1981. It was perhaps the first to wear the “PC” label, but that was IBM’s only innovation. They sure sold a bunch of them, though.
 
Was it the Apple ][?
No, the 1977 Apple ][ was the first highly successful mass-produced personal computer, but not the first personal computer. Nor was the 1976 Apple 1, which can be considered an Apple ][ prototype since only 200 or so were made.
The Apple 1 signaled the end of toggle switches and blinken lights, and launched the interactive graphical microcomputer as a new class of machine.

There were many other devices even before the Apple, TRS-80 and others entered the market.  As I recall IBM only reluctantly decided that the market might have some potential.
 
So to be true, yes the “PC” is 30 years old BUT the Personal Computer itself pre-dates the PC by many, many years.  As long as we’re all on the same page.
 

Thu 26 May 2011

Was that Awkward or What?

Posted @ 12:09 pm      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Rants
I’ve been a little pre-occupied lately but thought it is worthy of making on a comment on an event that has had a bit of my attention over the last few months
That was awkward.bmp (259x195 pixels)
 
What was awkward?  The recent prediction of 200,000,000 people being caught up in the rapture on Judgment Day.  I know most people that are aware of this don’t understand the details.  I have researched and read up on Mr. Harold Camping, as well as visiting is radio broadcast from time to time over the last few years.  So I feel qualified to speak on the subject.
 
First off, I have never subscribed in the least to any prediction of any man ever knowing the date Christ will come again.  I do absolutely believe He will come again but the timing is not to be revealed until it happens.
 
Secondly, let me clear up some confusion.  Harold’s new date of October 21st is not exactly a new date.  For some time now he has said that May 21st, 2011 was Judgment Day and October 21st, 2011 is the date this Earth will be destroyed.  The “change” is that he had been promoting that on Judgment Day believer’s would be taken from this earth to avoid the trials of the subsequent 5 months.  His “back-peddling” is that he now says he misunderstood the Bible and Judgment Day was a spiritual event rather than a physical event.  So THAT is the change in his stance to explain why nothing visible happened.
 
Here’s my beef.  Harold Camping may have been mislead, deceived or more likely caught up in his ability to wrangle numbers from the Bible.  That’s all OK.  Although I have had a problem with him telling believer’s to get out of the church since 1988 (because the church age was over) but with Mr. Camping stating dogmatically what will happen (physical events) and it not happening he should automatically disqualify himself as a Bible teacher since there is no doubt he is a false prophet (by the Bibles own definition of a false prophet).  In other areas he may have deceived himself but in this one fact he has proven to himself that he could not read the Bible properly.  If he were an honorable man and loved God (as I believe he wants to do) he should step aside on that one criteria alone.
 
He did not.  Over the years I have hurt for the people he has lead down a false path.  Now he has proven himself to not get all the “facts” right and he does not do what is right.  He has lost my respect.
 
I do believe that many things he has said over the years are spot on.  He has answered several longstanding problems I have had with timetable established by many creationists.  But his pride has led him to error.  Error of such a magnitude that not even he can deny.
 
Harold Camping, step down and sit back while those more qualified lead your following.
 

Fri 17 Sep 2010

A Digital World

Posted @ 10:22 am      {Click to post comment} (1 posted) 
Category: Rants

Digital

Computers: involving or using numerical digits expressed in a scale of notation to represent discretely all variables occurring in a problem.

 
  • TCP/IP
  • VOIP
  • Digital cell phones
  • Digital TV
  • Compact Dics, DVD’s
  • Hard disk
  • E-books
  • Firmware
  • Software
  • ROM
  • RAM
  • mp3
  • Video games
  • iPad
  • PC
  • Digital cameras
 
Digital, digital, digital.
 
Progress, or is it?
 
Back in the days of analog cell phones, if the reception was poor I recall an ever increasing volume of static.  In most cases my brain could filter out this white noise and interpret the message being communicated to me by the other party.
 
Back in the days before digital TV, if the reception was poor the picture would become increasingly filled with static but my eyes could process out the static and I could interpret the visual image in front of me.
 
Back in the days of vinyl albums and cassette tapes the white noise caused by decaying or damaged media was only a distraction.
 
Now what do I get with progress?
I get a phone call that is completely unintelligible by Albert Einstein.
I watch a picture that is like one of those sliding panel jigsaw puzzles that is a meaningless jumble of colored blocks.
I listen to music that can just cease to exist for seconds then blurt back on like nothing happened.
 
Are we creating a world that adapts to us, or are we supposed to adapt to our created world?
 
If technology had a purpose statement would it say something about the tail wagging the dog?
 

Tue 17 Aug 2010

Where’s My Doc?

Posted @ 12:24 pm      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Rants
Excel shutdown – or maybe I inadvertently shut it down.  Why is it corrupted.  I spent a good portion of two days working on it and was about 75% done with it!
 
Computers!  Where’s that recovery doc?  Where’s the auto-backup?
 
I am not a happy camper.
 

Fri 16 Jul 2010

Selective Randomness

Posted @ 2:36 pm      {Click to post comment} (2 posted) 
Category: Rants
Q & A:
Why do I always get summoned [for jury duty] but other people don’t?
Selection is random.  If you have already responded to a summons or have already served in the past 12 months, contact your local jury office and explain that you have been summoned twice in 12 months.  It is important to contact the court to resolve the problem.
 
My first pet peeve here is that they did not answer the question.  They said “not true, but here’s some other information having nothing to do with the randomness you are addressing,” which has nothing to do with randomness but everything to do with the “12 month rule”
 
My second is, IT’S NOT RANDOM.  In theory the pool of potential jurors is all registered voters.  I know factually that in the last 18 years my wife has been called once.  I, however, have been called about 8 times AND served on 2 juries and almost a third.  I know co-workers of 18+ years that have NEVER been called – who are registered voters in my county.
 
It is not random!  If it were random, over 2 decades wouldn’t everyone’s “number” have come up even once.  There are LAWS of probabilities.  Hmmmm…. if the court would just run a analysis of the randomness of their selection (vs. assuming) they might find a very interesting fact.
 
I wonder if they understand that computers DO NOT generate truly random numbers (and consequently selections) unless there are specific algorithms written to create “apparent” randomness.  I wonder if they know that simply rebooting a computer will reset it’s random number sequence.  You heard me “random number sequence.”  Without special algorithms a computer can DUPLICATE the exact sequence of “random” numbers.
 
It is my belief that once every three years my counties court system reboots it’s computers and then the sequence of selections repeats itself.  I think I will keep a log of all names of people in my jury pool and watch them “randomly” show up with me the next time I am selected.
 
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy jury duty even if it could be pretty difficult to replace my income with $15/day.  I also consider it a serious responsibility.  I just hate non-answers to legitimate questions.
 
I guess that’s the law.
 

Wed 23 Jun 2010

The Merits of Hermitage

Posted @ 10:36 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Rants
Recently I headed down to my local banking establishment.  I have been a loyal customer for 17 years.  I’ve been with them since they had branches on every corner.  I’ve been with them as they shut down the branches and installed more ATM’s.  I’ve been with them as they decided that they can’t “give the personal touch” in the ATM world (read this to mean “they can’t solicit more revenue”) so they will open grocery store branches where an ATM was sufficient.
 
As I head into my local grocery store (because the bank “can’t afford” a building), I wait patiently in line to see 2 handfuls of banking employees occupying the small corner of the store.  It was an efficient operation.  Tellers, teller supervisors and account managers (or whatever their fancy title is these days) were all present.  I wait patiently in line because my withdrawal will be more than the daily limit allowed by the magic machines that make money.
 
In a very courteous, talkative manner my teller dispenses the funds from my account.  At the conclusion of the transaction she informs me and her supervisor that there is time sensitive information regarding my account that I need to know about.  The supervisor whisks me off to an office in the alcove which, surprisingly, has 4 large desks comfortably situated within its confines.  I am introduced to a “personal banker” with some magnanimous title and asked to have a seat.
 
She then asks me if I am aware of the banking changes to be enacted in August.  My response is a resounding, “It’s long overdue!”  I see subtle signs of surprise on her face.  Is she surprised that I even know what she’s talking about?  Is she surprised that I diffused her awesome lead-in to tell me how the change in law means “I won’t be protected?”  (An aside: the law I refer to is the new law on overdraft protection.  A bank may not allow overdrafts, and the subsequent charges, unless a person opts in.  In my opinion this has been a huge source of revenue for banks)
 
She informs me that she also has other ways for the bank to help me have more money.  At this I tell her I am definitely not interested.  The checking account meets my needs, thank you.  It has no fees and I can transfer finds in and out of my online savings account and it provides me debit capability.  Unless she is going to give me some money there’s not much she can help me with.
 
Why does everything have to be a sales pitch?  Why can’t I even go into my bank and withdraw MY money without being told “there’s time sensitive information regarding your account you need to hear?”
 
I wonder if I fly into a remote area of Alaska, if the wildlife will come knocking at my door asking for handouts.
 

Thu 17 Jun 2010

Counter-Boycott

Posted @ 8:46 am      {Click to post comment} 
Category: Rants
How does one boycott a boycott?
 
My illustrious city (I only claim this loosely because I live in an unincorporated area) has decided to join the cities across the nation in boycotting Arizona products, services and companies.
 
It seems they are unhappy with a law going into effect in that state which is simply a law to allow enforcing the law of the land, of which all 50 states are bound.  As a reminder to my fellow Americans, the issue of  federal vs. state rights was fought and argued for the 50 years leading up to the Civil War.  Four long years and much American blood was spilled as this issue was resolved about than 150 years ago.
 
Every state in this Union should either wholeheartedly support the federal laws or aggressively lobby to have them changed while following the law.  Either way, we are duty bound to follow the law.
 
Why in the world would you boycott a state which has struggled more than most states to keep ILLEGAL immigration in check.  Do you have a better idea of how to enforce the law of the land?  Hide behind “racial profiling” if you will, but the fact is, it’s not masses of Europeans or Asians illegally entering the country from the Mexican border.  Come on, exercise some common sense.  Who else should I make sure is here legally?  It is not an issue of race, IT IS an issue of nationality.  Guess what?  Most nations are composed of people of a specific race, duh!
 
I would like a list of all municipalities and states who are boycotting Arizona and begin a boycott of my own.
 
If the real issue is immigration, please change the law – then we all have to follow that.  Yes, then if Arizona, or any others, try to resist the law of the land I’ll be there with you putting pressure on them.
 
Please don’t support only laws you support.  Support all laws.  The beauty of our democratic republic is that we, unlike most people in most times, can effect a change.  Use the system if you expect others to do the same.
 
Cool down time….
 

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