Problems and Solutions


Setup and Software Installation Problems

Tip:
It's a good idea to check Epson's support web site periodically for free updates to your printer driver. Visit http://support.epson.com. Download instructions are posted for your convenience.

The Epson Stylus CX makes noise after ink cartridge installation.

You're having problems installing the Epson Stylus CX software.

Printing or Copying Problems

Only the green  On light is on, but nothing prints.

The Epson Stylus CX sounds as though it is printing, but nothing prints.

The Epson Stylus CX makes noise when you turn it on or after it has been sitting for awhile.

The Epson Stylus CX is performing routine maintenance.

You don't see the  printer icon in the lower right corner of your screen (taskbar) in Windows.

Try restarting your computer. If you still don't see the icon, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, point to Settings or Printers and Faxes, then select Printers.
  2. Right-click your Epson Stylus CX and select Printing Preferences.
  3. Click the Maintenance tab.
  4. Click the Speed and Progress button, then click the Monitoring Preferences button.
  5. Click the Shortcut Icon box. Then click OK to close the open windows.

Printing is too slow.

Make sure your system meets the requirements listed in System Requirements. If you're printing a high-resolution image, you need more than the minimum requirements listed. You may also need to:

For the fastest printing, try these tips:

Print Quality Problems

You see banding (light lines).

Your printout is blurry or smeared.

Your printout is faint or has gaps.

You see wrong or missing colors.

Your printout is grainy.

Scan Quality Problems

You see only a few dots in your scanned image.

A line of dots always appears in your scanned images.

The document table may be dusty or scratched. Clean the document table as described in Cleaning the Epson Stylus CX.

Straight lines in your image come out crooked.

Make sure the document lies perfectly straight on the document table.

Your image is distorted or blurred.

Colors are patchy or distorted at the edges of your image.

If your document is very thick or warped at the edges, cover the edges with paper to block external light as you scan.

Your scanned image is too dark.

An image on the back of your original appears in your scanned image.

If your original is printed on thin paper, images on the back may be visible to the Epson Stylus CX and appear in your scanned image. Try scanning the original with a piece of black paper placed on the back of it. Also make sure the Document Type and Image Type settings are correct for your original. See Selecting Basic Settings for details.

Moiré (cross-hatch) patterns appear in your scanned image.

A moiré is a cross-hatch pattern that may appear in a scanned image of a printed document. It is caused by interference from the differing pitches in the scanner's screen and the halftone screen in your original.

Characters are not recognized well when converted into editable text (OCR).

Scanned colors differ from the original colors.

You have trouble adjusting the scan area in the thumbnail preview.

Paper Feeding Problems

Paper doesn't eject fully or is wrinkled.

Paper doesn't feed correctly or jams in the printer.

1. Press the  Start Color button to eject the jammed paper. If the jammed paper is not ejected, go to the next step.
2. If the paper is stuck near the sheet feeder or output tray, gently pull it out.

If the paper is stuck inside the Epson Stylus CX, press the  On button to turn it off. Open the scanner and remove any paper inside, including any torn pieces. Do not pull it backward however; this can damage the sheet feeder. Close the scanner, then turn the Epson Stylus CX back on.

If your paper loads incorrectly or jams frequently:

Miscellaneous Printout Problems

The image is inverted, as if viewed in a mirror.

The Epson Stylus CX prints blank pages.

The margins are incorrect.

Output is not what you expect when printing borderless photos.

Too many copies are printing.

Make sure that the Copies option in your printer software or program is not set for multiple copies.

You see incorrect characters.

The image size/position is incorrect.

Make sure the paper and layout options are set correctly.

There are scratches on your print.

If you're printing on glossy paper, prints may be scratched if not handled properly. Don't place objects on top of your prints, and be careful not to scratch them with your fingernails. For best results, frame your prints under glass.