Problems and Solutions

When you install ink cartridges, the printer must charge its print head for a minute or so. Wait until it's finished (the green

power light stops flashing) before you turn off the printer, or it may use excess ink the next time you turn it on.

Make sure the ink cartridges are inserted completely and no packing material remains in the printer. Turn off the printer, wait a moment, then turn it back on.

You're having problems installing the printer software.

Make sure your printer is turned on and its cable is securely connected at both ends. Follow the installation steps on the Start Here sheet or "Installing Your Printer Software" in the Printer Basics book, and make sure your system meets the requirements; see Windows System Requirements or Macintosh System Requirements.

Close other programs, including screen savers and virus protectors, and install again.

In Windows, make sure your printer is selected as the default printer.

If the SP 900 icon doesn't appear in the Macintosh Chooser, you may have an extension conflict. Turn off any unnecessary extensions and restart.

If you see an error message with Windows 2000, you may not have software installation privileges. Contact your System Administrator.

If you're using Windows and the USB port, make sure your system was not upgraded from Windows 95; the USB driver may not install correctly.

Make sure the USB Controller is working properly in Device Manager. See your Windows help system for details.

If you're printing over a network, see Setting Up Network Printing for instructions on configuring your printer for use on a network.

Printer Problems

Only the green

power light is on, but nothing prints.

Make sure the interface cable is securely connected at both ends and meets the system requirements; see Windows System Requirements or Macintosh System Requirements.

Run a printer check as described in Running a Printer Check. If the test page prints, make sure your software is installed correctly.

If you're printing on a network, make sure you set up your printer for network printing, as described in Setting Up Network Printing.

The printer sounds as though it is printing, but nothing prints.

The print head nozzles may need cleaning; see Cleaning the Print Head for instructions.

The printer won't operate properly if it's tilted or at an angle. Place it on a flat, stable surface.

Your printer makes noise when you turn it on or after it has been sitting for awhile.

Printing is too slow.

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

Clear space on your hard drive or run a defragmentation utility.

Close open programs that you're not using.

Increase your system's memory (RAM).

Select Draft as the Quality Type (Windows) or set the Quality/Speed slider to Speed (Macintosh).

In the Advanced window, turn High Speed on (Windows) or MicroWeave® off and High Speed on (Macintosh).

If your printer is connected to a USB hub, disconnect any unused USB devices.

If you're using the parallel port, enable ECP/DMA mode on your computer's parallel port. See your computer documentation or the manufacturer for instructions.

Quality Problems

You see banding (light lines).

Clean the print head nozzles; see Cleaning the Print Head for instructions.

Select a higher Quality Type or Print Quality and turn off High Speed mode; see Printing in Windows or Printing on Macintosh.

Make sure the paper Type (Windows) or Media Type (Macintosh) setting matches your paper; see Selecting the Correct Paper Type for guidelines.

Make sure the printable side of the paper is face up.

The ink cartridges may need replacing; see Replacing an Ink Cartridge.

Try using Automatic mode (Macintosh only); See Printing on Macintosh for instructions.

Align the print head as described in Aligning the Print Head.

Make sure Maximum (Windows), Minimize Margins (Macintosh 8.6 to 9.x), or Stylus Photo 900(Standard - Minimize Margins) (Macintosh OS X) is not selected. Banding may occur in the expanded area.

Your print is blurry or smeared.

Make sure your paper isn't damp, curled, or loaded face down.

Use a support sheet with special paper, or try loading your paper one sheet at a time.

Make sure your paper meets the specifications listed in Paper.

Use EPSON papers for proper saturation and ink absorption.

Check the paper thickness lever. Set it to

for most papers and

for envelopes; for CDs or DVDs, see Inserting a CD or DVD or for heavy stock, see Printing on Card Stock or Matte Board.

Align the print head as described in Aligning the Print Head.

Your printout is faint or has gaps.

Clean the print head nozzles; see Cleaning the Print Head for instructions.

The ink cartridges may be old or low on ink; see Checking the Ink Supply.

Make sure the paper Type (Windows) or Media Type (Macintosh) setting matches your paper; see Selecting the Correct Paper Type for guidelines.

Make sure your paper isn't damaged, old, dirty, or loaded face down. If it is, load new paper, face up. For best results, use genuine EPSON paper.

Your printout is grainy.

Use a higher quality paper or select a higher Quality Type or Print Quality setting; see Printing in Windows or Printing on Macintosh.

Align the print head as described in Aligning the Print Head.

Increase the image resolution or print it in a smaller size; see your software documentation.

You see wrong or missing colors.

Make sure Black ink only is off (Windows) or Color Ink is selected (Macintosh), even for black and white photographs.

Clean the print head nozzles; see Cleaning the Print Head for instructions.

The ink cartridges may be old or low on ink; see Checking the Ink Supply.

Try turning off PhotoEnhance. Also check if you're using a special effect that alters image colors, like Sepia.

Try using Automatic mode (Macintosh only). See Printing on Macintosh for instructions.

Try changing the Gamma setting. See Customizing Windows Print Settings or Customizing Macintosh Print Settings to access the Advanced settings.

Your printed colors can never exactly match your on-screen colors. However, you can use a color management system-such as ICM (Windows) or ColorSync (Macintosh)-to get as close as possible. See Customizing Windows Print Settings or Customizing Macintosh Print Settings for details.

Paper Problems

Paper doesn't eject fully or is wrinkled.

If the paper doesn't eject fully, you may have set the wrong paper size. Press the

paper button to eject the paper, then select the correct paper size.

If it's wrinkled when it ejects, the paper may be damp or too thin. Load new paper.

Paper sheets don't feed correctly or jam in the printer.

If paper doesn't feed or multiple pages feed, remove it from the sheet feeder. Fan the edges of the sheets, reload them against the right side of the feeder, and slide the edge guide snugly, but not too tightly, against the paper. Don't load paper above the arrow on the left edge guide.

If paper jams, press the

paper button. If necessary, open the cover and remove any jammed or torn pieces. Load new paper and press the

paper button.

You can also set the paper thickness lever to the position, pull out the jammed paper, and then return the lever to the position.

Card stock doesn't feed correctly or jams in the printer.

Roll paper doesn't feed correctly or jams in the printer.

Cut the end of the paper straight across. If it's cut diagonally, the paper won't feed smoothly.

If the roll paper end is curled, place the end inside a folded sheet of paper and roll it backwards against the curl.

As you load the paper, gently hold it in the roll paper feeder with your hand; don't force the paper into the feeder.

Select Roll or Roll Paper as the Source or Paper Source in your print settings. If you select another setting, too much paper will feed.

If extra paper feeds, press the

roll paper button for three seconds to rewind the paper (repeat if necessary to back it all the way out). If the

paper light is on, press the

paper button to turn it off. Reload the paper as described in Roll Paper.

CD/DVD Printing Problems

Images and text are not centered on the CD/DVD.

Ink smears on the CD/DVD or printing is too light.

Printed CDs or DVDs are dirty.

The paper light flashes quickly.

Make sure the paper thickness lever is set to the

position; see Inserting a CD or DVD.

Miscellaneous Problems

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

The printer prints blank pages.

Make sure your printer is selected in the Print window (Windows), is the active printer in the Chooser (Macintosh OS 8.6 to 9.x), or is selected in the Format for drop-down list on the Page Setup window and Printer drop-down list on the Print window (Macintosh OS X).

Clean the print head nozzles; see Cleaning the Print Head for instructions.

You see incorrect characters.

Make sure the interface cable is securely connected at both ends and meets the system requirements on Windows System Requirements or Macintosh System Requirements.

If you're using a switch box or USB hub with your printer, connect the printer directly to your computer instead.

The margins are incorrect.

Make sure the paper settings are correct for your paper size. See Printing in Windows or Printing on Macintosh.

Choose the correct margins for your paper size. The margins must be within the printable area of the page; see Printable Area.

If you're using Macintosh OS X, make sure you choose the same printer in the Page Setup window and the Print window.

Place your paper against the right side of the sheet feeder with the edge guide snug against it.

If you're using the manual feed slot, make sure the card stock is loaded as described in Printing on Card Stock or Matte Board.

Make sure the Borderless option is set correctly for your margins; see Printing Borderless Photos on Cut Sheets or Printing on Roll Paper.

Too many copies are printing.

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