Samsung SCX-4200 Laser printer, getting less than 500 pages?
 

I am fed up! I have been through 3 cartridges now, the original, a refill from a fairly local source and a compatible from another on line source.

I have NOT been able to get through 1 ream of paper with any of these cartridges!! This is a simple Black printer. No color! Samsung says a cartridge lasts up to 3000 pages at 5% coverage, what ever that means. I would really like to hear an explanation to that!
It prints ok but when a cartridge runs out (I think) it just plain stops printing. The printing doesn't get lighter or anything like that, it just stops. I'll get a note on the LCD screen that your printer is out of ink, but you get that note from the time you put a new cartridge in. It is there lovely way of telling you that you don't have a new "Samsung" cartridge in. This should NOT be the problem of a cartridge stopping under the 500 page mark!

Does anyone know what in the heck is going on?
I just ordered another (orig Cartridge) tonight for $73.00! If this doesn't last longer I will go on the biggest hate campaign I can against them. You guys must know something, please help me!

How many pages do you get out out of your "Black" laser printers and what is the model?

5% coverage stands for how much toner goes on the page. If you're printing something that requires quite a bit of toner saturation on the page, it will yield less prints. Why? Because you're using more toner per page.

You could probably print out 5,000 pages with one line on it and still have toner left.

So, can you see why you might not be getting what you think you are?

Regards,

Brandon

PM me. I might be able to get you a better deal on cartridges.

Brandon, thanks a lot for answering. I understand what you are saying exactly. Most of my printing is cooking recipes and company research for buying and selling stock.

The recipes usually take about a half page, never more than one.

The company research information might be anywhere from 1 to 5 pages, usually 2 or 3.

I am getting slightly more pages (I think) with "NEW" Cartridges as I am with the rebuilt ones and only slightly more pages with either of these than the original cartridge that was only supposed to have about 1/3 of the ink installed so you would buy a new cartridge.

Right now the 2nd refill has quit at about 400 pages cartridge, In short I have used the original, had it refilled once, then bought a reconditioned one, and just ordered another a NEW Samsung cartridge for $73.00 !

I had been under the impression that Laser cartridges were a lot cheaper than the inkjet printers. That is why I trashed an inkjet and bought the Samsung SCX-4200 in the first place, BUT, this laser jet is no cheaper if as cheap to operate than the inkjet!

Thank for the offer on saving me some money on cartridges but if I can't get this thing doing better with this cartridge it will be in the junk pile as soon the new cartridge poops out under 5oo pages.

Sorry to rant but enough is enough.

I would take a guess that either you got a lemon or that model is bad. I have a HP 1020 and I am on my third box of paper(750 sheets) and have not changed cartridges yet. I think I gave $125 for the printer maybe a year and a half ago.

Thanks for the reply. Would you mind telling what kind of printing you usually do to give me some idea of how much of a page on average do you fill up. It would really be a big help.
By the way, I think you might just be exactly right, but what do I know.
Every one keeps trying to tell me they don't think there is a problem but you are the only one who has offered up some "numbers" to work with.

90% of my printing is documents, text from top to bottom. When family sends a picture, I will occasionally print one out, B&W but it works. I think the last time I looked at cartridges (before I bought the printers) they were available for $65 and up. There is nothing fancy about this printer, it just prints.

Edit: According to hp I should get 2000 pages per cartridge.
http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en...20-315421.html

I have about 20 Samsung printers / Multifunction machines at the office and do not have that issue. Keep in mind there is a chip on the cartridge that keeps count of how many pages have been printed from the cartridge. Printing a test page will allow you to see this number. if theres not a number for the cartridge a the very least will be a total page count number for the printer. write it on a stickler and put it on the cartridge when you install it, check the page count again when the cartridge runs out and you will know exactly how many pages you got from it.

Low quality re-manufactured cartridges may not get this chip programmed correctly but most companies warrant the cartridge for the proper number of pages (approximately). so I would call them on it. I have in the past and got free replacements.

I've had great luck with the Samsung printers and multifunction fax machines.

I use a mixture of Samsung and reman cartridges, and have had good luck with both. I usually order from Provantage $65.00 for your cartridge (+ tax/shipping)

A cartridge in my home printer (Samsung ML-2251n) usually last me about a year..

Samsung CLP-K300A CLP-300 Printer color laserprinter
 

Thanks for the lead, their refills for my laser printer are noticeably cheaper

Do you know how to make the Samsung CLP-300 DOcolor in Ubuntu. Mine, new does only B & W

thx

yodar

1. This is not a Linux problem, it is a hardware problem. Check for up-to-date drivers and install.

2. If you run the printer under WindowsXp. do you get better/worse production?

3. What is production rate when a friend uses that printer on his machine?

4. What is production rate when you use a friend's printer on your machine?

5. What are the results from Google hits as to other users and this printer's actual production?

6. Have you tried to change printer settings? What are the results?

farslayer, thanks for the links and information. The actual cost of the NEW Samsung cartridge I just ordered is $72.13 this is practically the same as your link for $71.66 from Provantage. I couldn't tell if the Provantage cartridge was remanufactured or actually a NEW cartridge.

I sure wasn't aware of the actual page count figure that can be obtained from the "Test Page". When I install this cartridge I will do exactly as you suggested. This printer has a small LCD screen where you can adjust parameters, it has light, regular and dark settings, I have had it on "Light" from day one.
My OS is SUSE Open (latest version), I keep it updated automatically so it stays in top condition. Printer software is CUPS.

I know the page count (not precisely, but close) because my paper comes in packaged reams (500 pages each package) all from the same box (5000 pages), brand is Hammermill.

moxieman99, The drivers are straight from SAMSUNG latest they have, I came to this web site to find out how to load them.
I do not have access to another printer.
I do not run Windows and never will again!
I don't borrow or lend my equipment of any kind.

I went back through the "LCD" menu located on the printer to make sure it was still set on "Light,(print density)", it wasn't, it was set to "Normal"!
I reset it to light, shut down rebooted, it had switched back to the "Normal" mode!!!!!!

So, I deleted the printer by using the Samsung "Unified Driver setup software", This is an icon the Linux driver from the Samsung site puts on your desktop.
I then reinstalled the printer through this same software, you have practically no real control over the software, you are forced to say it is manually configured, witch is supposed to be only for trouble shooting according to there help menu, but that's all you get!!
It eventually tells you that "congratulations your printer is installed"!
Properties says, nothing installed, printer, scanner, nothing!

LCD screen reverts back to "normal printing density"! In short, the exact same configuration I started with!

Oh, it says my driver version is .2.00.97, The same site says the new versing of this driver was updated on Feb 2, 2008 (yesterday), new version number is .2.00.97, exactly the same version number as above.

All comments are welcome, if there is something you wish to know please be specific and tell me how to get the info, I'm not exactly computer literate, but I can follow instructions.

That cartridge from Provantage is a NEW Samsung cartridge from Samsung

It is not a re-manufactured or off-brand cartridge. They do not carry reman, or third party cartridges for your particular model at this time.

Just fyi.

Any ideas how to fix my printer problem?

I buy the network versions of all their printers so I can use the web utility to change and save those settings.. I've not had a problem with the settings changing after I configured them and saved my changes.

Is that a networked model you have (all the networked units model numbers end with an 'n' i.e.: SCX-4250fn) ? I typically always buy the networked models because they all support LPR / IPP printing which is a breeze to get working in Linux/Windows. I personally avoid USB interfaces for printers for any OS..

I typically don't bother with their drivers, I just use CUPs and a PPD for the printer, but I'm not using a multifunction machine either..

http://openprinting.org/show_printer...msung-SCX-4200

so I don't really have anything else to offer :(

Weel at least you tried, thats a lot more than most. I wrote an email to Sansung (I was even polite) describing the problem. There reply was "We are not aware of any problems wit printer running SUSE 7.1 and above"
I tried to reply to there reply but that didn't work, not allowed.

This is evidently not a network type printer, number on the front is SCX-4200. I didn't even know there were two types!
I'm not what you would call real computer literate and for printers I'm just plain ignorant.
Before I bought the printer I contacted Samsung and described the OS and computer I owned and wanted conformation that there would not be any compatibility problems. There reply was I had made an excellent choice and everything would work perfectly, yea right!

I would like to ask you a question if you don't mind. For 2 -$300.00 what is a fully compatible quality printer (Laser Jet) with Linux, that is great on efficiency with the cartridges and are reasonably priced. I hope you understand at this point but I am totally not interested in Samsung.
Thanks a lot for your help farslayer.

Ok well

This is the Samsung I am using.. which I know works perfectly well for $210.00 with Ethernet network interface Samsung ML-2251n - 5000 pages per cartridge

But you want to move away from Samsung due to your bad experience, I can respect that.. (don't ever ask me to use a MSI motherboard, they don't understand warranty replacement. "that will be $150.00 for RMA repair !!" WHAT ??)

Brother has good Linux support for their printers, and so does HP. I can't provide specific models but I would avoid anything that uses USB connectivity only, that seems to cause the most grief. Brother, HP and Samsung all provide Linux drivers for their printers, There are not too many other manufacturers that do (as far as I'm aware.) Brother has drivers on their website for download. HP has the hplip driver already available in most distributions, Samsung provides drivers on their site, and I just grabbed the .ppd from the mac driver for use on my Linux box rather than install the full proprietary driver..

Get a printer with a real parallel port interface or something with an Ethernet network interface. I highly recommend a network interface if you can. Setting up lpr printing in Linux and windows and sharing you printer on the network is pretty much ZERO challenge.. and you don't need ot leave a PC on so other people can print.

Shop around a bit for those brands

Use openprinting.org to check the status of printers you are looking at, and how their reported functionality is. also look for the .ppd download links in the driver listings on openprinting.org as you look up the printers..

Best of luck in your search .

farslayer, that was an awesome response, thanks a lot.

If you don't mind me asking what do you do/use for cartridges in the ML-2231N. average number of pages you get per cartridge, cartridge cost, any problems at all?

I've had no issues with the ML-2251n..
I'm still on my first cartridge in the printer I have at home, currently at 1078 pages or so after 8 months..
(I do my large print jobs on the 60ppm Digital Copier @ work, it has Duplex, hole punch, fold, spindle, & mutilate options.)

the cartridge for this printer should do about 5000 pages, based on 5% coverage, but should be pretty close and it runs $75.00 for the original Samsung cartridges from provantage.
There are generic toner cartridges available, but if you go that route, buy one from a company that guarantees the cartridges, (tally Genicom $58.00 , Radian Imaging, Rhinotek, etc.. )

There is also a Postscript Module you can add to the printer for $140.00 if you want true postscript support in addition to the PCL support the printer comes with.

A second paper tray (250 Sheet) option for $120.00 if you want to be able to load a full ream of paper at a time.

Both or either option could be added later.



I've noticed the multifunction machines from Samsung (SCX-4720fn, SCX-5530fn) have a "Low Toner" light on the machine. If the cartridge for the printer does 5,000 pages, that light comes on after you have printed about 3,000-3500 pages. when you hit the 5000 page mark the printer shuts down and refuses to print until you change the cartridge (prevents unreadable lost faxes)

The normal printers (ML-2XXX) do not do this.. they will keep happily trying to print on an empty cartridge, you'll know the cartridge is low when it leaves light streaks on the page. Pull the cartridge and shake it from side to side and get a couple hundred more pages out of it before changing, Unless you are printing resumes or something important :) (hey I'm cheap what can I say ? )


So why did I pick this printer ?
1. Network interface
2. Linux Support from the Manufacturer
3. Paper tray. (too many cheap laser printers don't have a paper tray these days.. just a stupid fold out shelf YUCK !
4. PRICE.. Holy smokes a NETWORK printer for under $250.00 !! that's about the price of an HP Jetdirect card without the printer
5. Print speed. (20 ppm) My HP laserjet 4p (4ppm) just wasn't cutting it.. It worked great but took a long time to print, I wanted to push it off the desk so it would break and justify the purchase of a new printer.. but I couldn't bring myself to harm an innocent, perfectly functioning laser printer, that wasn't evil like the Fax Machine from 'Office Space' Gave it to the wife instead for next to her PC. She's happy she doesn't have to run downstairs to my office to get her printouts anymore. :)



Just looked at Provantage again and the ML-3051n (network)30ppm is $167.00 and the ML-3051nd (network and duplex) is $199 Looks like these support postscript out of the box.. and are most likely the replacement for the model I currently own.

These use a ML-D3050A ($80.00) 4000 page or ML-D3050B (95.00) 8000 page yield cartridge..


Both are listed on Openprinting.org as working perfectly..
http://www.openprinting.org/show_pri...msung-ML-3051N
http://www.openprinting.org/show_pri...sung-ML-3051ND

You want to buy my old ML-2251n so I can upgrade for the faster printing and Duplex option ? Crap..

Farslayer, you really know your stuff, thats obvious as heck!!

Keep in mind I'm printer illiterate, though!

Last night I deleted the printer from the system. I then went into YaST (guys at this site taught me) to hardware/printer and let YaST configure almost everything using the drivers I had downloaded from the Samsung site. I did the best I could with what I know and what seemed logical. Now, it's printing again! I set it for "Toner Save"and density to light. I'm almost positive this is all done through something called "CUPS". Whether these settings will hold or revert is a question at this point I can't answer.

It appears if you try to set up things through the LCD interface on the front of the printer (for setting up the printer) it gets scrambled somehow with the CUPS instructions. I don't really know but this is what appears to be going on.

I really do want to have the functionality of a Laser Multifunction printer thats why I bought this thing and not a plain laser jet. One quick reason: In my area to send a fax costs $3.50 to $4.00 per page, not kidding!!

Everything you told me like shaking the cartridge or only getting generics from sites with a guarantee, I didn't know!

I think I better spend some time at the printer link you gave me to become more familiar with printers and what the heck I'm doing.

I just want you to know I really appreciate everything you have told me!

One more question if you don't mind: Is there a "works perfectly" multifunction printer with the interface connections you suggested, and long cartridge life?

This may work for you Yodar... follow the link to SpliX

I've not tried a multifunction unit with my Linux box, but I've seen a lot of people report good results with the HP Multifunction devices using hplip and sane. Skim through the supported device list for hplip, most of the multifunction machines have MFP after the model number.
http://openprinting.org/show_driver.cgi?driver=hpijs

You will have to check the printer specs to see if it's laser or InkJet and then check the toner specs for that unit to see the reported capacity of the cartridges..


also note the entry for your printer.. apparently you're doing pretty good since you got it to print at all..
http://openprinting.org/show_printer...msung-SCX_4200

on the Samsung side the SCX-5530fn is listed as working perfectly but it's a bit beyond the price range we discussed earlier. ($525.00) not to mention not very many vendors carry toner for this machine for some unknow reason.. It is a very nice multifunction machine
http://openprinting.org/show_printer...ung-SCX-5530FN

Farslayer, would you believe this piece of samsung is out again, flat won't print, no notes, that's it!!!

I put the new cartridge (Genuine NEW Samsung) in (second one) went back into YaST and set CUPS up again. unplugged the usb connection waited about 5 minutes, plugged it back (it printed everything that was in Q) then, tried to print something, It printed like OK!

I don't have any proof but I'm starting to get the feeling that the chip Samsung puts in there cartridge is the underlying culprit. I don't think any of my cartridges ran out under 5oo pages! Well this will be the last cartridge/refill I get from them. If I can't get a decent print life out of this one (keep in mind it's the second new one).
Forget the above, this thing is a piece of CRAP !
Feel like I'm talking to myself, but maybe someone will get something from my rambling!

Don't know why you are having those difficulties.. if you are using samsung cartridges I would give them a call and ask what is up.

Their tech support is good, they even RMA'd a defective printer I had for 15 months.. 3 months past the warranty period, at no charge and they offered to do it.. I didn't even have to ask.

I really don't know what to say about your issue.. it's completely contrary to my experiences with their products. :(
We all get a lemon occasionally though..