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When installing any late model Epson printer - you
may be given an option to register for
automatic driver updates, somewhere during the printer setup
process. If you tick or click 'accept driver updates' (or similar
button), the printer software will download and install the latest printer driver (via internet),
every time one is released by Epson. In other words...you are giving Epson a permission to periodically
adjust your
printer driver and firmware.
That may not seem like a bad idea. Lot of recent
hardware and software tends to update itself regularly and just about every
time you turn a computer on, there's some new update waiting to be
installed. So...why not update the printer driver?
Printer
driver updates are different to most other software updates...
Printer updates are permanent and may
include irreversible changes to the printer itself. Even if you delete the
updated printer driver then re-install the original driver from CD - it
won't achieve a thing. Driver update
can't be reversed or deleted once
installed.
Printer updates can stop hardware working.
Driver update can change the ink cartridge recognition protocol and even
perfectly working printer can stop working with 'ink cartridges not recognised'
error - after receiving Epson update. If you're using compatible, refillable etc cartridges, continuous ink
or even older Epson genuine cartridges, you're not printing anything - until
the cartridges are replaced with brand new, genuine Epson ones.
Are there any benefits in
installing updated printer drivers?
You may need the latest printer drivers when
connecting a new device to the printer or after installing a new operating
system. If the new device or OS is released at later date than the printer, the
appropriate driver will not be included on your printer installation CD and
you may have no choice, but to download the latest driver version from
Epson.
If you're not having any issues, there's no reason to update! Driver update
is not going to
make your printer run any faster, it's not going to
improve the print quality, it's not
going to make it any more economical and it is definitely
not going to fix cartridge recognition problems.
Can printer updates be enabled
later...if required?
Yes...if you decide you actually do need a
driver update for some reason in the future, you can always download it
manually later on. Just click: File>Print>Printer Properties
>Maintenance...then click the 'Driver update' button. That's it.
How to install printer driver
& avoid receiving any updates.
1) Switch off or unplug your internet modem. This is optional, but recommended. If you were to click a wrong
button during the setup by mistake, there's no harm done - if not connected
to the internet. Just go back a step or two and change the setting or
abort the installation and start again.
2) Insert printer installation CD and enter
setup.
3) Select 'Custom' or 'Manual' Setup option,
not 'Express' or 'Automatic'. You will get no
option to un-tick (decline) driver updates if you use 'Express Setup'.
4) Click "No" in the first window
(below) and
"Decline" in the next. Also tick "Do not display this message again".
Note: Sample screenshots below are from an Epson
Artisan 730 printer setup and other models messages will be slightly
different. Principle is the same.
5) When the printer setup finishes, you can
plug your
modem back in (or turn it on), but make sure your virus firewall is
activated before you do.
Most properly configured firewalls (including
Windows) see any system update as a virus and will block it - unless you
enable the update, by clicking the 'Unblock' button. Make sure to click "Keep
Blocking" (as in above pic)!!!
Even if you follow all the steps outlined above,
watch out for special ink offers and other attempts to sway you
into registering for updates.
Warn everyone using your printer -
to never click any "offers" buttons (as below).
Just click "Already purchased" or simply close
this window - to get rid of this
message.
As you can see...it's not all that difficult to avoid
Epson driver
updates - just be careful what you click.
If you already installed the printer, selected
driver updates and your printer now stopped working with "Ink cartridges
cannot be recognised" error, you can find more information on this page:
Ink cartridges cannot be recognised - how to fix.
Can't find the information you are looking for?
Please contact
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