Epson EPL-5700i

Product Controls: EPL-5700i Laser

All controls are handled via the software driver.

What are the system requirements for the EPL-5700i?

• For Windows Users:
  • IBM(r) compatible PC with a 100 MHz Pentium processor or higher
  • Microsoft Windows 98 (for USB connection) or Windows 95, 98, or NT 4.0 (for parallel connection)
  • At least 16MB of RAM (64MB recommended)
  • At least 10MB of hard disk space
  • VGA, Super VGA, or better display adapter and monitor
  • Double-speed (or faster) CD-ROM drive for installing the printer software
  • For parallel connection: high-speed, bidirectional, IEEE-1284 compliant parallel cable (6 to 10 feet long); the cable must have a D-SUB, 25-pin, male connector for your computer and a 36-pin, Centronics(r) compatible connector for the printer
  • For USB connection: a computer running Windows 98 with a Windows 98 compliant USB port and a shielded USB "AB" cable from Series A (computer) to Series B (printer), up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) long
• For Macintosh Users:
  • Apple iMac or Power Macintosh(r) G3 computer with USB port
  • For iMac: Mac(r) OS 8.1 or later
  • For Power Macintosh G3: Mac OS 8.5.1 or later
  • At least 32MB of RAM (64MB recommended)
  • At least 6MB of hard disk space
  • VGA, Super VGA, or better display adapter and monitor
  • Double-speed (or faster) CD-ROM drive for installing the printer software
  • Shielded USB "AB" cable from Series A (computer) to Series B (printer), up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) long

Note: If your iMac is running OS 8.1, you must install Apple's iMac Update 1.0. If your iMac is running OS 8.5 or 8.5.1, Apple recommends that you install iMac Update 1.1. Download the update for your system from Apple at http://swupdates.info.apple.com. Contact Apple if you have problems installing the update. To find out which operating system your iMac is running, select About This Computer in the Apple menu.

How do I install the driver from the EPSON EPL-5700i CD-ROM with a Macintosh?

If you have an iMac, you may need to update your Mac OS ROM before installing your printer software.

• If your iMac is running OS 8.1, you must install Apple's iMac Update 1.0.
• If your iMac is running OS 8.5 or 8.5.1, Apple recommends that you install iMac Update 1.1. Download the update for your system from Apple at http://swupdates.info.apple.com. Contact Apple if you have problems installing the update. To find out which operating system your iMac is running, select About This Computer in the Apple menu.

Follow these steps to install the printer software on your Macintosh:

• 1. Make sure your printer and computer are connected and turned off.
• 2. Turn on your computer and wait until you see the desktop icons. Then turn on your EPSON printer.
• 3. Insert your printer software CD-ROM. After a moment, the CD-ROM opens on your desktop.
• 4. Double-click your printer's installer icon.
• 5. Click Install, then on the next screen click Continue.
• 6. After installation is complete, click Restart to restart your computer.

Note: After installing the printer software, you need to select your printer in the Chooser:

• 1. Make sure your printer is on.
• 2. From the Apple menu, select Chooser.
• 3. Click the EPL-5700i icon and make sure your printer's USB port is selected.
• 4. Turn on background printing if you want.

How do I install the driver from the EPSON EPL-5700i CD-ROM in Windows 98 with a USB connection?

If your computer did not have Windows 98 pre-installed, it is an upgrade from Windows 95 to 98. It may not support USB connections, and may not print. Confirm whether your computer supports USB connectors by calling the manufacturer.

• 1. Make sure your printer and computer are connected and turned off.
• 2. Turn on your computer and printer, and wait until you see the Add New Hardware Wizard
• 3. Insert your printer software CD-ROM and click Next.
• 4. Select Search for the best driver for your device and click Next.
• 5. Select Specify a location, then click Browse to locate the Win98 folder on your CD-ROM.
• 6. Click Next. Windows finds the USB software.
• 7. Click Next. Windows finishes installing the USB software.
• 8. At the final screen, click Finish.
• 9. Click Next to install your printer driver.
• 10. Select Search for the best driver for your device and click Next.
• 11. Make sure the Win98 folder is selected under Specify a location. Then click Next and follow the on-screen instructions to finish installing your printer software.
• 12. When installation is complete, remove the CD-ROM from your CD-ROM drive.
• 13. Restart your system.

How do I install the driver from the EPSON EPL-5700i CD-ROM for Windows with a Parallel Connection?

• 1. Turn on your computer and wait until you see the Windows desktop icons, then insert your printer software CD-ROM.
• 2. Double-click the My Computer icon on your desktop, double-click the Epson CD-ROM icon, then double-click Setup.exe. You will see the EPSON Printer Utility Setup screen.
• 3. Make sure your printer is selected in the setup screen and click OK.
• 4. When you see "The driver was installed correctly Restart Windows" Click OK.
• 5. Remove the CD-ROM from your CD-ROM drive.
• 6. Restart your system.

How can I print a test (Status) page?

You can print a test Page to make sure your printer is installed correctly by following these steps:

• 1. Make sure your printer is turned on.
• 2. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Printers.
• 3. Right-click the EPL-5700i printer icon and choose Properties. Note: If you are running Windows NT(r), click Document Defaults instead of Properties.
• 4. Click Basic Settings and check to see that the following settings match the type of paper you have loaded into your printer:
  • Paper Size
  • Orientation (Portrait or Landscape)
  • Print Quality
  • Paper Source
• 5. Click the Optional Settings tab.
• 6. Click the Status Sheet button. The printer starts printing a status sheet.
• 7. Click OK to close the dialog box.

How can I set up the printer for the fastest printing?

Faster printing with a Direct Memory Access (DMA) is possible if your printer is connected to your computer through an Extended Capability Port (ECP), a type of parallel port with expanded specifications. With the DMA and the ECP, you can send print-job data directly to the printer without going through the CPU, which increases the effectiveness of data flow. Before using DMA to transmit a print job confirm the following points.

• Check if your computer supports DMA. To confirm if your computer has an ECP chip installed, contact the manufacturer or look in the computer's documentation.
• Confirm the parallel port setting is "ECP" or "ENHANCED" through the BIOS Setup. Refer to your computer's documentation to set the BIOS. However, before setting the BIOS, uninstall the EPL-5700i printer driver. After setting the BIOS, re-install the printer driver.

How do I know if my computer supports DMA mode?

You can confirm if your computer can use DMA by checking the Optional Settings tab under Properties in your Printer driver.

Why won't graphics or large spreadsheets print correctly?

Graphics require large amounts of memory. You may need to upgrade your printer's memory.

What does an Under Run Error indicate?

This message indicates that there is not enough memory available for the print job. The printer may not print correctly or an under run error may occur. The under run error is displayed in the alert window in the EPSON Status Monitor.

How can I upgrade the memory on the EPL-5700i?

By installing a Single In-line Memory Module (SIMM), you can increase printer memory up to 13 MB (printer default 2MB + optional 4, 8 or 16 MB). You may want to add additional memory if you are having difficulty printing complex graphics or if you regularly use numerous downloaded fonts. Please refer to your user's manual for installation instructions.

Note: The maximum amount of memory is 13 MB. Even though a 16 MB SIMM is installed, only 13 MB is accessible.

What kind of memory modules are compatible?

You can purchase SIMMs from various vendors. Be sure that the SIMM you purchase meets the following requirements:

• 72-pin, EDO or Fast Page Mode type
• Capacity of 4, 8, 16 MB
• Access speed of 60 ns or less
• Dimensions within 108 mm (4.25 inches) x 26 mm (1.02 inches), with a thickness of 10 mm (0.4 inch)

What is EPSON Status Monitor 3?

EPSON Status Monitor 3 is a utility program that monitors your printer and gives you information about its current status, including the amount of remaining toner. If a print error occurs, the Status Monitor also provides you with a message describing the error. You can access EPSON Status Monitor 3 from your printer driver.

The ready light (green) does not turn on when you turn the printer on. What's wrong?

Turn off the printer and check the power cord connections between the printer and the electrical outlet; then turn the printer back on. If the electrical outlet is controlled by an outside source such as a wall switch, make sure the switch is turned on or plug another electrical device into the outlet to check whether the outlet is operating properly.

The ready light (green) is on but nothing prints. Why?

Your computer may not be properly connected to the printer. Perform the procedure described in "Connecting to the computer" in the Getting Ready guide.

The interface cable may not be plugged in securely. Check both ends of the cable between the printer and the computer. Be sure to secure the connector using the wire retaining clips. Make sure you use a double-shielded, twisted-pair interface cable no more than six feet in length. The developer cartridge may be empty. To replace the cartridge, see "Replacing the developer cartridge" in your user's manual.

What should I do if some or all of the printout is garbled or printed as asterisks?

Make sure both ends of the interface cable are plugged in securely. Make sure you use a double-shielded, twisted-pair interface cable no more than six feet in length. Make sure you have the correct printer driver selected. If the printer still does not print correctly, contact your dealer or a qualified service person.

Why is the printout position incorrect?

Make sure you are using the correct page length, margin settings and offset settings in your software program.

Why is the background printing dark or dirty?

Turn off the printer. Clean the paper path inside the printer using a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. Clean internal printer components by printing three pages with only one character per page.

You may not be using the correct type of paper for your printer. If the surface of your paper is too coarse, printed characters may appear distorted or broken. Smooth, high-quality copier paper is recommended for best results. See "Specifications" in your user's manual for information on choosing paper.

There may be a problem with the developer cartridge. Remove the cartridge and shake it gently from side to side and then from front to back to distribute the toner evenly, then reinstall it. If this does not solve the problem, replace the developer cartridge. For more information, see "Replacing the developer cartridge" in your user's manual.

You may need to replace the photoconductor unit. For more information, see "Replacing the photoconductor unit" in your user's manual.

Why are black or white bands appearing in the printout?

Turn off the printer. Clean the paper path inside the printer using a soft, dry, lint-free cloth. Clean internal printer components by printing three pages with only one character per page. There may be a problem with the developer cartridge. Remove the cartridge and shake it gently from side to side and then from front to back to distribute the toner evenly, then reinstall it. If this does not solve the problem, see "Replacing the developer cartridge" in your user's manual. You may need to replace the photoconductor unit. For more information, see "Replacing the photoconductor unit" in your user's manual.

What could be causing uneven darkness in my printout?

Your paper may be moist or damp. Do not store your paper in a humid or damp environment. Make sure the paper type is correct. Check whether the printer is in Toner Save mode. Confirm if the density setting is light. Turn off the printer. Take out the developer cartridge, shake it gently from side to side and then from front to back to distribute the toner evenly, and then reinstall it. If this does not solve the problem, install a new cartridge. For more information, see "Replacing the developer cartridge" in your user's manual. Then print several pages to check the print quality.

What could be causing toner smudges in my printout?

Your paper may be moist or damp. Do not store your paper in a humid or damp environment. You may not be using the correct type of paper for your printer. If the surface of your paper is too rough, printed characters may appear distorted or broken. Smooth, high-quality copier paper is recommended for best results. See "Specifications" in your user's manual for information on choosing paper. Turn off the printer. Remove the developer cartridge, shake it from side to side to distribute the toner, and wipe the cartridge's bottom with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth. Clean the paper path inside the printer using a clean, soft, dry, lint-free cloth. Clean internal printer components by printing three pages with only one character per page. If the problem remains, replace the developer cartridge.

Why do I have missing areas on printed image?

Your paper may be moist or damp. Printing is sensitive to moisture absorbed by the paper. The higher the moisture content in the paper, the lighter the printed output. Do not store your paper in a humid or damp environment. You may not be using the correct type of paper for your printer. If the surface of your paper is too coarse, printed characters may appear distorted or broken. Smooth, high-quality copier paper is recommended for best results. See "Specifications" on page A-2 for information on choosing paper.

What could cause completely blank pages?

If, after checking the toner status in the EPSON Status Monitor 3, the Toner LOW message indicates that the amount of toner is low, see "Replacing the developer cartridge" in your user's manual. To check that the photoconductor unit and the developer cartridge are correctly installed, see "Replacing the developer cartridge" in your user's manual. The problem may be with your software program or interface cable. Print out a status sheet through the printer driver. If blank pages continue to print, the problem may be with the printer. Turn off the printer and contact your dealer.

Why is the printed image light or faint?

Darken the Density setting on the Panel menu of your printer driver. You may be using the wrong type of paper. Your paper may be moist or damp. The higher the moisture content in the paper, the lighter the printed output. Do not store your paper in a humid or damp environment. Take out the developer cartridge, shake it gently from side to side to distribute the toner, and then reinstall it. If the problem persists, see "Replacing Consumable Products in your user's manual. The Toner Save mode may be on. Turn off the Toner Save mode using the printer driver.

Why is the image too dark?

Lighten the Density setting on the Panel menu of your printer driver. If the problem persists, see "Replacing Consumable Products" in your user's manual.

Monitor 3 is not working with Windows shared printers.

Monitoring of shared printers is set internally by EPSON Status Monitor 3. To monitor Windows shared printers, right-click the Network Neighborhood and then click Properties. Verify that file and printer sharing for Microsoft Networks is shown in the list of installed components. Also, verify that EPSON Status Monitor 3 is installed in the computer hosting the Windows shared printer, and be sure that the Allow monitoring of shared printers check box is checked in the Monitoring Preferences dialog box. In Windows 98/95, IPX/SPX compatible protocols cannot be set on the network module.

After installing the printer driver the printer is installed as an "unknown device" in the device manager. Why?

During plug-and-play installation, some problem disrupted the installation. While the printer is connected through the USB cable and the power is on, check the Device Manager in the My Computer menu. If USB printer or EPL-5700i is installed in unknown device, then the printer hasn't been properly installed. Disconnect the USB cable from the printer, then reconnect it and reinstall the printer driver.

Why can I not print from Windows?

The driver's printer port may be incorrect. To check the setting of the printer port, select properties in the file menu of the printer dialog box in the program group. Make sure that the printer's power is on.

What could be wrong if the printer is not displayed in the selector dialog box?

The printer port does not appear on the menu because the computer does not recognize the printer connection. Try disconnecting and then re-connecting the USB cable.

Although connected to the USB hub, the printer does not operate correctly. Why?

The printer may not be connected to the first level USB hub. There are five levels of USB connectors, make sure that your printer is connected to the first level. Make sure that the computer has correctly recognized the USB hub. Check the USB hub under universal serial bus in the device manager. If the problem persists, try connecting the printer directly to the computer's USB port.

How do you set up for using shared printers in Windows NT 4.0?

If you are using a shared printer in Windows NT 4.0, it is important that you follow the instructions below carefully, especially "Accessing the printer through a network," which describes how to install the printer driver on NT 4.0 clients. If you do not follow these instructions, you may not be able to properly install or use the printer driver. First, you need to set up the printer as a shared printer on the computer to which the printer is connected. Then, you must specify the network path to the printer from each computer that will use it, and install the printer software on those computers.

Setting up your printer as a shared printer: Follow these steps to share a printer that is connected directly to your computer with others on a network.

• 1. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Printers.
• 2. Select your printer, then click Sharing on the File menu.
• 3. Click Shared and enter the Share Name.
• 4. Click OK.

Note: Do not choose any drivers from the Alternate Drivers list.

How do I access the printer through a network?

To access your printer from another computer on the network, follow these steps:

Note: Your printer must be set up as a shared resource on the computer to which it is directly connected before you can access it from another computer.

• 1. Install the printer driver to the client computer from the software CD-ROM.
• 2. Open the Printer folder from the Control Panel, then open the Properties for your printer.
• 3. Click the Ports tab, then click Add Port.
• 4. When the dialog box appears. Select Local Port, then click New Port.
• 5. In the next dialog box. In the text box, type the following information:
  \\name of computer that is connected to the printer\name of the shared printer
  Then click OK.
• 6. In the Printer Ports dialog box, click Close to return to the Ports menu.
• 7. On the Ports menu, make sure that the new port is added and the check box is selected. Click OK to close the printer driver.

How often do you need to clean the printer?

The printer needs only minimal cleaning. If you notice a decline in print quality or when you've replaced the developer cartridge, clean the inside of the printer as described in this section. You should also clean the printer cover every few months. Fine dust particles can collect inside the printer. Follow these steps to clean the inside of the printer and the paper feeder:

• 1. Make sure the printer is turned off.
• 2. Open the printer cover.
• 3. Remove the developer cartridge and the photoconductor.
• 4. Remove any dirt inside the printer with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth. Do not use compressed air. If you have paper feed problems, clean the paper feed rollers by opening the roller cover and wiping the rollers with a clean, dry, lint-free cloth.

Warning: Opening the printer cover exposes the fuser, which is marked "CAUTION Hot Surface Avoid Contact." Be careful not to touch the fuser. If the printer has been in use, the fuser may be very hot.