[SOLVED] Laser Printer Toner Cartridges.

[EonW]

I have just bought a Brother HL-L3230CDW printer to replace my old Dell 1320c. I came across a problem when trying to print out a digital photo to test the colours. I was met with an 'Insufficient Memory' error message printout on an A4 sheet instead of the expected photo. Now, the Dell had 64MB of memory and printed the same photo with no problems. The Brother has 256MB of memory. Long story short, the problem turned out (as suspected) to be the Brother software itself. When I removed ALL the drivers and software and just used the printer driver, the photo printed out straight away.
Two questions I hope someone can help with. Firstly, as I am only using the printer driver, will the printer be able to recognise how much toner is used, as the Status Monitor console is not loaded?
Secondly, (and I did raise this with Brother Technical Support), is there any workaround where I can load the 'Full' software package and still get the printer to print photos.
The daft thing was, with the 'Full' package, I got a choice of two print resolutions, Normal and Fine 2400 dpi class. With just the print driver, I get a choice of three - Normal, Fine and Best.
Thanks.

 

[Ralston18]

I would try using just the printer driver for awhile.

This printer?

https://download.brother.com/welcome/doc100919/cv_hll3210cw_use_rg.pdf

https://download.brother.com/welcome/doc100913/cv_hll3210cw_use_oug_b.pdf

[Verify that I identified the applicable printer documentation.]

As I understand the Reference Guide, physically numbered Page 8 shows the printer itself providing some indication of remaining toner. Accuracy TBD and may or may not be better that what is provided via the "Full" software. I do not know.

Just give yourself some time work with and to learn more about the printer. Also see Page 11.

Be sure to read through the Reference Guide and Online User Guide paying attention to all warnings, notes, etc..

And keep some notes and/or logs regarding use of the printer: pages, toner consumption, updates (firmware, drivers, supporting apps - if eventually installed) - keep it all in a handy folder for reference.,

Also remember that the provided toner cartridge may be "introductory" and not completely full. May go "empty" sooner than expected.

Start now to develop some history of printer use - likely to prove very helpful in the future.

 

[EonW]

Ralston 18,
Thanks for replying. Yes, that is the right printer - the 3230 version (difference is that it does duplex, where the 3210 does not). The Page 8 you refer to is the touchscreen (on the 3230 and 3270 models - I have the control Panel (shown earlier in the guide) on my model. However, I just turned on the printer and went through the Control Panel options, and did find a setting which gives a reading for the level of each toner (in a Bar type graph, where so many squares are filled depending on the level). Fiddly, but basic is all I need for now. Thanks for leading me to it. I did give the guide a good read before I bought the printer (easily downloaded) but I don't think it goes into such fine detail. They just expect you to use the 'Full' software package to get all the bells and whistles onscreen. Yes, the toner cartridges provided are not the full ones, but that is the case with all printers now, and I don't use that much - I only changed the toners once in the Dell, and I had it 13 - 14 years. I have a separate inkjet for photograph printing. Thanks again for your help.
Now all I have to figure out is how to get duplex printing on the basic driver so that the two sides are not upside down relative to each other!