For this tutorial, I used my handy-dandy swiss army knife.

1. Start by taking the swiss army knife and inserting the screwdriver end (not the knife!) into the top portion of the drive and gently sliding it across the top. It may be a little difficult at first getting the edge of the screwdriver into the plastic edge.

2. Continue alone the left side of the case with the blade. You may here popping as you go along the edge which is normal.

3. Then move the blade to the other side of the casing until you hear a few more pops when the casing separates itself.

4. When there is sufficient room, finish removing the back piece with your hands. Keep in mind, there are a few more clips that will make noise, this is normal.

5. Here is a picture of the two pieces separated completely. Notice the clips on the back piece. These made the cracking/popping noise when you took it off.

6. To remove the drive, start by taking out 2 rubber fillers at the bottom of the case between the plastic and the hard drive.

7. Here is a picture of the rubber fillers removed.

8. Next, insert the blade into the bottom of the drive and gently pull the drive out of the case. It is not held in by screws or glue, but it is quite snug in the case.

9. Then remove the 4 remaining rubber fillers on the sides (they act like screws).

10. Turn over the hard drive and slide it out of the metal casing.

11. Remove the USB to SATA connector on the top by sliding that off as well.

12. Here is all the pieces laid out and a close up of the hard drive.

Share on Facebook

Naturally, I wondered why a perfectly good printer would get to this state. I power cycled the printer which revealed the true error:

INFLATE FAILURE
DOWNLOAD FILE NOW
SEND RFU UPGRADE

I looked this error on Google, and found many other people in the same situation with no really good answers. This printer either needed a new formatter board or an RFU firmware update. I thought it would be simple enough to connect to the printer via FTP over the network and force the update, but I noticed that there was no activity displaying on the jetdirect port on the side of the printer. Sure enough, a ping to the printer resulted in lost packets.

At this point, I knew that I needed to directly connect to the printer using a USB cable since there were no other options (besides replacing the formatter board). Using Windows XP or Vista was unfortunately out of the question because I only had access to a Mac. Looking online, I couldn’t find a single resource in order to send a firmware file to the printer. I checked HP business forums, Google, and more with little to no results. After a little experimenting, I figured out what was needed to fix the printer using a Mac. These steps are similar to using a PC, but I found that a Mac was *much* easier after everything was said and done.

1. Get the firmware file from HP’s website. It’s usually in the “Cross operating system (BIOS, Firmware, Diagnostics, etc.)” category. When you visit that category, HP usually shows 3-4 links to firmware files (Mac, Windows, UNIX, etc). Secret here is that they are really all the same RFU firmware file, just compressed using different formats. Go ahead and down the one of choice and save it on your desktop or similar location.

2. Uncompress the files and remove the old compressed file since that will no longer be needed. Once again, I placed my file on the desktop, so I knew where it was.

3. Find a USB 2.0 cable (Type A to B) and plug that into your printer (while it’s on and displaying the error message). Then plug the other end to your computer. Nothing should happen on the computer side.

4. Next, go into the “Print and Fax” System Preferences control panel .

5. Click on the “plus” sign at the bottom left like you are installing a new printer.

6. In the add printer dialog box, make sure that the default icon is selected.

7. Then, you should see a printer in the list (only one in the list) called “HP LaserJet USB Upgrade”. If you do not see this printer (or any printer), you may have a bad cable, but most likely, you’re printer is toast. Click on HP LaserJet USB Upgrade, and your computer will try finding drivers for this type of printer (at this point, your computer has no idea what type of printer this is).

8. Go to “Print Using:” and select “Select Printer Software”.

9. When the list of printers come up, select an HP 4100 series printer driver. You may be wondering why you are choosing the HP 4100 series printer driver and your original printer driver. The answer is fairly simple, it really doesn’t matter what driver you choose except that it needs to the a certain kind that allows your computer to send a regular file to a printer for processing. Most of the HP drivers will do this, to be on the safe side, select the 4100.

10. Next, you’ll want to make sure it’s set as the default printer (you’ll see why in a minute). Although my picture shows that the printer is Offline, it should be Online if it’s still connected to the printer.

11. This next step involves using the terminal. Open the terminal by going to Applications>Utilities>Terminal. You can also perform a spotlight search for it.

12. Once the terminal window is up, type in “lpr” and then a space, and then type in the location of your firmware file, or drag and drop the firmware file (called “cp3505fw_03.020.3.rfu” in my case) on to the terminal window and the OS will do the rest. This command will print a file to the default printer which is why that was set earlier.

13. Press enter, and you should start to see a progress with the printer. Once the file is transferred over, the printer will power cycle and be ready for printing. All network settings should have remained intact. Enjoy! You can remove the printer we just created by clicking on the “-” sign in the print and fax system preference panel.

Extra: For you PC users (XP and Vista), the theory of sending the firmware is the same. The main differences is the dos console and how the printer is added to the system.

Share on Facebook

Here are some highlights of our trip:

Reed, Dave, and I are hard at work during the Application Development contest. Here, Reed literally singlehandedly writes a sweet console application in Java getting the team 3rd place overall. Dave was the master planner and I worked on a small Microsoft Access application for another portion of the contest.

Landon and Bryce are working hard to develop a Flex program for the Application Development contest.

Here's a shot of other teams competing in the Application Development contest.

Before the ending awards ceremony started, we sat down to a great meal in the conference center.

Here we are at the awards ceremony near the end of our trip. We had an excellent team go this year that won many awards.

For more pictures, check out the official flickr album.

Share on Facebook

You can easily remove or delete files in 3 basic ways.

1. Right click on the file you want to remove and select “Move to Trash”

2. Highlight (left click once) on the file you want to remove and go to File>”Move to Trash”

3. Highlight (left click once) on the file you want to remove and press “Command + BackSpace” on your keyboard to move it to the trash.

When you’re finished removing icons from the desktop, empty the trash. You can right click on the trash icon and select “Empty Trash”.

Tags: Delete icon desktop imac

Share on Facebook

I had an unusual problem with an HP LaserJet 3050 AIO that left me stumped. I received a 3050 back from a customer because it never worked. They mentioned that it would turn on, but they kept getting an unclearable message on the control panel. The error the customer was receiving was “No Paper Pickup”. Immediately I thought that there may be damage to the logic board or some sensor, but I had a hard time finding out where it was. After about 20 minutes of searching I happened across a spring that became “unsprung” and just needed to re-align it in place. Since there are many sensors and springs in the printer, I’ve included pictures of my fix. Please leave me a comment if you found it to be helpful.

The entire back of the 3050 with the sides and back plate removed.

The spring just above the separation pad unit

Share on Facebook

I seem to be purchasing small gadgets lately and this month has been no exception.  For work, I needed to put together a series of useful video presentations/screencasts for my fellow co-workers. After looking around on the Internet for a good set of headphones, I found the Plantronics brand and decided to give them a go.

Headset quality
The physical headset felt pretty solid even though it was entirely made out of plastic as most headsets are today. It folded nicely for travel, however it didn’t lay flat so be sure and consider this before slamming it in a briefcase.

Sound quality
Listening to music and other media was pleasant. The included USB sound card helped to digitize the sound from the computer although it was still converted to an analog signal. Overall, I did like using the headset to listen to podcasts, music, and movies.

Recording quality
This is where I think the Plantronics brand shines. The recording quality was very good with little interference, static, and other annoyances. With a little base enhancement help from Audacity or Garageband, these puppies worked great right out of the box. I find them ideal for screencasts, podcasting, or using them with skype or similar program.

Overall I enjoy using this headset. Since I’m on a MacBook Pro, capatibility was a concern, but the included USB sound card worked great out of the box with no drivers or extra software needed.

Share on Facebook

My mother has an iMac that she loves. I have a MacBook Pro and wanted to communicate with my mom using iChat since I have poor cell reception in my home. At first, I looked into getting her an iSight camera off of eBay. For anyone that has tried looking for a cheap used iSight has quickly found themselves looking for an alternative camera because those iSights are very expensive. They are still selling near retail price. Apple has since discontinued them which left little alternatives to purchasing a new computer.

My first option was to use an older Sony DV Camcorder. At first, it seemed like a good idea, however it just wouldn’t work due to the size and the type of setup required in order to get it to work. Who wants to have a tripod on their desk next to the computer? When iChatting with them, you’ll never really see the person on the other end look into the camera. They would always be looking elsewhere (like at the monitor for example).

Then I stumbled upon a blogpost that mentioned any UVC compatible webcam would work with iChat if the Mac had OS Tiger 10.4.8 or later installed. Since manufactures don’t really show that specification on the box or website, you have to hunt it out or look for reviews by people that have tried it out. I finally found the Logitech QuickCam Deluxe for Notebooks Webcam from buy.com that was free after rebate. I choose this model for a few reasons. First, it would end up being free after rebate, you can’t go wrong with free. Next, it had a built in microphone which was nice in case it didn’t work with the Mac and could be used as a webcam for a windows based computer without the need for an additional microphone. Lastly, it was small and UVC compliant, so it should fit nicely on my mother’s iMac.

When my mom tried it out, iChat recognized it immediately and set the camera to the default capture device. The microphone also worked right out of the box. I set my mom up with an AOL instant message account and we were chatting away within minutes.

I’ll have to admit that the quality isn’t as nice as the iSight built into my Macbook Pro, but it was decent and very usable. The manual focus lens on the Logitech is easy to turn and makes the picture as clear as possible with the given built-in lens. Overall, I’m impressed with the quality and ease of setup. The camera was relatively cheap (free) so I can’t complain.

Pros: Easy to setup (with a mac). Clip to attach webcam is a nice addition for an older iMac G4. Built in microphone a plus. Inexpensive.

Cons: Some distortion in low light conditions.

Share on Facebook

The MF4690 is a compact yet speedy multifunctional all-in-one. I was looking for a printer that had a small footprint, but came with many features that I needed for my business. I tried many HP printers, but the scanning and network integration left me wondering which direction HP was headed. The loss of quality on the latest LaserJet printers pushed me into looking at Toshiba, Bother, and finally Canon printers.

I’ve found that Canon printers are generally little less than HP printers, but the toner is a bit more expensive. The printer engine is similar between the two manufactures (in fact, HP leases the technology from Canon). I believe that Canon’s strategy is selling a cheaper printer and making up for the difference in profits through toner. This ensures that the printer needs to last longer.

After getting this printer out of the box, it was noticeably small in comparison to my previous HP LaserJet 3390. The cartridge is a bit smaller, but it’s should suffice for my needs of 2,000 pages @ 5% coverage.  The speed of printing is at 21ppm which is also just fine for my occasional printing. I require most of my printed material to be double-sided so a duplexer was a must.

The MF4690 has some nice features including scan-to-email, scan-to-flash drive, and scan-to-network drive. I tried to configure the device to use my websites email but I was blocked by my ISP from using outbound email ports. I tried Gmail’s secure ports but was unable to get it to work. So for now I just scan in the documents to a flash drive and email them with my computer which has worked out just fine.

Overall, I’m impressed with the quality and size of this all-in-one. It’s a little more expensive then other models Canon offers, but the scanning functionality make it worth it to me. I expect this printer to be a part of my business for quite some time.

Pros: Small footprint. Scan-to-flash drive is fast and efficient. Fast print speeds. Networks well with Macs and PCs.

Cons: Couldn’t get scan-to-email feature to work with Gmail, provides no errors related to my issue. Randomly “calibrates” every 24 hours or so which is something I’ve never seen a black and white laser do.  When the toner is low, an “alarm” is consistently on make it difficult to scan in anything or use the printer, it also doesn’t go into energy saver when in “alarm” mode.

Share on Facebook

Recently, we have a need in my family to preserve slides by scanning them into the computer and digitizing our analog photo collection since mold, mildew, and other “elements” are starting to deteriorate the photos.

Costco had a sale on the 3600u slide projector making it an ideal alternative to sending them into a photo place for scanning. If we could just scan them in at home, we would be able to save money and
edit as we scan.  So I picked up one of these scanners and started working.

When I opened up the unit, I noticed that the scanning head had become jammed probably from shipping. A quick jerk knocked it back into place after I realized that it wasn’t supposed to be like that. After the

first few scans, I realized that there must be some issue with the scanner since none of the slides were turning out well. I decided to get another one to try and experience similar results of pictures being fuzzy, very dark, and generally horrible quality. I checked out the manufactures website and read through the manual.

After trying every setting possible (exposure, brightness, contrast, etc), I realized that scanning slides is something this unit wasn’t designed to do very well. Some of the slides that I know are very clean and clear come out horrible, dark, and completely unusable. Thank goodness I purchased this at Costco since their return policy is very liberal. Usually Costco has products with high quality; however this scanner must have been an exception to Costco’s quality guidelines.

The Good: Small form factor. Comes with Adobe Photoshop Elements. USB 2.0.
The Bad: Horrible quality. Manufactures software is very buggy in Windows (crashes often).  Scans take over 60 seconds each. Poor unit build quality. Only can scan one slide at a time. Scanner head has no “lock” mechanism for transportation protection.

Bottom Line: Save yourself the trouble and steer clear of this scanner (and I assume company). Costco offers slide scanning for $0.29 each at the photo lab each. They come on a CD and look fantastic.

Share on Facebook

Q: Does using remanufactured toner cartridges void my HP/Toshiba/Brother warranty on my printer?

A: The Sherman and Clayton Anti-Trust Acts of 1914 prohibit a manufacture to void the warranty on a product they sell because you don’t use their specific, brand name, over priced, high margin product. As an example, when you need an oil change, getting your car serviced at the dealership is generally a little more money. Going to a local shop can save you money, but it doesn’t void your car’s warranty. This same principle is applied to cartridges (and ink too). You’re welcome to use any toner cartridges you wish and it will not void your warranty unless damage to the printer is caused by the use of a bad cartridge or remanufactured cartridge. This is usually a rare occurrence though. Out of the many years I’ve spent working on printers, I’ve never seen a warranty issue be rejected due to not using OEM (original equipment manufacturer) toner.

Q: What is the difference between remanufactured and refurbished toner?

A: Marketing mainly. There is no set standard for “remanufactured” or “refurbished”. Most retailers of aftermarket toner will tell you that their toner is remanufactured meaning that more went into manufacturing the toner cartridge then just filling it with toner. Essentially both names mean the same thing though. Sometimes techs will call the toner “remans” or “refurbs”, but it really comes down to the company that you purchase through. Don’t pay attention to what they say their cartridges are, look for yourself or ask good questions to find the right cartridge.

Q: Can I just refill my toner cartridge and be ok?

A: That’s a tough question to answer depending on what type of cartridge you have. It would be safe to say that the bigger the cartridge, the more likely you will need to exchange or buy a new cartridge. This is mainly due to two parts, the drum and the PCR. Both of these parts will wear out before the toner runs out which causes you to buy a new cartridge anyway. Toner generally does not work like ink cartridges. Ink cartridges generally have a print head inside the printer which makes it possible to just fill up the ink and get by ok. Toner cartridges have a lot more parts to them and generally can’t be “filled” without future issues.

Q: Is remanufactured color toner cartridges just the same as black and white cartridges?

A: Not really. I’ve had a lot more problems with the color cartridges being “off color” and leaking to really not make it worth selling or supporting these. There are a few models that look ok, but they are the minority. This is a reason why color is so much more than black and white.

Share on Facebook