Top 10 Silentwriter Series Questions and Answers - PC Based from NEC Technologies' Technical Support Center November 1993 Q1. I have the NEC Silentwriter LC-890 printer and it is constantly displaying a message in the LCD display that reads "OP MESSAGE, PC LIFE". What does this mean? A The message "OP MESSAGE, PC LIFE" indicates that the OPC (Optical Photo Conductor) drum is at the end of it's print life cycle. You will need to install a new OPC Cartridge into the printer in order for the printer to start outputting jobs once again. To reset the "PC LIFE" message you will need to perform the following steps: 1. Make sure that the POWER to the printer is turned ON. 2. Open the top cover of the LC-800. 3. Squeeze the green lever which is positioned on the left hand side of the top cover of the printer. 4. Take hold of the OPC's black handle and proceed to pull the OPC drum straight out of the printer towards you. 5. Press the "PC RESET" button on the lower right front portion of the LC-800. 6. Now re-install a new OPC Cartridge into the LC-800. 7. Close the top cover. 8. Press the "ON LINE" button. You can now resume the print function on the NEC Silentwriter LC-800. Q2. Can recycled cartridges be used on any of the NEC Silentwriter printers? A NEC does not recommend the use of recycled cartridges in any of their Silentwriter Series of printers. Q3. Does the NEC Silentwriter LC-800 have automatic interface switching? Does NEC offer any model with this feature? A This is not a feature, or option available for the Silentwriter LC-800 Series of printers. NEC does offer this feature on it's newer line of Silentwriter printers such as the NEC Silentwriter Model 95, 97, and 1097 Series of printers. Q4. I have a NEC Silentwriter Model 95 which is experiencing the following problem. When I print a document which has large areas of solid blacks, there appears to be faded, and at times white spots randomly spaced throughout the printed page. Could you please tell me if I need to have the printer serviced, or is there some simple solution to this problem? A NEC's laser printers, like all other manufactured laser printers do experience on occasion faded areas, or white spots randomly spaced throughout the printed page. The main cause for this symptom is due to a high moisture content in the paper being used. Humidity and dampness play a major role in poor print quality, especially in large areas of black where it is more noticeable by the human eye. Although this is not the only issue which cause problems such as this, it is certainly considered to be one of the major factors. Other possible causes for this fading out of blacks could be related to the EP or OPC Cartridge, transfer and corona wire assemblies, and to coatings that may be applied to different paper types from different paper vendors. Q5. I purchased a NEC Silentwriter Model 95 back in March of 1993. This printer was running fine under MS Windows 3.0. I recently upgraded to MS Windows 3.1 and now every time I send a job to the printer I receive the following message on my monitor, "CALL TO UNDEFINED DYNALINK". Is the Model 95 incompatible with MS Windows 3.1? A The NEC Silentwriter Model 95 is fully compatible with MS Windows 3.1. However, the software which shipped with the Model 95 labeled, Printer Control Panel, needs to be upgraded. What you will have to do is either send, or Fax NEC a photo copy of the label on the Printer Control Panel diskette. If you are mailing in a photo copy you will need to send it to the following address: NEC Technologies, Inc. Department # 603043 1414 Massachusetts Avenue Boxborough, MA 01719 If you are faxing the photo copy you can fax it to NEC at; 508-635-4666, Attention Printer Support. Q6. I have purchased a NEC Silentwriter Model 95fx. I would like to know if there is anyway that the NEC logo can be removed from the cover page generated by the NEC Fax software? A The Fax software that was shipped with the NEC Silentwriter Model 95fx does not allow the removal of the NEC logo. If you must send a customized cover sheet, you would want to create it under the software application that you are using. Q7. I would like to install additional RAM into my NEC Silentwriter Model 95's and 97's. Can I use third party manufactured memory cards? A NEC Technologies, Inc. does not recommend or endorse the use of third party products within their NEC Silentwriter Series of printers. Q8. Over the past couple of years I have purchased several NEC Silentwriter Model 95's and 97's. I would like to know if there is some type of upgrade offered for these models to allow them to print at 600 dpi? A The NEC Silentwriter Models 95 and 97's do not have the ability to produce printed output at 600 dpi. There is also no optional slots on the printed circuit board to accept third party products which claim to make this function possible. NEC does offer a 600 dpi printer, which is the Silentwriter Model 1097. Q9. I have a NEC Silentwriter2 Model 290 and I need to purchase a new EP-S Cartridge. I have called several NEC Dealers and none of them seem to stock this item any longer. Can I use any other type of cartridge in this model of printer? A The NEC Silentwriter2 Series of printers will accept the following cartridges: Hewlett Packard Series II and Series III Canon LBP 8 Series II and Series III Apple LaserWriter II Series Q10. Does NEC offer a Silentwriter Model printer with switchable power supplies so that it can be used on 110 volts and 220 volts? If not, can the printer be connected to a step down transformer? A No. The voltage requirements must be specified at time of purchase. NEC does not recommend, or endorse the use of step down transformers on any of the Silentwriter models.