Have I bricked my G2000?

Hi all,

I was experiencing severe print head misalignments with my G2000 (Color portion) which could not be fixed with manual and automatic alignment, and therefore cleaned the interiors and attempted to 'reset the printer to factory defaults' because I took the print heads out and the ink delivery tubes were emptied as a result. What I did however, was to enter service mode(I had no prior knowledge of what this did and what it was) and Windows detected the printer as "Device". Since the printer is detected as offline, I proceeded to restart the printer after a while, only to be greeted by the 5B00 error. I have then fiddled around to no avail, and various button combinations that purportedly resets the counter does not work.

Now, I am not sure if my printer is bricked, i.e. stuck in service mode. If I restart the printer, I will get the 5B00 error, but when I enter service mode, I cannot perform the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu_vONAEM4A

I was able to follow until the 'press stop 5 times' part (48 seconds into the video), but could not perform the actual reset because the green light remains green and does not alternate between yellow.

If I screwed up the EEPROM, it it fixable with a SPI flashing tool? I need to buy one to fix the BIOS of another motherboard anyway, and they only cost a few bucks.

I wouldn't bother purchasing a Canon Service Tool/WicReset key as I cannot justify its cost considering that there is also a severe print head issue (faded magenta and warped blue) which I guess can only be fixed if I purchase a >$50 CA92 print head for Color, in which case I may as well spend a bit more to buy a new printer anyway. However, if this printer is still salvageable I guess I will just print in black which works fine.

Appreciate any input regarding this matter.

Update: Now bricked for sure. Attempted to use v4.720 and gave error 005. Afterwards, it got locked out. Seems like the guide on https://consultancomputeraplus.blogspot.com/2017/09/reset-canon-g2000-g2002-g2100-g2200.html is not really true after all (Only the 4.720 was available to download, so I made do with that. Now it's bricked lol).

Thank you for the report and warning. Yes it is a sad fact that the use of a too old version of the service tools can lock access to service mode for newer Canon printers. Versions 5103 and 5204 are claimed to work with the G models of Canon printers. I don't know if V4720 can be used or it is too old and will block service mode?

Even if it is not free I think the safest way of obtaining a service tool is to buy it from Ebay. There is a high risk of downloading malware from a free download.

I was also tricked by that video which I'm sure is fake. I think service mode operations in the video were performed from a hidden laptop operated by an assistant outside the picture. The procedure shown in the video for the reset is the old push button procedure from before the service tools were introduced. This procedure only works with printers of the PGI-5/CLI-8 cartridge generation and older. Maybe the attempt to use the push button codes locked service mode or maybe the use of service tool v4720 did the damage?

I have seen on the web that the only cure for a locked service mode is re-flashing the EEPROM on the logic board. For this you will need hardware flashing tool and also the proper file to flash from an undamaged printer of the same type. Could you please link to the SPI flashing tool you mentioned in your first post?

Well...one problem--I just threw it away lol

I am pretty sure the push button codes did not harm the printer, because I attempted that several times before resorting to using v4720. 5B00 did not go away after trying the button codes, but I could still enter service mode again and again. After the v4720 005 errors though, I was presented with the glorious yellow dot.

I originally wished to use the CH341 flasher(because that's what I needed to flash my Asus motherboard which I bricked in a separate incident), but I highly doubt it was correct. In fact the 8-pin Winbond chip next to the actual EEPROM looks like the type of chip the CH341 flasher typically flashes. Anyway, the EEPROM was too tiny for me handle(an SMD component directly next to it + shaky hands + only having a big tip soldering iron), and I don't have the proper backup file to flash it. Considering it wasn't printing color correctly in the first place (which is the reason I got myself into this mess), I chugged it in the bin.

I honestly expected the printer to last somewhat longer than this, being a ink tank printer and all. Never dreamt that they can also limit the number of times you can use the cleaning pads and lock you out that way...it's just wonderful.

Anyway, I ain't buying another Canon printer...ever. I mean, I should have probably learnt my lesson already when my MX457 and iP1300 had the same *unrepairable* alignment issues less than a year after the warranty ended. Any recommendations on printer companies that don't do this type of scummy practices on consumers? Are HP ones any good? I'm looking at this model specifically: https://store.hp.com/sg-en/default/...ter-1kr67d.html#product.view.tab.ask.question and oh trust me I'm drilling holes on those pesky cartridges for sure--I still have leftover bottles of Genuine Canon Ink in my closet.

Epson has a wide range of ink tank printers - the ET- and L-series models - availability depending on your country of residence, and the model mix may vary as well.
https://www.epson.eu/products/printers/inkjet-printers/for-home.
I'm quite happy with those - from a small L310 to an L1800 A3 Photo printer. I'm doing 50 000+ pages with an L310 or similar - L382, L386
(let me make an unofficial remark - you can use up your Canon inks in such an Epson printer - I'm doing swapping inks like that now and then, getting left over HP or Canon inks from friends, including pigment inks. But I can't recommend it because it may void your warranty). But it all depends on your requirements, your print volume and other preferences.

Thanks for the suggestion, but doesn't Epson have the same problem regarding the ink pads(i.e. they lock you out after a treshold)? A quick google search don't come up with similar problems for HP. Also, I don't really mind non-ink tank printers as I can refill the cartridges myself.

Considering Epson printers, I have narrowed down to the following choices:
https://www.courts.com.sg/epson-wf-...-printer-precisioncore-printing-tech-ip140964 (Idea is I refill the ink packs myself, and enjoy the duplex/LAN/paper tray features)
https://www.courts.com.sg/epson-l3110-ecotank-aio-inkjet-printer-ip144000 (Basic ink tank printer)
https://store.hp.com/sg-en/default/...020-all-in-one-printer-1kr67d.html#additional (The one I mentioned earlier, which also have duplex/LAN/paper tray. Again, I intend to refill the ink cartridges)
https://store.hp.com/sg-en/default/printers/hp-ink-tank-319-aio-printer-z6z13a.html (Another basic ink tank printer)
https://www.courts.com.sg/brother-dcp-t510w-inkjet-printer-ip141347 (Ink tank printer with wi-fi which I do not use; I prefer LAN)

Do you have any recommendations/suggestions on the above?

Also, is it a good idea to get a printer where the print heads are on the cartridges? I had no way to replace my color print head on my G2000 as it was sold nowhere, which makes it hard to fix a misalignment that auto/manual adjustment cannot fix. If the print heads are on the cartridges, then I can buy new cartridges when necessary (and refill it as many times as possible).

about every printer will fill up the waste ink reservoir over time and finally block printing, that's not a specific Epson or Canon issue. It's just easier to replace the pads on one model than another, and the WICReset utility easily resets the counter on Epson printers (and some G-series printers) - against a charge of about 10$.
I'm not clear what your requirements are - you are listing models with quite different configurations. I just can report my experiences with the L/ET-series printers.
Printers with a combined ink reservoir and printhead are typically oriented to lower volume printing use, that's up to your printing habits.
Printhead alignment on Epson printers needs to be done once, there is no real need to redo that frequently since deviations don't occur.


Edit

Ink stained Fingers said:

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Thanks for your input.

I do understand that the waste ink reservoir will be full as we clean it, but I would prefer the printer to not force me to stop using it and 'bring it to an authorized dealer' to 'service' it. I would rather have it giving me an option to circumvent it (because I can clear up the pads myself), and no, WICReset/other paid software is really not my cup of tea, but I don't mind buying a dedicated hardware resetter/chip if it's 1) cheap, and 2) easily obtainable in my region(for example, the Epson's WF-C5290's pad chip can be replaced: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/T67...ec-49ea-a480-479a892cacf7&transAbTest=ae803_4). I would still prefer the printer to be able to allow me to reset the counter myself, even if it is not through official means(e.g. I need to press an undocumented set of buttons to reset, but no external (paid) software is required). However, that seems like a pipe dream in the year 2019.

I don't really print all that often (about 0 to 6 times a month, 5 to 10 pages average), and in the case of the G2000, I had to deep clean+system clean it(the color portion) every time it starts due to clogged nozzles(Yes, every single time for color). Is it a bad idea to get ink tank printers as compared to cartridge+refill? There is also a price premium for ink tank printers (same price but you get much less functionality), so is it justified for my use case? Within the warranty period, I will refill with the same brand ink bottles(for both ink tank and ink cartridge refilling) so warranty-wise there should not be a problem. I do not exactly have requirements on the printer (other than them not locking me out when the ink pad are full, or chip swaps for cheap), but I do appreciate features such as paper tray, LAN and duplex printing.

I don't think an ink tank printer is advisable for you with such a rather low print volume. But when it comes to waste ink - there is much less since you don't have any cleaning cycles related to a cartridge changes/refill. And I don't see much difference whether you pay 10$ for a software reset or 9$ for a new maintenance box chip - it's up to you.