Canon MF642Cdw Asks me to load paper into tray 1 every time I print

[dainouye]

Every time I try to print to the printer, an error pops up that says "Load Paper. LTR/Plain 1".  I have to manually select the second option to get it to print.  I've tried setting the deflaut paper tray several times, but the error still pops up.  I print from windows and android.  Please help me.  

Thanks

[vjonsun]

Now I have another problem as of yesterday, and it makes me want to chunk this printer in a river.  I set-up and connected my printer to my laptop, after unboxing it days ago.  The instructions were all over the place, so I winged it.  Time is money,  and the instructions frustrated and slowed me down.  After all, at my age, I've purchased more than 10 printers, how hard can it be?  My last printer was a Canon too..  Nonetheless,  my printer is printing now, thanks to the load paper issue solution, I read here,  days after I set it up.  However,  when I attempted to scan or email myself yesterday,  after adding myself in the contacts to send a document for a trade show to a merchant,  I couldn't get the printer to scan or email.  At last minute,  I finally gave up trying and ended up taking a picture of the document with my cellphone and sent the document via my cellphone from my email.  This is what's happening now with my MF642C as of yesterday:  if I try to scan or email, the error reads as, "please connect to the printer." I began to talk to myself outloud  when trying to scan or email and exclaim to myself, "Ain't I connected to my laptop - especially since my printer is printing documents?"  Pfft on this here printer!

[MikeRVa]

I don't recall exactly what I did to get the scanner working, but I do recall reading directions, hacking around a bit, and some peripheral software.  And it was much easier than hunting the apparently inexplicable paper tray issue. And the scanner works pretty well once you get it going. 

Do note that, once you get it hooked up, it will send scans by default to the "documents" folder of the Windows user -- a place where I personally never store documents.  But I think that's more about Microsoft not catching up with the fact that a lot of folks are not going to store documents on that pricey NVMe solid state drive that runs the operating system.  Just watch for it so you don't have to be frustrated twice over one scanner! 

[MikeRVa]

Hi there.  Glad this helped.  And understand your frustration.  But I'd keep the printer.  The set up is a bit of a pain, but the performance is there, and coming from ink jets, the longevity of high capacity toner cartridges, the lack of paper jams, and the utility of having a multi-function device that works are worth the effort.  We've had ours for a good while now, and apart from the slightly large physical footprint, I couldn't be more pleased with it.  Those cartridges are pricey, but the price per page is good too. 

[JimOnInterwebs]

Mike, thanks.

Canon, what the heck? Everything about this printer is great except: This single issue being the bane of my existence. I have turned off the multi-function tray as a paper source in every menu, yet it still automatically selects it and demands manual intervention. I wish I could physically disable that tray - we NEVER use it. Second issue: Toner DRM nag every time it turns on. I have to manually intervene every time.

Our printer is in my home office in a different building. Every time my family prints something, I have to go out there or interrupt my work and hit the **** touchscreen. How can a device be designed so well in every way and then completely crippled by asenine firmware? I never want to buy one of these units again.

[CPRob]

That worked MikeRVa. Thanks so much for this. It was making me a little crazy! Cheers.

[MikeRVa]

Hey:  Glad it helped.  Wow.  Seems like forever since I posted this, and people are still having issues with the glitch.  I'm really surprised that Canon hasn't picked up on this and added something to their manuals. 

But then again, the fix still works - so maybe we should just be happy.  It's a bit of a shame though, as the printers themselves are really quite good.  Ours has been consistently reliable.  The thing takes up space, but not having to replace those tiny ink jet cartridges -- photos aside -- is great. 

Mike

[philborer]

nice find! Finally!!! 

[soju]

Hello, Thank you for this post.  Same issue as well.  I wanted to share the setting where this setting was enabled to allow to print without prompting with beep to select a tray.  

from Web UI for MF650C Series / MF650C Series

1)Settings/Registration
2)Printer Settings
3)Customer Settings
4)Edit , click on "Drawer 1:", OK

[Betsy987]

Where do I find the custom setttings you are referring to?  I have win 10 and MF644 printer.  It just started this asking me to select paper tray 2 manually on the printer recently after 4 years of working fine.  Thank you.

[Betsy987]

Problem solved.  I followed previous person's instructions of going on the printer to  Menu\Function Settings\printer\printer settings\prioritize driver\ and then I was able to see where your custom setting example started.  I changed drawer 1 to on and problem solved.  Thanks to everyone.