Epson Stylus Color 680 Setup Guide

Printing Your

First Page

Installing

and

Checking

the Ink

Cartridges

Installing the

Printer Software

Checking the

Package Contents

Unpacking

the

Printer

Attaching

the

Paper Support

Plugging in and

Connecting

the Printer

4012692-01
xxx

Checking the Package Contents

paper support

printer

The package contents may vary in certain locations.

The ink cartridges packaged with your printer are for initial setup. In order to
maintain high quality printouts, your printer will use large quantities of ink
during the setup process. As a result, the ink cartridges used for setup will empty
faster than normal.

printer software &
Reference Guide
CD-ROM

Daily Use

Setup
guide

paper manuals

ink cartridge package

(contains both black and
color ink cartridges.)

power cord*

* The power cord may come

attached to the printer in
certain locations.

Unpacking the printer

Remove all tape and protective materials from the printer and lift the top
corners of the output tray off of the knobs on the top of the printer to lower it.

If the output tray is curled, bend both sides of the tray upwards at the seams.

.

➀➁

➂

➄➃

Attaching the Paper Support

Insert the paper support into the slots at the rear of the printer and place the
printer on a flat, stable surface.

Plugging In and Connecting the Printer

Your printer connects to your computer via the parallel or USB interface.
Macintosh computers can only be connected via the USB interface.
Depending upon your geographic location, you may need to obtain the
appropriate cable. See “Options and Consumable Products” in the Daily Use
guide for details.

Note:

In order to connect your PC via the USB interface, your computer must be a

❏

Windows 98 or Windows 2000 pre-installed model that is equipped with a USB
port.

If you use a USB hub, we recommend that you connect the printer to the first

❏

tier of the hub, or connect the printer directly to the computer’s USB port.

Using a parallel interface for Windows users

To connect the printer to your PC, you need a shielded, twisted-pair parallel
cable. Follow the directions below.

1. Make sure that both the printer and the computer are turned off. Plug
the power cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet.

2. Plug the cable connector
securely into the printer's
interface connector. Then
squeeze the wire clips together
until they lock in place on both
sides. If your printer has a
ground connector screw to the
right of the interface connector,
connect the ground wire to the
ground connector screw.

3. Plug the other end of the cable
into the computer's parallel interface. If there is a ground wire at the
computer end of the cable, connect it to the ground connector at the
back of the computer.

Using a USB interface for Windows and Macintosh users

To connect the printer to a USB port, you need a standard shielded USB
cable. Follow these steps.

1. Make sure that both the printer and the computer are turned off. Plug
the power cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet.

2. Plug the appropriate end of the cable
into the USB port on the back of the
printer. (The end that fits the printer has
a different shape from the end that fits
the computer.)

3. Connect the other end of the cable to the
computer’s USB port.

Installing the Printer Software

After connecting the printer to your computer, you need to install the
software included on the “Printer Software for EPSON Stylus COLOR 680”
CD-ROM shipped with your printer.

Your printer software includes:

Printer driver and utilities

❏

The printer driver runs, or “drives,” your printer; use it to make settings
such as print quality, speed, media type, and paper size. The Nozzle
Check, Head Cleaning, and Print Head Alignment utilities help you
keep your printer in top operating condition. EPSON Status Monitor 3
(for Windows 98, 95, 2000, and NT 4.0) or EPSON StatusMonitor (for
Macintosh) notifies you of printer errors and displays printer status
information such as the amount of ink remaining. The Status Monitor
also guides you through the ink replacement process.

Online guides

❏

The online Reference Guide helps you learn more about your printer.

If you are using the floppy disk version of the software, make a backup copy
of the EPSON printer software disk before you begin installation. If you
wish to make a floppy disk version of the printer software on your CD­ROM, you can use the driver disk creation utility included on the CD.

Refer to the appropriate section below.

Installing in Windows 98, 95, 2000, and NT 4.0

Follow the instructions in this section to install the printer software and
then, for Windows 98 and Windows 2000 USB users, to ensure that the USB
driver is installed correctly.

Note:

When using Windows 2000, you must follow the steps below to install the

❏

printer software; otherwise, Microsoft’s Universal driver may be installed
instead. To check if the Universal driver has been installed, open the Printers
folder and right-click the icon for your printer. To open the printer driver, click
Printer Preferences on the shortcut menu that appears, then right-click
anywhere in the driver. If About is displayed in the shortcut menu that
appears, click it. A message box with the words “Unidrv Printer Driver”
appears. You must reinstall the printer software as described below. If About
is not displayed, the printer software has been installed correctly.

If the Digital Signature Not Found dialog box appears during the installation

❏

process, click Yes. If you click No, you will have to return to step 1 and install
the printer software again.

Installing the printer software

Follow these steps to install the printer software.

1. Make sure that your printer is turned off.

Copyright© 2000 by SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION, Nagano, Japan.

Printed in Japan 00.x x-xx

2. Turn on your computer and start Windows. If the New Hardware
Found dialog box or any other Wizard appears, click Cancel.

3. Insert the printer software CD shipped with your printer in the CD­ROM drive. The Installer dialog box appears. (For floppy disk users,
insert the disk in the floppy-disk drive and double-click the
My Computer icon, the floppy disk drive icon, and then Setup.exe.)

4. Select Install Printer Driver/Utility, and
click . Then, click OK in the dialog box
that appears to start the printer software
installation. After the printer software
installation is complete, the Problem
Solver is automatically installed on your
hard drive.

Note:

It is possible to install the Reference Guide

❏

on your hard drive from the Installer
dialog box, as shown above. To install the
guide, click Online Guide and then . Then, click Install Reference
Guide and follow the on-screen instructions. When the installation is
complete, an ESC680 Guide icon appears in the EPSON folder. Double­click the icon to open the guide.

The Problem Solver provides tips and instructions to help you solve most

❏

problems that you may encounter when printing. The Problem Solver can
be accessed through the Epson folder, Status Monitor 3, or the printer
driver. For details, see the “Troubleshooting” section of your Daily Use
guide.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions to turn on your printer.

For Windows 98 users, the printer port configuration starts
automatically.

For printers connected via the USB cable, the USB device driver
installation starts automatically at this point. When a message appears
asking you to restart your computer, do so.

6. After turning on the printer, the Setup
utility opens automatically.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install
the ink cartridges, check the print head
nozzles, and clean the print head. When a
message appears informing you that the
setup is complete, click OK.

Note:

If the Setup utility does not start, proceed to step to install the ink cartridges
using the printer’s control panel.

7. When a message appears informing you that the installation is
complete, click OK.

Note:

If an error message appears, either the printer driver or the EPSON USB
printer device driver is not installed correctly. See "Troubleshooting" in the
Daily Use guide for details.

After the setup is complete, proceed to step to print your first page.

Ensuring that the USB driver is installed correctly for Windows 98 and
Windows 2000 users

Follow the directions below to confirm that the USB driver is installed
correctly.

Note:

The illustrations used in this section show the procedure for Windows 98.

1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Printers. Make sure
that the icon for your printer appears in the Printers window.

Select the icon for your printer, then click
Properties on the File menu.

2. For Windows 98 users, click the Details
tab and make sure that EPUSBx: (EPSON
Stylus COLOR 680) is displayed in the
Print to the following port list box. For
Windows 2000 users, click the Ports tab
and make sure that USBxxx, EPSON Stylus
COLOR 680 is displayed in the Print to the
following port(s) list box.

Note:

If the correct port is not displayed, refer to the
"Troubleshooting" section of the Daily Use
guide or the online Reference Guide.

Installing in Windows 3.1

Follow the steps below to install the printer software.

1. Make sure that Windows 3.1 is running and that the Program Manager
window is open.

2. Insert the printer software CD that is shipped with your printer in the
CD-ROM drive. (If you use the floppy disk version, insert it in the
floppy-disk drive.)

3. Click Run on the File menu. The
Run dialog box opens. In the
Command Line box, type D:SETUP
and click OK. If the CD-ROM drive
has a drive letter other than “D”, or
if you are using the floppy disk
version, substitute the appropriate
letter.

4. The installation program begins copying the printer software files.

5. When the installation is complete, click OK to exit the installation
program.

The installation program automatically selects this printer as the default
printer for Windows applications.

For information on opening and using the software, see “Using the Printer
Software for Windows” in the Daily Use guide.

Installing in Macintosh

Follow the instructions in this section to install the printer software and then
to select your printer in the Chooser.

Caution:

?

Installing the printer software

Follow these steps to install your printer software.

1. Turn on your Macintosh and insert the software CD in the CD-ROM

2. If a single Installer icon appears, double-click the icon. If separate

Turn off all virus protection programs before you install the printer
software.

drive. The EPSON printer software CD-ROM opens automatically.

folders containing Installer icons for several languages appear, double­click the folder for your preferred language, then double-click the
Installer icon inside it.

Note:

It is possible to install the Reference Guide on your hard drive from the

❏

printer software CD-ROM. To install the guide, click Install Reference
Guide and follow the on-screen instructions. When the installation is

complete, a View Reference Guide icon appears in the EPSON folder.
Double-click the icon to open the guide.

It is possible to access Technical Support from the printer software

❏

CD-ROM. Insert the CD in the CD-ROM drive and double-click the
Technical Support Web Site icon in the EPSON folder.

3. At the initial screen, click
Continue. The Installer dialog box
appears.

4. To install the printer software that
is included on your printer software
CD-ROM, make sure th at the Install
Location box displays the correct
drive, then click Install.

5. When a message appears informing you that the installation is
complete, click Restart to restart your computer.

Selecting your printer in the Chooser

After you have installed the printer software on your Macintosh, you need
to open the Chooser and select your printer. You must select a printer the
first time you use it or whenever you want to switch to another printer. Your
Macintosh will always print using the last printer selected. Follow the steps
below to select your printer in the Chooser.

1. Choose Chooser from the Apple
menu. Then, select the icon for your
printer and the port that your
printer is connected to.

2. Select the appropriate
Background Printing radio button
to turn background printing on or
off.

When background printing is on,
you can use your Macintosh while it is preparing a document for
printing. In order to use the EPSON Monitor3 utility to manage print
jobs, background printing must be turned on.

3. Close the Chooser.

Installing and Checking the Ink Cartridges

This printer uses ink cartridges equipped with IC chips. The IC chip
accurately monitors the amount of ink used by each cartridge, so even if a
cartridge is removed and inserted again, all of its ink can be used. However,
some ink from both color and black ink cartridges is consumed each time a
cartridge is inserted because the printer automatically checks reliability.

Be sure to use the ink cartridges packed with your printer the first time that
you install ink cartridges.

Refer to the appropriate section below.

Using the Setup utility for Windows 98, 95, 2000, and
NT 4.0 users

The Setup utility should open automatically when your printer software
installation is complete. Follow the on-screen instructions. If you cannot
access the Setup utility, refer to the next section.

Using the printer's control panel

If you are a Macintosh or Windows 3.1 user, or cannot access the Setup
utility, use the printer’s control panel to install the ink cartridges.

Before installing the ink cartridges, note the following.

Warning:

M

The ink cartridges are self-contained units. Under ordinary use, ink will
not leak from a cartridge. If ink does get on your hands, wash them
thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, flush them
immediately with water.

Note:

Do not open the ink cartridge packages until just before you install them; otherwise,
the ink may dry up.

Follow the steps below to install the ink cartridges.

1. Lower the output tray, then open the
printer cover.

2. Turn on the printer by pressing
the

power button.

2

The print head moves to the
center, which is the ink cartridge
installation position. The

power light flashes and the

2

error light comes on.

Caution:

?

3. Push back the release tabs and lift up the ink
cartridge clamps.

4. Open the ink cartridge
packages. Next, remove only
the yellow tape seals from
each cartridge.

?

Do not move the print head
by hand. Doing so may damage the printer.

Caution:

You must remove

❏

the yellow tape seals
from the cartridges before installing them; otherwise, the cartridges
will become unusable and you will be unable to print.

If you have installed an ink cartridge without removing the yellow

❏

tape seal, you must remove the cartridge and install a new one.
Prepare the new cartridge by removing the yellow tape seal, then
install it in the printer.

Do not remove the blue portion of the tape seal from the cartridges;

❏

otherwise, the cartridges may become unusable.
Do not remove the tape seals from the bottom of the cartridges;

❏

otherwise, ink will leak.
Do not touch the green IC chip on the side

❏

of the cartridge. Doing so may prevent
normal operation and printing.

Do not remove the green IC chip from the

❏

side of the cartridge. If you install an ink
cartridge without a chip, the printer may be
damaged.

Do not touch this part.

5. Align the tabs on each ink cartridge so that they
are resting on the tabs protruding from the base
of the opened ink cartridge clamps. Do not apply
excessive force to the cartridges.

Caution:

?

Note:

Install both ink cartridges. If either of the cartridges is not
installed, the printer will not work.

6. Lower the ink cartridge clamps until they lock into place.

7. Press the
print head and begins charging the ink delivery system. This process
takes about two and a half minutes.

?

While the ink is charging, the
flashes and the printer produces a variety of
mechanical sounds. These sounds are normal. When the ink delivery
system has been charged, the print head returns to the home (far right)
position and the

?

8. Close the printer cover.

Make sure that the ink cartridge tabs are not under
the tabs protruding from the base of the opened ink
cartridge clamps, as this can damage the clamps.

ink cartridge replacement button. The printer moves the

A

Caution:

Always press the
button to move the print head. Do not move the
print head by hand. Doing so may damage the
printer.

2

Caution:

Never turn off the printer while the

ink cartridge replacement

A

power light

2

power light comes on.

2

power light is flashing.

Checking the printer

Before printing your first page, you need to make sure that the printer is
working correctly by loading paper, then printing a nozzle check page and,
if necessary, cleaning the print head. Refer to the appropriate section below.

Loading paper

Follow the steps below to load plain paper in the printer.

1. Lower the output tray and slide the left edge guide so that the distance
between the edge guides is slightly wider than the width of your paper.

2. Fan a stack of paper, then tap it on a flat surface to even the edges.

3. Load the stack of paper in the sheet
feeder with the printable side up
and the right edge of the paper
resting against the right edge guide.
Then, slide the left edge guide
against the left edge of the paper.

Note:

Always load paper into the sheet

❏

feeder short edge first.

Make sure that the paper stack fits under the arrow mark inside the edge

❏

guide.

printable
side up

Checking the print head nozzles

Make sure that the printer is turned
off. Hold down the
button (➀ in the illustration) and
press the
illustration) to turn on the printer.
Then release only the power button
first. When the printer starts the
nozzle check, release the

maintenance button.

>

Below are sample printouts.

power button (➁ in the

2

maintenance

>

Good sample Print head needs to be cleaned

Segments are missing

If the nozzle check page does not print satisfactorily (for example, if any
segment of the printed lines is missing), then you should clean the print
head as explained below. If the printout is satisfactory, you are ready to
print your first page. See “Printing Your First Page” for instructions.

Cleaning the print head

Follow the steps below to clean the print head.

1. Make sure that the

2. Hold down the
button for three seconds.

The printer starts cleaning the
print head and the
begins flashing. Print head
cleaning takes about thirty
seconds to complete.

Caution:

?

3. When the
confirm that the head is clean and to reset the cleaning cycle.

If print quality hasn’t improved after repeating the nozzle checking and
cleaning procedures four or five times, contact your dealer.

Never turn off the printer while the
so may damage the printer.

power light stops flashing, print a nozzle check pattern to

2

power light is on and that the >error light is off.

2

maintenance

>

power light

2

power light is flashing. Doing

2

Printing Your First Page

After making sure that your printer is operating correctly, you are ready to
print your first page. To familiarize yourself with the printer software, we
recommend printing one of the sample files provided with your printer
software. To print a sample file, follow the instructions for Windows or
Macintosh in this section.

If you choose to print your own document instead, open the document in
your application, then proceed to step 4 in the relevant section below,
making changes where appropriate.

Note:

See your software manual for details on how to use your application.

❏

Depending on the type of document you are printing and the type of paper you

❏

are using, you may have to make settings different from those described in this
section.

For Windows users

Follow these steps to print the sample file.

1. Make sure that A4 or Letter size EPSON Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper is
loaded in the printer.

2. Insert the printer driver CD in the CD-ROM drive. If the Installer dialog
box appears, click Quit.

3. Double-click the My Computer icon and then the CD-ROM icon. Then
double-click the sample.bmp file to open it.

4. To change the printer driver settings, click
Print on the File menu. A Print dialog box
similar to the one on the right opens. (This
example is from Paint).

5. Make sure your printer is selected in the
Name list box, then click Properties. The
printer driver opens.

6. Click the Main tab, then click anywhere in
the Media Type box and select Photo
Quality Ink Jet Paper.

7. Select Color as the Ink setting.

8. Select Automatic as the Mode setting.
When Automatic is selected, the printer
software optimizes other settings
according to the Media Type and Ink
settings you make.

9. Click the Paper tab, then click anywhere in the Paper Size box and select
the paper size that is loaded in the printer.

10. Click OK at the bottom of the printer driver window. You return to the
Print dialog box (or a similar dialog box).

11. Click Close, Print, or OK to print. You may need to click a combination
of these buttons.

While printing, the EPSON Progress Meter

NT 4.0) or the EPSON Despooler dialog box (in Windows 3.1)

displayed, showing the printing progress and the status of your printer.

(in Windows 98, 95, 2000 and

is

For Macintosh users

Follow these steps to print the sample file.

1. Make sure that A4 or Letter size paper is loaded in the printer.

2. Insert the printer software CD in the CD-ROM drive.

3. Open the EPSON folder and then double-click the README file.

4. Click Page Setup on the File menu. The following dialog box appears.

5. Select the paper size that is loaded in the printer from the Paper Size list.

6. Select Portrait as the Orientation setting.

7. After making your settings, click OK to close the Page Setup dialog box.

Note:

You cannot print from the Page Setup dialog box. You can only print from the
Print dialog box.

8. Click Print on the File menu. The Print dialog box appears.

9. Select Plain Paper from the Media Type list.

10. Select Color as the Ink option.

11. Select Automatic as the Mode setting. This causes the printer software
to optimize other settings according to the Media Type and Ink settings
that you make.

12. Click Print to start printing.

While printing is in progress, the EPSON Progress Meter is displayed,
showing the printing progress and the status of your printer.