5100cn DOES NOT PRINT IN COLOR - ONLY BLACK

Hi Geosnz,

Please try the following steps to change the printing preferences.

Locate the printer object, right-click the printer, and then left-click Properties.
Click the General tab.
Click Printing Preferences. (Figure 4)
In the Printing Preferences window, in the Output Color (M) drop-down box, click to select COLOR (Auto).
Click Apply, and then click OK.
From the properties window, click OK.
Color printing should now available from this printer object.

Let me know if further help is needed.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell 

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

Hi Babita,

Thank you for you assistance, I do appreciate it.  I apologize because I failed to mention I have it on a MAC at the moment.  I called Apple Tech and they tell me the only "printer preferences" window they have is through their Systems Preferences and that is quite limited in any options I can access.  Prior to switching to the MAC, I had a Windows PC and I think I know the location you speak about, but I can't access the "true printer preferences" through the MAC.  

Any other suggestions?  

George

Hi again Babita,

I went and got an old Win laptop.  I connected the printer to it.  Then I followed your steps and the darn thing printed in color.  I suppose now the issue is the printer won't print in color when connected to the MAC.  It did before switching out the black cartridge, but not anymore.  Now I'm stumped because Apple Tech says they can't help me, which I can't believe a Dell color printer will not print in color when connected to a MAC.

I'm still open for suggestions....  :- )

George

Hi George,

Thank you for your reply. My apologies for the delay in replying to your query.

Since you are using the printer with your MAC computer, I would request you to check the Owner's Manual and User Guide mentioned in the link below for troubleshooting the issue you are facing with colour printing.

http://dell.to/106rsxe

Also, you mentioned that when you are connecting the printer to a computer with Windows OS, it is able to print in colour and it does not print in colour when connected to the MAC computer, the issue does not seem to be with the printer hardware or ink cartridges. The issue seems to be with the printer settings. One step you may try is to un-install the printer drivers from your MAC computer and re-install the same after re-booting the system.

The printer drivers compatible with your MAC system can be downloaded and installed from the same link mentioned above. You will have to click on "Drivers & Downloads" for the same.

Prior to re-installing the printer software, please check the Printer Manual for the correct procedure to re-install.

Hope this helps resolve the issue.

Please reply in case of any further queries.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell 

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

Hi George,

I hope the issue has been resolved.

Unfortunately we have not received feedback from you on this topic. Please let me know if you need any further assistance.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell 

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

Hi George,

Thank you for your reply. I understand you were busy taking care of your daughter and wish her a speedy recovery.

Once you have been able to work on your printer, please let us know if the issue is resolved or in case you need further assistance. We would be happy to help.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell 

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

Hi Babita,

This is short of putting me in the funny farm.  I followed your directions and the downloads didn't download correctly...came in as a Text Doc with gibberish.  I did and followed all to the letter.  But I also have the original Dell Manual and CD.  The drivers are supposed to be in there.  When opening the CD, I see 2 folders saying Mac OS and Mac OS X.  One only has instructions which I have in the manual and are the same and the other is where the installation driver is.  However upon trying to open the folder, I see a folder underneath that pops up for less than a second, then disappears.  Thinking CD might be bad, I don't know.

But I should be able to download the driver from the Dell site using my Service Tag#.  But it just downloads that text with gibberish.  I don't know what to do anymore.  You're right, it's not the printer it's the Mac, but there is a Mac driver download called (Gassan-Mac-9-MR2RC2.sit) and that's the file that downloads, but it's just a doc.  I also tried both download options on the site and still get the same results.  I switched to Chrome in case it was a browser issue and again the same results.  When I click on the driver it even says "install" but actually installs that text doc.

Any other thoughts?

Thank you so much for your help and hope you know of something else.

George

Hi George,

Thank you for your reply. I am sorry to hear of the issues you are facing with installing the printer drivers compatible with your Mac OS.

You may have to install Stuffit Expander for your Mac OS because compressed .sit and .sitx files are opened with Stuffit Expander. This could be the reason the file is not installing correctly.

Link for downloading Stuffit Expander Mac    : http://bit.ly/bZi7PL

Once you have installed the Stuffit Expander, click on this link for downloading Dell 5100cn drivers: http://dell.to/13l2wkk

This file contains a compressed (or zipped) set of files. Download the file to a folder on your hard drive, and then run (double-click) it to unzip the set of files. Follow the instructions to complete the installation.

Hope this helps resolve the issue.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell 

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

Hi George,

Hope you have successfully tried the resolution provided by me in my earlier post for installing the Mac compatible drivers for your Dell printer. Do not forget to initially download Stuffit Expander Mac using this link: http://bit.ly/bZi7PL .

Please keep me posted on the results.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell 

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

Hi Babita,

You're not going to believe what happened.  I did as you advised, downloading Expander and driver etc.  All appeared correct.  I tried installing again using Expander, but no luck there.  I called Apple to ascertain if I was installing driver (1) correctly and (2) was it even going to the correct location.  Needless to say they couldn't help me.  Only suggestion was that probably driver was outdated after an Apple OS update.  I didn't buy that, so I called Dell Tech.  I'm out of Tech Supp/Warranty etc, but they said they could help me with driver installation.  So the Tech asked me to go into Mac System Preferences, choose Printers.  Once there, choose the printer, delete it and then re-install it using the IP address for it's location.  (It's connected to the router via Ethernet cable).  Typing in the IP add It immediately popped up in the list, I chose it as my default.  Tech then asked me to print anything in color and ........ WALLA!!!! COLOR PRINT came out.  

I asked him if he knew what happened and he said most probably when replacing the cartridge, something happened with the printer name, a glitch, and the issue worsened when the Apple Tech's directed me on what to do afterwards.  I did mention what your advice had been and what to do and he said you were correct, but in my case all that needed to be done was un-install and re-install the printer using the IP address.

I don't know how to thank you and I owe you, not one, but several "slave hours" ... LOL.  Thank you again and per the Dell Tech, you do know your stuff  : )

George

Hi George.

I am delighted to know that the issue has been resolved.

Please feel free to contact us in case of any other issues. We would be happy to help.

Thanks and regards,
Babita S
#iworkforDell 

For easy access to drivers, manuals and product updates, please visit our Support Site .

This thread is locked, due to age.

If you need assistance, please create a new thread in the proper Dell Support Forum

Thank you