Dell 2350d annoyances (MPF and Busy USB message)

Regarding the MPF issue, it seems like the problem might be something along the lines that the printer doesn't know that there is anything (or the right type of paper) in the MPF.  Manual mode works...and when you choose manual you tell the printer that you're loading a certain type of paper in the MPF by pressing the Check button on the printer.  Once I've done that once, selecting the MPF in the driver works (don't have to select manual).  But if I go back to printing from Tray 1 I can't switch back to using the MPF unless I first jump through the hoop of selecting Manual mode first.

I've never owned a printer where using the MPF was such a pain.  It was never never a concern before...they just worked.  Put paper in them, printer uses that paper.  No paper in the MPF?  Use the main tray.  With all the research I did on this printer before purchasing I never though that the MPF would be the biggest problem.

It would be great if someone from Dell could respond about this.  Or if there was some sort of e-mail support for this printer.  I really don't want to go through the explanation of this over the phone.

I contacted Dell support about the MPF problem.  We were able to get the MPF to print as expected while on the phone with the tech, but only after rebooting the printer, removing paper from tray 1 and only having paper in the MPF.  After that, the printer would remember that it had paper in the MPF, but would forget a day later, either after a reboot or printing from tray 1 for a while, etc.  It seemed unpredictable and was just frustrating.  Dell tech support wanted to escalate me to a more experienced tech the following day, but if you ask me, if this printer/driver worked as expected it wouldn't take an experienced technician to make it work.  I just gave up.

I ended up returning the Dell and buying a similarly spec'd HP (P2055d) for around the same price after a few discounts.  The HP's MPF worked exactly as expected out of the box and I didn't need to set any settings on the printer itself.  The HP prints fast, I never get a "busy" blinking light for minutes after sending a complex job.  I will say that the Dell was a bit faster (when it did finally print) and seemed to be built a little better.  The buttons on the HP seem a bit flimsy.  I'm also noticing that the HP curls my pages just slightly in duplex mode (on HP LaserJet paper) which I don't remember on the Dell, but it's not that big of a deal.  Both printers seem to be about the same loudness when printing.

I took a chance on the Dell printer hoping it might have been better built at a cheaper price than the current HPs.  The 2350d could've been a great printer, but I think Dell overlooked a few important details and as a result I won't be able to recommend them.

I purchased the 2350dn this week and I am having the exact same problems.  I also researched and purchased it based on reviews, cost and features.  But...it is very loud.  I bought the extra memory that was suggested but if you are using it as a local printer, it doesn't make a difference and is a waste of money.  The MPF is impossible to use - unpredictable as you said.  I can't get labels to print correctly.  My last HP was much more user friendly.  I'm going to try to send this printer back. 

Same problem here!  The MP feeder issue was a problem with the 2330 and seems to be carried over to the 2350 series.   According to the Dell tech I spoke with, there is no paper sensor in the MP tray so it can't automatically be selected just by inserting paper.

 My workaround is to set up a  second printer in Windows called "Dell 2350dn MP Tray" (choose the same port and driver as the first),  go  to  Printer Properties, select the Advanced  tab,  Printing Defaults, Paper tab, and set Paper Tray to Multipurpose feeder.  Apply settings and OK.  Now, when I need to print to somthing in the Multipurpose Tray, I select print and choose my "Dell 2350dn MP Tray" printer and it priints to the MP tray every time.  Also, be sure to set the MP Tray defaullt size to "Letter" and the default paper type to "Plain Paper" on the physical printer panel. 

 Dell, If you're listening,  a 25 cent paper sensor and default configuration to draw paper automatically from the MP tray when available would save you thousands of returned printers.  People are use to this feature with HP and are very dissapointed to find it missing on Dell Printers. 

I too am having the exact same issue with the MPF. I have several 2350 printers where I work so it was easy to spot a printing/feeding difference among them. I'm wondering if the recent firmware update is causing the issue?

Just got off the phone will Dell concerning the problems discussed in the thread. Here is what they had me do:

Turn printer off at switch. While holding the left arrow and check mark buttons down on the printer panel, turn the printer on. Continuing holding both buttons until you see the Diagnostic mode display on the printer panel. I think you go to settings next but you want to end up at "Engine Setting 2". Change the default to 4 by pressing the right arrow until 4 is diplayed and then press the check mark. Turn printer off for 15 seconds and then back on. You should at least now be able to print multiple documents or copies from the MP Feeder. You will still have to manually choose the MP Feeder in the print properties and then also remember to change it back if needed. Also remember to close the MP Feeder or at least remove the paper from it or other print jobs will pull from it before pulling from the other trays. It is simply not possible for the printer to automatically pull from the MP Feeder when paper is placed in it because it lacks a paper sensor for the MP Feeder. A workaround is to pull the other trays out enough to force a pull from the MP feeder. Also setting up the second printer instance as a MP Feeder only printer as RACSRV wrote above.

Hi All,

genestet is very close to the answer. There are several different modes for the MPF but the ones most people will want are listed below:

Turn the printer off, and then wait 5 seconds

For 2330DN/2350DN, press and hold the Check Mark and the Left Arrow on the keypad while you turn the printer on

Press the arrow buttons until Printer Setup appears and then press the Check Mark

Press the arrow buttons until Engine Settings 2 appears, then press the Check Mark

Choose one of the following solutions:

4

Pull paper from the multipurpose feeder when the user selects MP Feeder as the paper source from the software application or the printer driver

8 **

Pull paper from the multipurpose feeder, regardless of user settings. If there is no paper in the MPF it will then move to the next logical tray.

Hope that helps!

Printser-- thank you so much!  8 is the magic number!

Yes, 8 is the magic number. But, at least on my B2360dn bought in 2014, the factory default setting has the paper type for the MFP as "Custom Type 6". From the regular settings->paper menu you can change this to match the tray one paper type (plain) and (so far!), the printer will pull paper from MFP if present and go to tray 1 if nothing is in the MFP.

Hey Syrina5457,

I am having this same issue with a few B2360DN printers. Can you elaborate on the driver you used to make this work? What is PS3?

Thank you in advance.