Inability to change paper size on 5100cn

Question

I recently received a 5100 cn printer, and I am not happy with it at all. It
prints color very well, but the mpf tray will not allow you to print custom size
paper or envelopes. From what I can tell, unless you run paper of the size that
is preprogramed into the printer, you have no chance at all to use this printer.
I've tried interfacing it with InDesign, which is a far superior program to MS
Word, and it still will not allow custom sizes. When I need to run custom-sized
stock, I have to print on my Epson inkjet photo printer. I bought the laser
printer so I could use it for other jobs other than color proofing and
photographs. I am a graphic designer, but I do other things besides that require
the use of a laser printer--business docs, etc. The printer has all these custom
settings showing but now way to use them. What good is that? I'm very
disappointed in this printer's capabilities. Is there some work around that will
allow me to customize paper sizes. And don't tell me go into the menu and select
free size, because I did that already and it doesn't work. Help!! I'm about
ready to send this white elephant back and just use the Epson for everything.

Tim_Martin · Answer

I myself have a 3000cn. I expect you will use the same method to apply custom paper sizes.

Select “properties” for the specific printer.

Select “configuration”. Select “custom paper size”.

You can then select “your” custom paper size and give it a unique name.Select OK and your done.

It took me a while to find this myself since the documentation didn’t include this option(or I just couldn’t find it).

Martin

mfaytay · Answer

I tried that but it won't let me change the size. I can rename all I want, but can't actually change the size. All the options are grayed out for changing the dimensions. I did go to printing preferences and turned the override paper size button to on instead of to off , which is the default, and it allowed me to use the size I needed.

Cate-R · Answer

Hi   I've tried absolutely everything in order to print cheques.  I've finally managed to set up the envelopes in the MPF tray.   The size of the cheques are 8.5 x 7, which I've assigned through windows XP to Custom 1, named it 'cheques', as well as in the printer preferences favorites of the 5100cn properties.   I have, for example, 18 cheques and their carbon copies to print (36).  Well, it's printing one cheque and one carbon copy, then stops and says load MPF tray, the printer icon has a big red X through it and the error message says, wrong paper blah blah blah. (it used to do this with envelopes as well).  In any case, I've ran out of patience and options.  Can anyone help me with this?   Thanks!!

pilbach · Answer

if your trying to change the paper size, did you go into 'o/s im using is xp'   start | printers & faxes | printer properties | configuration | custom paper size

Cate-R · Answer

Yes, I tried that first.

The newly created paper size is listed in the properties, however, when I choose it and begin to print, the printer stops printing after the first cheque, gives an error, paper problem

dec57 · Answer

On Windows 7, this does not work. The settings for custom paper size are grayed out in the 'Custom Paper Size' dialog box. Now what?

Alec Taylor · Answer

I see that the last post about changing papers sizes was 3 June 2010 so it looks as if the problem has no solution.

I wish it did because I too cannot alter the custom paper sizes. i used to be able to make all the changes I liked using my old (Vista) computer but my super-duper TouchSmart is Windows 7 and I just cannot make any custom sizes. I spent more than an hour with Dell support and got nowhere.

Is this a Dell problem or a Vista one, and where do I get an answer?

Alec Taylor

Alec Taylor · Answer

I have cracked this. For anyone who is still pursuing this paper size problem, here is my solution.

Click START; Type UAC in search box; Click CHANGE USER ACCOUNT CONTROL SETTINGS; Change the slider to NEVER NOTIFY; Click OK; Click "DO YOU WANT ..."; Click YES:

Restart Computer

Click START; Click DEVICES AND PRINTERS; Right Click (Selected) PRINTER; Click PRINTER PROPERTIES; Click CONFIGURATION; Click CUSTOM PAPER SIZE

then "Bob's your Uncle"

Remember to reset your UAC

Regards

Alec Taylor

Printers

Inability to change paper size on 5100cn

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