A940 issues...

Question

Good folks at Dell:

While I have never complained about the quality of your products, I certainly have a huge issue with your OS support for your new line of printers!

The A940, and others, are obviously Lexmark systems rebranded. Good, no issues there, sell a million of them. However, a very good customer of mine, in good faith, based on an advertisement from Dell (Sunday paper) just purchased a 940' for her system. Well... she's using ME.

Nice advertising folks - sure, if you have web access, you may have noticed that only 2000 and XP are supported. But, why, why, why???? The Lexmark model has drivers for 98, ME, etc...., why not the Dell???? And if this was the case, why in the world would Dell produce ads without EXPLICIT notices about lack of OS support for the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Dell users who 'do not' have XP or 2000???

The Lexmark drivers, unfortunately, don't appear to function, so I assume that you've made some firmware changes. No problems, that's your right.

Not sure who makes your marketing decisions there, but the term 'mental midget' comes to mind...

On the same subject, it took a 20 minute phone call to finally speak to someone with a supreme lack of even the basic grasp of English to inform me that the printer only works with XP and 2000. Wow, guys, I'm impressed.

DaveBert · Answer

Well, to put it simply, my advise is as follows:

1) Call Dell and ask for an RMA. Hopefully you'll get someone who speaks the English language instead of abusing it.

2) Return the shipment, at YOUR cost.

3) Buy a printer from a reputable firm.

BTW, take a look sometime at 'www.ihatedell.com' - it's enough to make you sick. M. Dell had a great idea that went terribly wrong.

WhiteFox307 · Answer

Oh no!

I just recieved my A940 today, and when I was shopping for the printer, I actually called Dell to ask if I could use the features while I still have ME operating system. They said, yes you can just tell the person taking the order to send the software that it is compatable with to include that with your shipment. Instead of a person I ordered it online with my new line of credit with Dell and nowhere on the form could I ask for the software for the item to be compatable with my OS of ME!!! I am in awe, everywhere I go I can only find I must buy XP and or XP Professional version to use this printer!!! UHHHHH!!!! any advice out there???? I don't have the money to install a whole new OS right now!!!!

Marlene62 · Answer

I am having trouble with my printer - all in one with the faxing an item. I have completed down load and etc, but it still says modem not found. I only have one modem and have dsl - could that be the problem of DSL or what?

I am stumped and also have you notice one cannot go on line with a tech??? Please help

Marlene

Marlene62 · Answer

I am sorry about not completeing my problem, but it is with the faxing option of the all in one printer - I need help as soon as possible =

mdsdh2000 · Answer

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.I JUST PURCHASED A DELL AIO A940 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS ACTUALLY A LEXMARK IF THATS THE CASE CAN I USE LEXMARK INK CARTRIDGES,AND WHICH ONES DO I BUY???

kennychesneyfan · Answer

They are similar but the Dell will not take Lexmark cartriges. That is the ONLY difference in the 2. The Lexmark won't fit a Dell printer.

ReineM · Answer

I just ran into the same problem..(I have a LAN connection).  I found the manual for the printer and in it it says that the fax software does not work with a DSL or cable connection.  I was hoping to find out from Dell if there is other software that can be used but have yet to figure out  a way to actually connect with someone from Dell.  I'll post here if I find an answer...

ReineM · Answer

I found an old thread addressing this problem...apparently it can't be done. They suggest using an internet faxing service but those usually cost money.

You can plug your computer into the phone line and use your regular modem in your machine to fax with(Assuming you have one) It won't interfere with your cable connection at all. This will work for me as I only fax occassionally from home so can just go plug it into the phone line when I need to.

Hope that helps.

DaveBert · Answer

Cmon' now - can't anyone from DELL reply to this message????????????????????

Rollie_R · Answer

All,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.

I can address one issue, faxing. Faxing is done over a standard telephone line. Faxing is not done through ethernet, DSL, or cable modem. To send a fax, the software installed on your PC will pick up the phone line, dial the number, connect with the other fax machine, and send the fax. That is the way faxing works. If your modem is not hooked up to a phone line, then you will not be able to fax.

There are solutions for networks, so that all the machines can use a single fax machine or fax modem to send faxes, but that fax machine or modem must connect to a phone line.

Though I have not looked into them, there appear to be Internet faxing solutions. These would involve connecting to a fax machine or modem through a website.

My point is that faxing involves the telephone system. If you want to fax, you must connect to the telephone system. DSL and cable modems do not connect to the telephone system. DSL uses the telephone cables, but not the telephone system. Otherwise, your DSL service would have to come from whoever provides your local phone service.

I know of no workarounds for sending faxes through a cable or DSL modem. It appears that others have done more research into this than I have.

Marlene62 · Answer

Thanks I have got my problem taken care of .   Thanks   Marlene

rangerdave108 · Answer

hahahah ---lol they will work, but there is a small tab that needs to be removed to allow the lexmark(walmart cartrige) to fit

Cliff K · Answer

RangerDave108, That's very interesting.  Can you give us more details?  Thanks, Cliff

rangerdave108 · Answer

i do alot of the in's and outs of the making it happen, but YES, LEXMARK CARTRIGE WILL WORK!!!

Dell almost got away with this one here, but there are some tabs inside the a940 cartrige slots that are designed for the good oll Dell monoply=lol

it's not hard to make it work at all

this is where I receaved the info and the how to's

refill@cartrigeworld-austin.com

whoopeee!!

Printers

A940 issues...

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