Skip to content

USER_GUIDE.md

Latest commit

 

History

History
116 lines (88 loc) · 4.91 KB

USER_GUIDE.md

File metadata and controls

116 lines (88 loc) · 4.91 KB
Raw

User Guide — Waste Ink Maintenance Counter Utility

A maintenance-support utility for selected compatible inkjet printers (Windows, USB). It reads waste-ink maintenance counters, backs up the relevant printer memory, and can reset those counters after you have physically serviced the waste-ink pad/tank. It does not perform physical maintenance and is not a way to avoid service requirements.

Not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or approved by Epson. Epson is a trademark of its respective owner; product names indicate compatibility only.

Main window

1. Before you start

You need:

  • A Windows PC (64-bit).
  • A supported printer connected by USB cable and powered on.
  • The downloaded app (MaintenanceCounterUtility.exe).

Most important principle: a counter reset clears only a software counter. The physical waste-ink pad is still full. Inspect, clean, replace the pad, or install/verify an external waste-ink tank first — otherwise ink can overflow inside the printer.

2. Launch the app

  1. Unzip the download and double-click MaintenanceCounterUtility.exe.
  2. The app is unsigned, so Windows SmartScreen may show "Windows protected your PC" → click More info → Run anyway.
  3. On first launch, read and accept the Terms of Use.

3. Read the counters

  • Connect the printer by USB and power it on, then click Refresh.
  • The window shows:
    • Model and a Verified / Experimental badge.
    • Waste ink maintenance counters — each as current / maximum (percent). (The pad names are approximate.)
    • Usage counters — total printed pages, scans, cleaning cycles, head passes.
  • If you see "No Epson USB printer detected", check the USB cable and that the printer is on, then click Refresh again.

4. Back up (recommended)

Click Backup to save a snapshot of the relevant printer memory to a local backups folder next to the app. A backup is also taken automatically before every reset, so a change can be reversed.

5. Reset the maintenance counters (after physical service)

  1. Make sure you have physically serviced the waste-ink pad/tank.
  2. Click Reset Maintenance Counters.
  3. If the counters are low, you'll get a caution (resetting low counters is usually unnecessary).
  4. Read the warning, then tick the box: "I confirm that the waste ink pad has been inspected, cleaned, replaced, or an external waste ink tank is installed and functioning." The Continue button stays disabled until you tick it.
  5. Click Continue, then confirm the second prompt accepting responsibility.
  6. The app takes a backup, performs the reset, and shows the backup location. (If the backup fails, the reset stops unless you explicitly override it.)

6. Power-cycle the printer

After a reset you must turn the printer off with its physical power button, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. This commits the change.

7. Restore from a backup (if needed)

Click Restore…, choose a backup file from the backups folder, confirm, then power-cycle the printer. This writes the saved values back.

8. Where things are stored

Next to the application:

  • backups\ — EEPROM backup files (JSON).
  • logs\operations.log — local operation log (model, counters, backup path, confirmation flags, errors). No serial numbers or personal data; no telemetry.
  • data\settings.json — your Terms acceptance.

See PRIVACY.md for full details.

9. Buttons reference

Button What it does
Refresh Re-read counters from the printer
Backup Save a memory snapshot now
Reset Maintenance Counters Reset after the confirmation flow (backup taken first)
Restore… Write a previous backup back to the printer
About Version, license, links
🌐 Website Open the project website
❤ Support on Ko-fi Optional donation to support the project

10. Troubleshooting

  • No window appears, but it's in Task Manager: update to the latest version; if it persists, look for startup_error.log next to the app and report it.
  • "…is not in the database": your exact model isn't supported yet. See SUPPORTED_MODELS.md and CONTRIBUTING.md.
  • Experimental model warning: that model's data hasn't been verified on hardware by this project — proceed with extra caution; a backup is always taken.
  • Antivirus flags the .exe: PyInstaller executables are sometimes false- flagged. You can verify the SHA-256 against SHA256SUMS.txt, or build from source.

11. Safety & legal

  • Resetting clears only the software counter; the physical pad must be serviced separately, or ink can overflow.
  • Anti-circumvention, repair, warranty, consumer-protection, and trademark laws vary by jurisdiction. This is not legal advice.
  • Licensed under EUPL-1.2. Source: https://github.com/devmosman/MaintenanceCounterUtility