It has come to our attention that a recent firmware update released by Lexmark stops some compatible Lexmark 100/100XL cartridges from being recognised in a variety of printers. No other notible functions or updates seem to be included in this download and the result in the majority or cases seems to be that if the user accepts the update the printer will give the message “Cartridge not Authenticated” or “Cartridge Unrecognised” in relation to any compatibles installed.
Our advice currently is that all customers using these compatible cartridges should not accept the update if they wish to continue using these units. If however you have already installed the update early reports indicate the problem can be solved in many cases by following the steps below:
1. Uninstall the printer drivers/software for the machine in question.
2. Re-install the printer driver/software with disconnected internet connection and ignore the prompt when the upgrade is offered again.
This method is far from 100% proven to work and we are sceptical as to whether this would uninstall the firmware as in similar cases it is the information inside the printer that is changed by such an update. However this the official information being provided to us by the compatible manufacturers at present.
Customers have reported that the problem can also be reolved by transferring chips from Lexmark original cartridges and even resetting them using a free bit of software they have found. In the early stages of this problem we are unable to confirm such rumors.
We will of course update our blog as new information is available and are happy to confirm work has already begun by several manufacturers to produce legal chips that are not affected by the update.
Printers affected are as follows…
Lexmark Platinum Pro 905
Lexmark Prestige Pro 805
Lexmark Prospect Pro 205
Lexmark Prevail Pro 705
Lexmark Interpret S405
Lexmark Interact S605
Lexmark Intuition S505
Lexmark Impact S305
Lexmark Impact S308
Lexmark Interpret S408
Lexmark Intuition S508
The 1st batch of these printers released by Lexmark do not have the upgrade function, so it doesn’t have this problem, but in the future all printers in the range will come with the function pre-loaded.
