A multifunctional entry-level device with acceptable technical characteristics and a very affordable price is the Phaser 3100 MFP . The main problem faced by the owner of this peripheral solution is the reuse of cartridges after the print counter is triggered. It is her decision that this material will be devoted to.
Cartridges Their models and specifications
Xerox's Phaser 3100 MFP can work with one of two cartridge models: 106R01378 and 106R01379. In the first case, the limit is 2200 sheets, and in the second - 4000, and this is an improved cartridge for this device . The initial modification of the MFP is the first modification of the cartridge, but in practice it is preferable to use the improved version. After the page counter has counted 2200 pages for 106R01378 and 4000 sheets for 106R01379, the cartridge is blocked. It can no longer be used for copying or printing. But there are two ways that still allow you to reuse this mechanism.
Method One: Firmware
The first method that allows you to reuse a cartridge in the Phaser 3100 MFP is to replace its internal software or, as it is sometimes called, firmware. The essence of this operation is that the internal program code of the printing solution is replaced. If reuse of cartridges was not allowed in the old shell, then in this case this check is blocked. This operation is performed once, and after that any problems with the reuse of cartridges no longer arise. Its only minus is that the software in this case is not licensed and the warranty terms are violated.
Option Two: Chip
It is not necessary to reflash the Phaser 3100 MFP to reuse a print cartridge . An alternative is a microchip that can be installed on a cartridge. Using such a semiconductor element, the counters are reset to zero, and the printer then determines the cartridge as new. But after working out the print resource, the microchip will have to be re-purchased and changed. The pluses in this case include the fact that the warranty terms are not violated. But the minus is the need to constantly buy such chips.
Which is better to choose?
Be that as it may, it is most justified from a technical and economic point of view to use the first method, which consists in updating the software and installing third-party firmware , to extend the cartridge life in the Phaser 3100 MFP .