Is there a way I can jerry-rig an Hp Photosmart 3310 so I can use just the scanner?

July 23, 2009 7:45 AM

Fairly Urgent: Can I get this HP Photosmart 3310 All-in-One to scan sans ink cartridges?

I just sent off a 45 page fax that didn't go through because the receiving party is having fax issues for the past 2 days. I need to get these docs sent via email now ASAP.

I have an old HP Photosmart 3310 that was lying around collecting dust since it was a bit of a lemon (bad rollers). We had a second one that worked better, and at some point we purloined the cartridges from the lemon. The second one is now at the ex's new place, along with any replacement cartridges that were lying around.

Pulled the lemon down, plugged it in and it promptly reminded me that there are no cartridges. Manual is useless vis-a-vis just using the scanner, as is the HP support site, and frantic Google searching. Pushed all the buttons on it to no avail.

Am I shit out of luck or is there a way I can jerry-rig this sucker so I can use just the scanner? Am handy and familiar with building a PC, so I don't mind cracking open the sucker if necessary.

posted by romakimmy to computers & internet (5 comments total)

It's not for your model but here's how someone did it for another model .
posted by TheRaven at 7:58 AM on July 23

45 pages in a rush?

Drive to a Kinko's or other quick print shop and have them fax (or scan) it for you. You'll be out five dollars but you'll be done in ten minutes.
posted by rokusan at 8:16 AM on July 23

Also, I know you're in a hurry, but in a pinch, you can use a digital camera set at it's highest resolution and just photograph each of the pages.
posted by ColdChef at 8:20 AM on July 23

I'm in Italy. We don't have Kinko's and I just spent €45 on the fax that didn't go through due to the receiving party's fax problems.

Great idea ColdChef, but guess who has the digital camera. :| the camera on my phone is good for shit too. Buggery fucknuggets. (Sorry, venting.)

Trying TheRaven's method...
posted by romakimmy at 8:30 AM on July 23

TheRaven is a genius. So's ColdChef, pity I don't have a camera.

Thanks guys. I'm suddenly a lot less cranky. Mwah.
posted by romakimmy at 8:47 AM on July 23