How to Replace the Waste Toner Container on a Xerox AltaLink B8100/C8100

Submitted by Matthew Eberhart on
Video

Are you seeing the 'Replace Waste Toner Container' message on your printer and wondering if it's time for a technician? Do you have documents waiting in the queue or employees relying on the copier?

Fortunately, replacing the waste toner container on a Xerox AltaLink B8100/C8100 Series copier is pretty simple. However, you need to be careful to remove the full container so it doesn’t tip and spill loose toner inside the machine or around your office.

The waste toner container collects excess toner that is removed during normal printing. Once the container reaches capacity, the copier alerts you that it needs to be replaced. Continuing to use a full container can lead to toner overflow, internal buildup, or the machine stopping until a replacement is installed.

10 Common Printer Setup Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Submitted by Matthew Eberhart on

Setting up a printer seems pretty simple. However, a few mistakes during installation can lead to frustrating problems later on. Poor placement, incorrect network settings, or skipping important setup steps can affect your printer's performance long after it's been installed.

At Strategic Technology Partners of Texas (STPT), we've installed hundreds of printers. To help create this guide, we spoke with one of our experienced field technicians, Joel, who regularly installs everything from desktop office printers to enterprise multifunction devices and production equipment.

In this article, you'll learn the most common printer setup mistakes, why they matter, and how to avoid them so your printer performs reliably from day one.

Table of Contents

How to Safely Clean Your Printer (Step-By-Step)

Submitted by Nolan Fowler on

 Regardless of your printer type, regular cleaning helps keep it running smoothly and can prevent common issues like poor print quality, paper jams, and dirty scans. However, it’s important to know how to clean properly, as doing it incorrectly can damage your printer. 

We’ve maintained and repaired printers for over 40 years.  In this guide, we'll share what we know about safely cleaning both the inside and outside of your printer using manufacturer-recommended best practices. While many of the examples come from our experience with Xerox equipment, these general cleaning methods can apply to most printer brands.

You'll also learn when your printer needs cleaning, the difference between cleaning an inkjet and laser printer, common mistakes to avoid, and what to do if cleaning doesn't solve the problem.

Table of Contents

How to Replace the Transfer Belt Cleaner on a Xerox AltaLink B8100/C8100 Series

Submitted by Matthew Eberhart on
Video

If your Xerox AltaLink B8100 Series copier is prompting you to replace the transfer belt cleaner, you may be wondering what this part does and whether it's something you can replace yourself. While the name sounds technical, replacing the transfer belt cleaner (or the second bias transfer roll) is a simple maintenance task you can do in just a few minutes.

The transfer belt cleaner is responsible for removing excess toner from the transfer belt after each print cycle. Over time, it reaches the end of its service life and needs to be replaced to help maintain print quality and keep the copier operating reliably. Fortunately, Xerox monitors the life of this component and alerts you when it's time for a replacement.

We've serviced thousands of Xerox printers and copiers across North Texas over the past 40+ years.

Is Xerox a Dying Company? Looking Beyond the Headlines

Submitted by Karla Metzler on

If you've searched for office printers recently, you've probably come across comments suggesting that Xerox isn't what it used to be. Some people even ask whether the company is going out of business.

Xerox doesn't dominate technology headlines the way it did decades ago, and today's office printing market looks very different from what it was 40 years ago. Businesses print fewer pages than they once did while digital document workflows have become the norm.

Given this, it's easy to assume that these changes mean Xerox is in decline.

As a print vendor for over 40 years, we've seen the printing industry change quite a bit. One thing we've learned is that a company doesn't have to dominate headlines to remain successful. Oftentimes, long-term success comes from adapting to changing customer needs rather than trying to stay in the spotlight.

In our opinion, that's exactly what's happened with Xerox.

Integrated vs. External Fiery Controllers: Which One Is Right for Your Print Operation?

Submitted by Keith Metzler on

If you own or are evaluating a production machine, you’ve likely noticed that production print environments are becoming more automated and personalized. This means that supporting technology such as print servers play an increasingly important role. In fact, the global digital printing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.6% from 2025 to 2033. This growth is driven by demand for shorter print runs, faster turnaround times, and personalized and specialized printing.

Organizations evaluating production printers often ask us whether they should choose the integrated Fiery controller or upgrade to an external Fiery print server.

We at STPT always adhere to the principle that the answer will depend on your specific print environment.

What Is a Printer Queue? How It Works (and Why It Matters)

Submitted by Byanka Ramos on

If you’ve ever hit 'Print' and watched your document seemingly vanish, it’s probably just sitting in the printer queue.

Printer queues work behind the scenes every time you print a document. Understanding how they work, whether you're printing a single PDF at home or managing multiple office printers, can help you troubleshoot delays and keep work moving.

In the 40 years we’ve been servicing printers, we've seen how something as simple as a poorly managed print queue can slow down an entire workflow.

In this article, we’ll explain what a printer queue is, how it works, and why print jobs sometimes get stuck.

Table of Contents

How to Replace the Drums on a Xerox VersaLink C500 or C505 Printer (Step-by-Step)

Submitted by Matthew Eberhart on
Video

A drop in print quality can be due to several factors, but if your Xerox VersaLink C500 or C505 printer is displaying a "Replace Drum” message, then this is most likely the cause.

Thankfully, replacing a drum is an easier maintenance task than it might seem.

Unlike toner cartridges, drums don't need to be replaced as often. Still, they play a critical role in the printing process. Over time, the drum will wear down through normal use and you may notice streaks, faded prints, recurring marks on the page, or get a maintenance alert from the printer tell you to replace it.

At Strategic Technology Partners of Texas (STPT), we've serviced thousands of Xerox printers over the past 40+ years. In this guide, our printer technician Matthew from The Printing Workshop will show you exactly how to replace the drums on a Xerox VersaLink C500 or C505 printer.

Table of Contents

Is Print Management Software Right for Your Legal Organization? (Pros and Cons)

Submitted by Karla Metzler on

Law firms generate a staggering amount of paperwork. From contracts and court filings to discovery documents and legal briefs. All these documents move through the office every day. And while many firms have embraced digital workflows, printing is still a vital part of legal work.

But when it comes to printing, every printed page carries both a cost and a responsibility.

A confidential document that’s left sitting on a printer could lead to client confidentiality issues. Plus, many firms can’t accurately track printing costs by client or matter, so it’s harder to recover expenses and understand where money is being spent.

As a print vendor with 40 years of experience helping organizations improve their print environment, we've seen how the right print management software can help law firms strengthen document security. It can also improve visibility into printing costs and simplify day-to-day workflows.

How to Replace The 2nd Bias Transfer Roller On The Xerox AltaLink C8200/B8200 Series

Submitted by Matthew Eberhart on
Video

 

If your Xerox AltaLink C8200/B8200 Series copier is displaying a "Replace Second Bias Transfer Roll" message, you may be wondering what this component does and whether replacing it is something you can handle yourself. The good news is that this is one of the easier maintenance procedures on the C8200/B8200 Series and only takes a few minutes when you know where to look.

Like many customer-replaceable components inside Xerox devices, the second bias transfer roll plays an important role in the printing process. Replacing it when prompted helps maintain print quality and ensures your copier continues operating as designed.

At Strategic Technology Partners of Texas (STPT), we've serviced thousands of Xerox printers and copiers for more than 40 years.

Subscribe to