Compatible Canon C-EXV42 drum: installation, reset and savings guide | Star Toner

The drum (or imaging unit) is the part that transfers the toner onto the paper. On Canon's monochrome imageRUNNER-series multifunction machines, when repeated smudges, vertical lines or a greyish background start to appear, the culprit is almost always a worn drum rather than the toner. Star Toner's compatible Canon C-EXV42 drum replaces that unit with a yield of 55,000 pages and is manufactured to the ISO 9001 standard.

What it is and which printers it fits

This drum is a compatible consumable (not a branded original) designed for the following machines:

• Canon imageRUNNER 2535
• Canon imageRUNNER 2545
• Canon imageRUNNER 2202N
• Canon imageRUNNER 2204N
• Canon imageRUNNER 2206N
• Canon imageRUNNER 2206iF

Before buying, check that your machine appears in this exact list. The drum and the toner are separate parts: on these models the toner belongs to the C-EXV42 family, and the drum to the C-EXV42 drum, each with a different life cycle.

How to install it and what to do if it "doesn't recognise the cartridge"

Replacement is straightforward and requires no tools:

• Switch off the machine and open the front or side cover that gives access to the imaging unit.
• Remove the used drum by pulling the corresponding lever or guide.
• Unpack the new drum without touching the photoconductive surface and remove the protective covers.
• Insert it fully, close the cover and switch on.

If after the change a warning such as "cartridge not recognised" appears or the level does not update, try these steps: switch the machine off and on to force the chip to be read; check that the drum is fully seated; and wipe the metal contacts of the chip with a dry cloth. On the imageRUNNER the drum counter usually resets by itself once a new unit is detected; if your model asks for it, go into the maintenance menu on the panel to confirm the replacement. These warnings are chip-reading messages, not a permanent block: you can read more about how firmware can affect cartridges.

Yield and savings versus the original

With a 55,000-page service life, this drum covers thousands of documents before needing replacement, a cycle designed for the intensive office use the imageRUNNER series demands. Print quality stays crisp throughout its life thanks to ISO 9001 manufacturing control.

The main advantage of a compatible consumable is the cost per page: you pay considerably less than for the branded unit without giving up on the number of copies. If you want to work out how much you really spend per document, our article on the real cost of printing will help, and if you have doubts about the quality compared with the brand, take a look at our original vs compatible printed side by side comparison.

Why buy it from Star Toner

The compatible Canon C-EXV42 drum costs €39.99 and includes the legal guarantee that covers every compatible consumable in Spain; you can check your rights in our guide on the legal guarantee for compatible cartridges. Manufactured to ISO 9001, with fast delivery and technical support if you have any compatibility questions.

If your machine is from the higher range, we also stock the 60,000-page compatible Canon C-EXV50 drum and its compatible C-EXV50 toner. And remember to change the toner too when the time comes to keep your printing flawless.

Frequently asked questions