Authorized Fargo service center
Fargo DTC1250e: ribbons, errors, drivers and repair
Which ribbons fit now that HID has changed the part numbers, what the error messages mean, where the drivers are, and what to do when it needs a repair.
Get it repairedThe HID Fargo DTC1250e is HID's entry-level ID card printer. It prints straight onto the card, it has been on sale since 2013, and it is still in production. It is one of the most common card printers in schools, small offices and local government. We are an authorized Fargo service center, so this page collects what DTC1250e owners ask us most: which ribbons fit now that HID has changed the part numbers, what the error messages mean, where to get drivers, and when it is time for a repair.
The DTC1250e at a glance
| Feature | DTC1250e |
|---|---|
| Print method | Dye sublimation and resin, printed directly onto the card |
| Resolution | 300 dpi |
| Speed | About 16 seconds a card in full color (225 cards an hour), 6 seconds in resin black |
| Sides | Single-sided or dual-sided models |
| Cards | CR80, and adhesive-back CR79, 9 to 40 mil thick |
| Input hopper | 100 cards at 30 mil |
| Encoding options | Magnetic stripe, HID Prox, 13.56 MHz smart cards such as iCLASS, Seos, MIFARE and DESFire, and contact smart cards |
| Connection | USB, with Ethernet as an option |
| Not available | Lamination, and UV (fluorescent) panel ribbons |
| Warranty | 3 years on current units; earlier units shipped with 2 |
If you need lamination, printing that runs over the edge of the card, or clean printing on bumpy prox cards, the DTC1250e is the wrong printer and a retransfer model is the right one. Our guide to direct-to-card versus retransfer printers explains the difference.
Which ribbons fit the DTC1250e
In late 2025, HID replaced the three DTC1250e color ribbons with new part numbers that print more cards per roll. The old color ribbons were discontinued as of March 31, 2026. The black, white, gold and overlay ribbons did not change. HID writes its part numbers with a leading zero, such as 045030, and the ribbon is the same either way.
| Ribbon | Part number | Prints per roll | Replaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full color, YMCKO | 45030 | 300 | 45000 (250 prints) |
| Full color front, black back, YMCKOK (dual-sided printers) | 45031 | 250 | 45010 (200 prints) |
| Half-panel color, YMCKO | 45033 | 350 | 45014 (350 prints) |
| Premium resin black, K | 45101 | 1,000 | Unchanged |
| Standard resin black, K | 45102 | 1,000 | Unchanged |
| Black with overlay, KO | 45111 | 500 | Unchanged |
| White resin | 45106 | 1,000 | Unchanged |
| Gold metallic resin | 45130 | 450 | Unchanged |
| ECO standard black refill (needs cartridge 44261) | 45117 | 1,000 | Unchanged |
A half-panel ribbon prints color on only part of the card. It suits cards with a pre-printed design that only need a photo and a name added, and it gets more cards out of a roll.
Two part numbers that do not fit: 45630 is the new ribbon for the DTC1500, and 45230 is the new ribbon for the DTC4500e. They changed at the same time, which is why they get mixed up.
Every DTC1250e ribbon cartridge includes a fresh card cleaning roller, so the roller is replaced each time you change the ribbon. We supply genuine Fargo ribbons for the DTC1250e. Request a quote or call 630-739-6546 for current pricing.
Update the printer before using the new ribbons
HID's new color ribbons use a new dye formula, and the printer needs current software to print them correctly. On older firmware, cards can come out off color and ribbons can break. Before you load one:
- Update the printer firmware to version 3.7.0.8 or later.
- Update the Windows driver to version 5.6.0.8 or later.
- Set HID's new color profile as the default in the printer's Color Management settings, then print a test card.
HID links its step-by-step instructions from the DTC1250e driver download page.
One caution about HID's newest release. Driver 6.0.0.13 and firmware 4.0.0.26, both from October 2026, support Windows 11 and Windows Server only. Once a DTC1250e moves from firmware 3 to firmware 4, it cannot go back, and firmware 4 needs the 6.x driver. Always update the driver and firmware together. If the PC that prints your cards still runs Windows 10, ask us before moving to firmware 4.
Cards and cleaning
The DTC1250e takes standard CR80 cards and adhesive-back CR79 cards, from 9 to 40 mil thick. Use clean, polished PVC cards. Dust and rough surfaces cause poor print quality and wear the printhead faster. Prox cards with an uneven surface, and smart cards with a raised chip, print poorly over the bump, so leave white space in the design where the chip sits. Our blank ID cards page covers card stock.
HID recommends cleaning the printer every time you change the ribbon. The 86177 cleaning kit fits the DTC1250e and includes printhead swabs and cleaning cards.
- Printhead: switch the printer off and unplug it, take out the ribbon, snap a swab to wet the tip, wipe it back and forth across the printhead, and let it dry before printing.
- Rollers: about every 1,000 cards, take out the ribbon and the cards, peel the backing off a cleaning card, feed it into the single-card slot, and choose Clean in the printer driver's Toolbox. By default the printer reminds you every 3,000 cards.
DTC1250e error messages and what to do
The DTC1250e has two buttons and no screen. When something goes wrong, the Pause button blinks red and your PC shows the message with a suggested fix. Press Pause to retry, or the power button to cancel.
| Message | What it means | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Ribbon not installed | No ribbon detected | Install a ribbon, then press Pause. |
| 91 Ribbon out | The ribbon is used up | Load a new ribbon, then press Pause. |
| 93 Wrong ribbon | The ribbon loaded does not match the ribbon type set in the driver | Set the driver to the ribbon you loaded, or load the ribbon the driver expects. |
| 97 Ribbon search error | The printer cannot find the next color panel | Calibrate the ribbon sensor. If the ribbon has broken, tape it back onto the take-up core. |
| 99 Ribbon error | The ribbon is broken or jammed | Clear the jam. Tape a broken ribbon back onto the take-up core and advance it past the break. |
| 100 Ribbon RFID error | The printer cannot read the ribbon's tag | Check the ribbon type in the driver, then try a different ribbon. |
| 128 or 170 Calibrate ribbon | The ribbon sensor is out of calibration | Calibrate the ribbon sensor, and check that nothing is blocking it. |
| 81 Unable to feed | No card was picked up from the hopper | Check the card thickness setting and card size, make sure the cards are not stuck together and the cleaning roller is on the cartridge, then run a cleaning card. |
| 70 Multiple feed | More than one card fed at once | Fan the cards, check the card thickness setting, and run a cleaning card. |
| 68, 110 or 112 Card jam | A card is stuck in the print area or the flipper | Remove the card, then press Pause. |
| 44 or 131 Flipper jam | On dual-sided models, the card flipper cannot return to its home position | Remove the card, make sure the flipper sits level, then switch the printer off and on. |
| 30 Mag verify error | The magnetic stripe did not encode correctly | Try another card, and confirm the cards actually have a stripe. |
| 202 Encoder not installed | The print job includes encoding data the printer cannot write | Remove the encoding from the job, or have the encoder installed. |
| 2, 8, or 102 to 104 Head errors | A printhead lift or temperature fault | Switch the printer off and on. If the error comes back, the printer needs service. |
These come from HID's DTC1250e user guide, and newer firmware may word some messages differently. If an error keeps coming back after the fix, it is usually a part rather than a setting, and that is where a repair comes in.
How to calibrate the ribbon sensor
A ribbon sensor that has drifted out of calibration causes ribbon search errors, wasted panels and broken ribbons. Calibrating it takes a minute:
- Take the ribbon cartridge out of the printer.
- Close the front cover.
- In Windows, open the printer's Printing Preferences, go to the Card tab, open Toolbox, and choose the Calibrate Ribbon tab.
- Click Calibrate, then put the ribbon back.
To check the result, print a test card from the Card tab, or hold the Pause button while switching the printer on to print a self-test card. HID's support team asks for that self-test card when you call, and so do we.
Why a DTC1250e keeps breaking ribbons
- New ribbon, old software. HID's new color ribbons need the firmware, driver and color profile updates above.
- Too much heat. Image darkness or resin heat set too high in the driver can make the ribbon stick and snap. The Default button in the driver restores HID's settings.
- A dirty printhead. Clean it with a swab from the cleaning kit.
- A drifted ribbon sensor. Calibrate it as shown above.
- The wrong ribbon type in the driver. Make sure the driver matches the ribbon loaded.
Our video on ribbon wrinkles and broken ribbons shows the fix, and our ID card printer troubleshooting guide covers faded, streaked and patchy cards.
Drivers, firmware and Fargo Workbench
HID publishes the DTC1250e downloads on its own site:
Fargo Workbench is HID's separate utility for firmware updates and diagnostics on Fargo printers. On the DTC1250e, the everyday tools (ribbon calibration, cleaning and test prints) are in the printer driver's Toolbox, and HID's current Workbench release does not list the DTC1250e among its printers. Our support page has the download links for every brand we carry.
DTC1250e repair
We are an authorized HID Fargo service center, and the DTC1250e is one of the printers we see most on our Woodridge, Illinois bench. Common repairs are printheads, card feed and flipper problems, and encoder faults. You ship or drop off the printer, we send an estimate within 48 hours of it reaching the bench, and nothing is repaired until you approve the quote. Our Fargo repair page has the details, and our post on whether a printer is worth repairing helps with the repair-or-replace question.
Not sure how old your printer is? The serial number tells you: the first two characters are the year and the next two are the week it was built.
Outgrowing the DTC1250e
HID still builds the DTC1250e, and it is the model HID names as the replacement for the older DTC1000, C30 and C50. If you need more, such as lamination, over-the-edge printing or higher volume, step up to a professional model or a retransfer printer. Browse our ID card printers, or let the printer finder narrow it down.
FAQ
DTC1250e questions, answered.
What ribbon does a Fargo DTC1250e use?
Is the Fargo DTC1250e discontinued?
Can I still use old 45000 ribbons?
Why are my cards off color with the new ribbon?
Does the DTC1250e work with Windows 10?
Do you repair the Fargo DTC1250e?
DTC1250e acting up?
Tell us what it is doing, and we will tell you whether it is a setting, a ribbon or a repair.