How to Get Free Photocopies

Free Photocopies

Unfortunately, there is no relatively straightforward way to obtain free copies as there is for free printing. There are, however, various tricks folks have done to score some free copies on different machines. Here are some hopefully helpful links and suggestions:

http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/241/48/ - One idea to defeat coin mechanisms is to insert the coin, quickly press the Start button on the copy machine, and then immediately hit the coin return knob.

http://www.instructables.com/id/EW8JTRWKO9ERIE1UQD/ - Another suggestion also aimed at the coin mechanism is to short circuit the mechanism with a paperclip, MacGyver style, yo!

http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/5/28/13714/7587 - A third option is to disable the coin/card reading mechanism through the copier's software configuration interface. (Note that the interface will probably be inaccessible until you put a coin in or swipe your card the first time to unlock it).

If playing around with the hardware (trying to disconnect the coin/card reader from the copier) or the software (trying to disable the copier's recognition of the reader via the configuration menus) doesn't work out, you could try searching the manufacturer's website for manuals for the copier as well as the card reader. 

Keep in mind that sometimes technicians leave the copier manuals inside the copier, so don't be afraid to take a quick look-see inside. As last ditch effort, call up the manufacturer of the card or coin reading mechanism and explain that you're having trouble getting the copier to interact with the device, but when you tried to disconnect it, the copier wouldn't work, and so on...Though don't expect them to just hand you the info ;).

Alternatively, if you're still having absolutely no luck with the student copier, you could try to locate a different and perhaps more easily exploitable copy machine. Find the locations of various departmental offices and waltz right into one. 

These are surprisingly open and vacant during regular weekday hours, and it is not all too uncommon for a lazy professor to send a student to get some photocopying done for zir. It is further not at all uncommon for each department to have its own photocopy machine, complete with a departmental access card that allows for unlimited copies. Once you're in the office, simply look around for the card, which should be somewhere near the copier, if the department has one. 

You can take a quick glance at the names of some professors in that department from the mailboxes which will probably be nearby, so if you're questioned you'll be ready with "Professor ... asked me to copy this...zine?!"