942 printer cartridge error message

This may not apply to you but is something for everyone to think about. After a dozen back and forth messages with several Dell printer owners stating problems similar to yours, one of them finally mentioned that the person he bought the brand new ink cart from on the internet swore the non-Dell brand ink cart would work perfectly in his Dell. It didn't and a new ink cart from Dell fixxed the problem.

Ink Carts can go bad without warning as they contain micro electronics but here are a couple of things that might help.

Color carts use each of the 3 colors at different rates and each will run out at different times.

The color cart uses ink 10 to 100 times faster than the black ink cart, depending on what the color content is of the pages being printed. So that sometimes when you think the ink cart couldn't be out, one or more colors is empty.

Remove the color cart and wipe the electrical connections on the back of the ink cart.

Make sure they are reinstalled in the proper holder. If you are using a photo print ink cart, it replaces the black ink cart, not the color ink cart.

Turn off the printer and unplug the ac and USB cables from the back of the printer for 1 minute.

When you don't use your ink carts for a while, when you get new ink carts that have been stored in warehouses for a number of months, or when you have refilled a slightly too dry ink cart, the print head nozzles on the bottom of the ink carts get clogged with dried ink. The printer head cleaner menu will NOT dissolve the dried ink. Water will. Try this. Soak the bottom of the clogged ink cart in 1/2 inch of hot water for 15-30 minutes. Blot dry with clean paper towel (you should see the ink color on the towel). If you don't see the three colors then one or more is empty or still clogged.

As a last resort you might reload the printer driver.

If nothing else works then you may have to try a new ink cart from Dell.

I just opened my printer (same as yours) and my black cartridge works fine, but the color prints blurred images?   Can;t seem to get a Dell Support person to respond to me!!!    Do you have that problem???

I should also mention that at first I thought the color cartridge that was included with the printer might be defective, so I opened a new DELL color cartridge - - removed the protective tape  - - installed - - and still get blurred color images.    So far, I am NOT very impressed!   I might have to hook my HP printer back up and send the Dell back to them.   I hope not!!!

About 20 seconds after you install a new ink cart a menu comes up on the printer LCD, to auto align the ink cart and to print out an alignment page. The same menu should tell you whether the ink carts aligned ok. If they didn't that could be the bluring problem. Also if you are trying to print color photos, charts or similar subjects on regular printing paper it will come out slightly blurry. For these type items you should use glossy photo paper.

Also make sure the ink carts are seated properly in their holders.

Well, after a few minutes - the blurr cleared itself up!!!  I didn't do anything!!!  It's a miracle!!!

Thanks for your suggestions