Color Cartridge Error - AIO 968

Question

Hello, I have a 968 AIO printer that I've been using for a couple years with no problems. I was running low on black ink, so after printing a couple more documents, I opened the lid, pressed the top so that the cartridge would pop out like I normally do, and I took out the black cartridge and replaced it. When I closed the lid, I got an error message saying that the right cartridge (the color one) was "incorrect" even though I did not replace that one, it was about 75% full. I tried taking it out and putting it back in and instead got a "missing cartridge" error even though it was there.

I've replaced many cartridges before so I know I wasn't doing it wrong, there was no tape on it or anything, the printer was on while I was replacing it, etc.

I started looking around on here for answers, I tried shutting the printer off, pulling out the power and data cables, waiting about a minute, and putting everything back in and turning it back on; no luck. I was still able to print black, but an annoying pop-up kept telling me about the right cartridge.I tried to do cartridge alignments or cartridge cleaning, and it only printed the black.

I thought that maybe the color one had run low also and that maybe the printer was just showing that it was full by mistake, so I went and bought a new color cartridge, Series 7 Dell brand, from Staples. When I put that one in, I got a new message saying "Cartridge Error. Check User Guide". With this error message, I am not able to bypass the error or print anything, so I've had to take the color cartridge out to do my printing. I've tried to do the unplugging like I did before, and that didn't help. And because I can't bypass the "Cartridge Error" screen I can't even do a test page or alignment or cleaning.

I'm just not sure what this error could be about, everything was just fine until I replaced the black cartridge. Now the color cartridge I had won't work, and a brand new one won't work either. I'm really frustrated with the quality of Dell printers at this point because I had an older AIO (the blue one, maybe 962?) that just stopped being recognized by my computer after being unplugged once, so I had to upgrade to the one I use now.

Please help, thanks very much.

j.l.mclain · Accepted Answer

Hey, I have to share this because I'm amazed it worked.  I decided that I wasn't getting anywhere with my new print cartridges.  So I put scotch tape over the cartridges so they would not dry out.  I then decided to put one of the taped cartridges into the printer to see what it would do.  I got a message saying that I had 'no left cartridge'.  I then pulled the cartridge out and decided to remove the scotch tape and put the cartridge back into the printer.  (The scotch tape had some black ink on it from being over the cartridge.)  The printer decided that the cartridge was correct!!!!  Can you believe it??  I'm soooo happy.  I actually got a good alignment page and can print stuff again.

PudgyOne · Answer

lmwynn,

I suspect either a bad Dell Series ink cartridge(maybe with a bad sensor) or the possibility that the cartridge did not seat properly. Since you said you are using Dell Series 7 ink cartridges.

If you unplug the printer from the wall and remove the power brick for 60 seconds, this will reset any error messages the printer has. I would then plug everything back in.

Power on the printer.

Open the printer(with the power on) and take out the Dell Series 7 black cartridge and then reseat it. I would then take out the color Dell Series 7 ink cartridge and reseat it. Now close the printer and it will print an alignment page.

Any error messages?

black cartridge = black side(left side) color cartridge = color side(right side)

photo cartridge = black side(left side) color cartridge = color side(right side)

Dell Series 7 ink cartridges have a sensor in them that cannot be reset. Article on refilling Dell ink cartridges.

Dell Series 7 ink cartridges can be purchased at Staples, Walmart or Dell's Website.

It's possible that you got a Dell Series 7 ink cartridge with a bad sensor. Take it back to the place of purchase for a refund or replacement.

Rick

j.l.mclain · Answer

I am having a similiar problem. I have the Dell 968 Wireless. My black ink cartridge ran out. I put in a brand in Dell Series 7 CH883 from staples and now the printer is saying the Left Cartridge is incorrect. I finally opended up another brand new black ink cartridge and I am still getting the same message. I have already tried pulling out the plug & power brick in the back of the Printer. I actually decided to leave the power & power brick out all night. But I still get the same message. Is the printer just done. I have only had it for about 1 1/2 years. Just seems crazy to have a printer die because of a sensor. But I'm hoping you might have some other ideas. I really don't want to run the printer on color only. That's gets way too expensive fast. I may have to just replace the printer with another brand, which is what I'm thinking about.

lmwynn · Answer

Wow, I'm going to try that as soon as I get home. It sounds like you've been having the same exact problem as me, just with the black instead of color. I hope that works for me too! Thanks for posting that!

j.l.mclain · Answer

You're welcome. I hope it works for you too.

lmwynn · Answer

Okay this is amazing, I'm not sure how the thought popped into your head but you are a genius, lol. So, I put the tape on and put the cartridge in, and the printer started to do an alignment page, which was amazing because before it was just telling me there was an error and wouldn't even print an alignment page. Of course the page just had black on it because there was tape over the color cartridge. So then I took the tape off and put it back in, but the error came back. I thought it was hopeless, but I thought that the tape had to do something because it recognized it before. So i put the tape back on, except for where the ink comes out. So there was like a tape border, and a hole in the middle for the ink strip. I put the cartridge back in and it started printing another alignment page, except there were colors on it! In the end it said that the alignment had a problem and that I need to run a few cleaning cycles, but that's no problem for me and it still prints! Such a relief, thank you!

j.l.mclain · Answer

Wow..That is great to hear!  I'm glad it worked for you too.

sunmaiden · Answer

unfortunately none of this has worked for me.  I also tried all the unplugging, purchasing new cartridge.  I still get the cartridge error, consult users guide, which is no help.  My printer is only 1.5 years old and I have NEVER had this problem.

j.l.mclain · Answer

When you taped up the cartridge and put it into the printer.  Did the printer come back and say 'no cartridge or cartridge missing?'  If so, when you removed the tape from the cartridge, did you get any kind of ink bleed on the tape?  I think this is important because my ink cartridge leak black ink onto the tape before I tried it back in the printer.

david847 · Answer

What worked for me

1. Leave old empty cartridge in (so no error)

2. unplug power for 60+ seconds

3. Power on

4. Go to maintenance option on LCD and select change cartridge

5. Change cartridge

6. Colour alignment starts printing with no cartridge error

Printers

Color Cartridge Error - AIO 968

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