UNSOLVED

Karen7647

updated

19 years ago

K

Karen7647

6 Posts

0

11570

October 15th, 2007 22:00

Cartridge Error

HELP!
 
A-940 All In One - Dimension 8300 - Windows XP Home - SP-2
 
After installing a black cartridge that Walgreen's refilled printer worked for short time and then stopped.  I followed directions and installed a new black cartridge but now nothing prints - no black - no color - I have tried to print a test page which came out blank - tried cleaning
 
I do not have another new black cartridge to try.....but I still have a new color one
Cartridge indicator shows both cartridges are full......
 
Prints nothing - no black - no color
But after doing what was suggested the printer does respond to commands now and everything sounds and appears normal except the output page is blank??
 
How can I get it back in service??
  • william_the_sco

    2 Intern

    •

    1446 Posts

    878

    0

    Posted October 15th, 2007 23:00

    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 inside with dried ink. The printer head cleaner menu will NOT dissolve the dried ink inside of the nozzles. Water will. Try this. Soak the bottom of the clogged ink cart in 1/2 inch of warm water for 15 minutes. Blot dry with clean paper towel. Also wipe the electrical contacts on the back of the ink cart. Retry.
  • Karen7647

    6 Posts

    878

    0

    Posted October 15th, 2007 23:00

    I understand what you are saying, but that is not the case right now.
     
    The color cartridge was printing just fine before I inserted the new Walgreen filled black cartridge and then I got the dreaded cartridge error code.
     
    As I said I then inserted a different new black cartridge to replace the suspect Walgreen filled one and the printer goes through the motions of working but the page comes out blank......no B/W no Color ......no nothing??
     
    Do I need to buy a new printer?
  • william_the_sco

    2 Intern

    •

    1446 Posts

    878

    0

    Posted October 16th, 2007 00:00

    If the refilled ink cart got an ink cart error message and the new ink carts don't get an ink cart error message then the refilled ink cart is likely bad. I would still soak the new ink carts if they don't have an error message. With my 922 I have printed over 50,000 printed pages and many thousand color photos and have gone though over 100 ink carts with only a few water soaks to keep it working perfectly. The printer is 3 years old.
  • Karen7647

    6 Posts

    878

    0

    Posted October 16th, 2007 00:00

    Ok, guess nothing will be lost if I soak them...lol  Do you recommend both?
    We have had about the same volume of use.....mine is 4 years old and been
    a workhorse......but sure feel naked with it not working! 
     
    I have had experience filling my own cartridges also and have some head cleaner solution.  How about if I wipe the heads with that?  Guess I just really don't have confidence that this will solve the problem, but I will try it.  Thanks!
  • william_the_sco

    2 Intern

    •

    1446 Posts

    878

    0

    Posted October 16th, 2007 00:00

    The only thing that soaking could hurt is the cartridge, but it won't because the ink is water based which means that your ink cart and print nozzles are full of black or colored water. Wiping will clean the surface of the print heads on the ink cart but won't unclog the inside of the ink jet nozzles. I would do both ink carts. Also if any of these ink carts have been refilled too many times they do eventually go bad. Then let me know what the result is.
  • Karen7647

    6 Posts

    878

    0

    Posted October 16th, 2007 01:00

    Thanks!  Sorry to say, soaking did not help either.  The two cartridges that I am working with are new......I am stumped.  Everything works and appears normal except the pages come out blank
    frustrating for sure.  I have nosed around the Dell site too, but just can't find the key to unlock the mystery.  Thanks much for your help.....I sure hate to buy a new printer when this one was working so well.....dang!
  • william_the_sco

    2 Intern

    •

    1446 Posts

    878

    0

    Posted October 16th, 2007 12:00

    Turn off printer power. unplug printer power and USB cable for 1 minute. Replug, turn on, and retry. This sets the printer registers to 0 where they are supposed to be on startup.
  • Karen7647

    6 Posts

    878

    0

    Posted October 18th, 2007 03:00

    SUCCESS!!
    William, thanks so much for holding my hand through this......lol
     
    I had forgot about that unplug trick.....I had to do that once before.  After reading your note I thought, Ah, Ha! That will do it!!!!
     
    Well, not exactly......it did produce a little squirt of color out of it, but still no black.  Both new cartridges......so I took them both out again and soaked  in water again, reinstalled and put it through the clean cycle and printed out a test page that looked beautiful.
     
    But the black continues to be a little weak, but I am hopeful with continued use it will finally come to life!  Thanks again, sure appreciate it!
     
    I may be able to postpone the purchase of a new one yet!
  • william_the_sco

    2 Intern

    •

    1446 Posts

    878

    0

    Posted October 18th, 2007 13:00

    The more you use the ink carts the better they will work. You may have to soak them again sometime.