890c

[Rick Merrill]

Anyone using 890c and might know how to get the
printer to accept an "old" cartridge (and not
flash the yellow LED)? - RM

 

[Bob Headrick]

Anyone using 890c and might know how to get the
printer to accept an "old" cartridge (and not
flash the yellow LED)? - RM

The DeskJet printers do not reject cartridges based on age. It is possible for
cartridges to be rejected if there are electrical problems with either
cartridge. You should clean the cartridge contacts as shown at:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=bpa02060

Also make sure the blinking light you are seeing really is due to a cartridge
issue. There are other error conditions that can cause blinking lights, as
outlined at:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bud09171

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[Rick Merrill]

The DeskJet printers do not reject cartridges based on age. It is possible for
cartridges to be rejected if there are electrical problems with either
cartridge. You should clean the cartridge contacts as shown at:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=bpa02060

Also make sure the blinking light you are seeing really is due to a cartridge
issue. There are other error conditions that can cause blinking lights, as
outlined at:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/genericDocument?lc=en&cc=us&docname=bud09171

Thanks for the pointers, But
cartridge A = prints, power on, resume off
cartrige B(out of box)= prints, power on, resume flashing
cartridge A = prints, power on, resume off
cartrige B(cleaned)= prints, power on, resume flashing

Guess I'll wait until A is used up to try B again !-)

-- RM

 

[Bob Headrick]

Thanks for the pointers, But
cartridge A = prints, power on, resume off
cartrige B(out of box)= prints, power on, resume flashing
cartridge A = prints, power on, resume off
cartrige B(cleaned)= prints, power on, resume flashing

Guess I'll wait until A is used up to try B again !-)

Sounds like cartridge B is bad. If cleaning the contacts does not correct the
problem the B cartridge will need to be replaced.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP

 

[Rick Merrill]

Sounds like cartridge B is bad. If cleaning the contacts does not correct the
problem the B cartridge will need to be replaced.

Thanks Bob. Do you recommend for/against cleaning the ink part
of the cartridge itself with a bit of isopropyl (sp?) alcohol? - RM

 

[Bob Headrick]

Thanks Bob. Do you recommend for/against cleaning the ink part
of the cartridge itself with a bit of isopropyl (sp?) alcohol? - RM

It is generally best not to wipe the nozzle plate, it would be better to do
this using the printer servicing. That said, you will probably not hurt
anything in this case since the problem seems to be elsewhere and the cartridge
is "toast". Generally trying to manually clean the cartridge nozzles can
result in damage to the nozzles. I would expend the effort in giving the
contacts another good scrub....

The printer will not reject a cartridge because the nozzles are clogged. It
will reject the cartridge if too many nozzles are burned out, or there are
various shorted or open control lines.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP
MS MVP Printing/Imaging

 

[Rick Merrill]

Bob Headrick wrote:
....

It is generally best not to wipe the nozzle plate, it would be better to do
this using the printer servicing. That said, you will probably not hurt
anything in this case since the problem seems to be elsewhere and the cartridge
is "toast". Generally trying to manually clean the cartridge nozzles can
result in damage to the nozzles. I would expend the effort in giving the
contacts another good scrub....

The printer will not reject a cartridge because the nozzles are clogged. It
will reject the cartridge if too many nozzles are burned out, or there are
various shorted or open control lines.

Thanks for the tips.

I see that when one "primes" the cartridges the black one gets quite
a workout but my issues are only with the color cartridge(s).

Soooo is there a way to "prime" just one cartridge (or better yet,
one color!) ? - RM

 

[Bob Headrick]

I see that when one "primes" the cartridges the black one gets quite
a workout but my issues are only with the color cartridge(s).

Soooo is there a way to "prime" just one cartridge (or better yet, one
color!) ?

the only way to prime the color cartridge and not the black is to put an empty
black cartridge in the printer to do the prime. You cannot prime individual
colors in the printer. Not for the faint of heart, but you could manually
prime individual chambers of the color cartridge by forcing low pressure air
into the vents in the back of the cartridge, with some way to keep ink from
mixing on the orifice plate (perhaps a damp coffee filter pressed against the
nozzle plate). Done incorrectly this can be rather messy and you may damage
the cartridge so it should only be tried as a last resort.

Regards,
Bob Headrick, not speaking for my employer HP
MS MVP Printing/Imaging