Dripping 78 and 45 HP cartridges

[Tamara Ronsweig]

I've been using an HP PhotoSmart P1100 for the past 10 years. I don't
print a lot, a set of cartridges will last me a year. Just put in a new
pair of cartridges and inspected the area where the heads park. The area
was filled to the top with dried ink! Here's a picture of the area filled
with ink:

http://i35.tinypic.com/2llyi4m.jpg

I was able to carefully pry out gobs of dried ink, it was almost like
plastic or putty. Put in the new cartridges about 3 weeks ago. Now it
looks like the black 45 cartridge is oozing out stuff:

http://i34.tinypic.com/xsjh1.jpg

The thing prints ok sometimes. Just printed out a 12-page PDF for
upgrading from XP to Windows 7. Six of the pages have defects, mostly
random ink splatters. I'm getting pissed. I figured out that I can install
the printer in Windows 7 as a DeskJet 930c as there's no support for the
P1100 natively.

Now it seems like HP's method to get people to buy more cartridges is to
have them ooze out ink even if the thing isn't printing. Am I buying bad
cartridges or is it time to throw this printer in an electronic recycling
heap and buy something new?

 

[tomcas]

I've been using an HP PhotoSmart P1100 for the past 10 years. I don't
print a lot, a set of cartridges will last me a year. Just put in a new
pair of cartridges and inspected the area where the heads park. The area
was filled to the top with dried ink! Here's a picture of the area filled
with ink:

http://i35.tinypic.com/2llyi4m.jpg

I was able to carefully pry out gobs of dried ink, it was almost like
plastic or putty. Put in the new cartridges about 3 weeks ago. Now it
looks like the black 45 cartridge is oozing out stuff:

http://i34.tinypic.com/xsjh1.jpg

The thing prints ok sometimes. Just printed out a 12-page PDF for
upgrading from XP to Windows 7. Six of the pages have defects, mostly
random ink splatters. I'm getting pissed. I figured out that I can install
the printer in Windows 7 as a DeskJet 930c as there's no support for the
P1100 natively.

Now it seems like HP's method to get people to buy more cartridges is to
have them ooze out ink even if the thing isn't printing. Am I buying bad
cartridges or is it time to throw this printer in an electronic recycling
heap and buy something new?

The oozing of black ink is due to the lack of vacuum in the foil bag
inside the cartridge. Don’t confuse this with the need for the printer
to occasionally clean the print heads by spitting out ink into this
area, which is perfectly normal. If you are buying refilled cartridges
it’s possible it was refilled incorrectly and a partial vacuum was not
created in the cartridge during the process. If you were buying brand
new HP cartridges then the ink you see in the spittoon is perfectly
normal and necessary.

 

[Al]

I've been using an HP PhotoSmart P1100 for the past 10 years. I don't
print a lot, a set of cartridges will last me a year. Just put in a new
pair of cartridges and inspected the area where the heads park. The area
was filled to the top with dried ink! Here's a picture of the area filled
with ink:

http://i35.tinypic.com/2llyi4m.jpg

I was able to carefully pry out gobs of dried ink, it was almost like
plastic or putty. Put in the new cartridges about 3 weeks ago. Now it
looks like the black 45 cartridge is oozing out stuff:

http://i34.tinypic.com/xsjh1.jpg

The thing prints ok sometimes. Just printed out a 12-page PDF for
upgrading from XP to Windows 7. Six of the pages have defects, mostly
random ink splatters. I'm getting pissed. I figured out that I can install
the printer in Windows 7 as a DeskJet 930c as there's no support for the
P1100 natively.

Now it seems like HP's method to get people to buy more cartridges is to
have them ooze out ink even if the thing isn't printing. Am I buying bad
cartridges or is it time to throw this printer in an electronic recycling
heap and buy something new?

Looks about normal to me with a printer using those 45 and 78 carts. I
have a number of them. When they get bad I fetch the globs out and
hose the area with Super Clean, which is an ink solvent. Then I push a
replacement pad under and I'm ready to go a long time. If your cart is
dripping it is defective or improperly filled.
I'm riding XP as long as possible.