HP Printer

[swiftflo]

Today switched on the PC and wanted to printout a page. My HP 7960 printer
came up with the error message that the "black/grey No.56 cartridge was not
compatible with this printer". This cartridge has been in my printer for
some months and working correctly. I decided to refill the cartridge as I
had done before, but am still getting the same error message, anyone any
ideas.
I must admit if I get any more problems after the HP fiasco over drivers for
Vista then I will be looking at another printer manufacturer.

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Try a new cartridge.

 

[huwyngr]

My HP 7960 printer 
came up with the error message that the "black/grey No.56 cartridge was not 
compatible with this printer".
.....

I decided to refill the cartridge as I had done before, but am still getting
the same error message, anyone any ideas.

That's probably the problem. Put in an original genuine HP cartridge and see
if the error message goes away.

You have a great printer there from all I hear about it. I have a PS8250 which
has the 6 fixed ink tanks and moving heads with a recycling system for saving
ink when you clean the heads.

Note this from a detailed review of the PS7960 --
http://photo.net/equipment/hp/hp7960/

<< Note that the HP ink cartridges include an integral print head, so each
time you change the cartridge, you change the print head. This means that
clogged print heads are rare since the print head is always pretty new, and
even if a clog should occur and can't be fixed, changing the cartridge will
fix the problem >>

Personally I prefer to be more sure of quality of print than to save by
refilling cartridges.

 

[swiftflo]

Thanks for your replies, I thought maybe a new cartridge might be required.
I must admit though I have no problems over the last couple of years with
refilled cartridges.

 

[huwyngr]

Even if it is only for diagnosis, it's the first step if you are using
refilled.

If you put in a new HP original and get the same error message then it
points you in another direction.

When you buy a new cartridge, look for the largest contents you can
find. Beware of multipacks unless you are sure you will install the
second one before the Install by date which is the warranty on it. And
of course don't use the multiple grays unless you are printing B&W
photographs for which they help give superb results.

Someothing else to watch out for but which may or may not be true for
the PS7960 is the Photo Value Packs. For my PS8250 the cartridges have
less ink in them than the normal retail packages on the grounds that
they supply enough ink to print the 100 sheets of photo paper that
comes with them.

I bought one for the 8250 since the pack with 150 sheets of 4 x 6 in
paper was much less than price as just the normal retail collection of
6 cartridges! Then on the package (and implied on the website now) is
that they are not normally filled!

I just checked the HP website at:

http://www.shopping.hp.com/supmodel/product/Q3020A%23ABA?jumpid=in_r3
29_search//PS+7960_Q3020A

and their prices are remarkably reasonable since they offer free next
day shipping! I checked out ATLEX in Florida who are well thought of
for genuine inks and toner and they wanted as much to ship one
cartridge (which was $2 less than HP) as the cartridge cost!

Do let us know about how you get on.

 

[swiftflo]

Thanks for all you replies. I have ordered a new No.56 Cartridge, at the
moment I have installed the No.59 Cartridge and all seem to be working okay.
I am aware of the "Value Packs" but have not used these. We have in the UK a
company who send out a mailing pack for you to send to them your empty
cartridge, on receipt they clean out your old cartridge and then refill it
and give a warranty so I am awaiting to give that a try also.

 

[huwyngr]

We have in the UK a 
company who send out a mailing pack for you to send to them your empty 
cartridge, on receipt they clean out your old cartridge

I didn't realize you were in the UK or I wouldn't have given you US
information.

Over here, Staples for example give you a $3 discount voucher for each
empty cartridge you turn over.

PS The 57 cartirdge is a very expensive way to get black and white
printing!

 

[swiftflo]

Yes I realize this, but hopefully this will only be for a few days. I am
saving up as much of my printing as I possibly can.

 

[huwyngr]

Look forward to hearing from you.

 

[swiftflo]

Received and installed a re-engineered No.56 Cartridge today, this now works
okay with no problems. It would seem that there is a limit as to how many
times these HP cartridges can be refilled, I had refilled it twice already
before I started to get printer error messages.

 

[huwyngr]

It would seem that there is a limit as to how many 
times these HP cartridges can be refilled, I had refilled it twice already 
before I started to get printer error messages.

That could well be the case although I imagine HP put it there to discourage
any refilling <g>

Hope it does not crop up again.

AMOI how much do you save in this way compared with buying a new one?

 

[swiftflo]

With the number of refills from a bottle, probably around £10 (sterling) a
time.

 

[huwyngr]

With the number of refills from a bottle, probably around £10 (sterling) a 
time.

I was thinking with the one you sent away for?

 

[swiftflo]

This one was an added backup. Since the one giving the error message would
not work after an attempted refill. So now I have the one in the printer
(the re engineered one) and when the other comes back (the one giving the
error message) I will have a spare. Then I will have two to have a go at
with a refill. Hope all this makes sense to you.

 

[huwyngr]

Sure. Good luck.

But in reaching a decision on whether to buy the more expensive new
factory cartridges, refilled ones or to refill yourself, cost in the
time lost when it goes wrong and the risk of damaging the printer,
however small that may be and any loss of quality and life (fading).