Technical information

DESKJET F2400/F4400/F4500 & F4200 ERROR MESSAGES - NOT RECOGNIZING CARTRIDGE (HP 60s)

NOTE: For purposes of our communication please note that the HP300 UK cartridges are the same as the HP60 USA

versions; all the features and functions discussed below will work on your printer as the printer platforms are

identical.

Regarding your recent inquiry about the HP 60 cartridge error message (“Incompatible Print Cartridges”)

and inability to print with your HP Deskjet Fxxx printer, this type of error is normally associated to an

electrical connection issue between the printer and the cartridge, or more likely, an internal micro-

electronic failure inside the cartridge itself. An electronic failure of the cartridge would be unrelated to

the ink cartridge refill process; these same failures can (and frequently do) occur with brand new ink

cartridges.* To help identify the root cause, please run the 'Tap 41' cartridge's electrical / diagnostic

tests below (refer to B. and C), this will identify which ink cartridge is causing the issue:

NOTE: “Empty” and “Low Ink” alerts are COMPLETELY NORMAL for all newer HP integrated ink

cartridges which have been refilled! While at first this may be an unusual workflow, it does allow print

operations to proceed. The ink level monitoring feature cannot be reset (i.e. in the newer line of

integrated ink cartridges, HP blows the ink monitoring resistors inside the cartridge the first time it is

used - thus it is impossible to reset them). Printer nuisance messages may also be ignored:

http://inkjet411.com/?page_id=420

Please first verify the age of the ink cartridge(s)....look at imprinted date on front of ink cartridge. If this

‘warranty expiration date’ has expired, then potential internal electrical cartridge failures can occur due

to internal corrosion, etc.

NOTE: Unfortunately, alignment pages and internal self test prints will usually print Ok even if the

cartridge is internally electrically damaged. Do not use these test pages as a proxy for determining

whether a cartridge is good or bad, only the ‘Tap 41/43’ diagnostic test report can yield this information.

As a temporary workaround, or if you are unable to determine which cartridge is causing the issue,

remove one of the ink cartridges from the printer....this might place the printer into the 'single cartridge

printer mode'....print jobs may then be executed from the computer (only):

An internal electrical failure of a cartridge can be confirmed by performing the following

corrective/diagnostic steps:

A. Ensure BOTH carriage/flex cables and BOTH ink cartridge contacts are thoroughly clean be fore

proceeding: http://inkjet411.com/?page_id=1519