Officejet 7000 won't recognise cartridges

[Nigh]

We have an Officejet 7000 wide format inkjet which we have been using for about 1 year. We use an external ink tank system which has been working OK for several months. Last week, the printer was working fine then all 4 cartridge lights started flashing at the same time. If I try the utilities like printhead cleaning it says no cartridges are recognised.

I've cleaned the printhead connections & reseated the cartridges but no change.

Any ideas how I can fix this?

PC is Win XP Pro SP2

Printer uses network connection.

[dgr19530]

It is because HP invested money to detect ink from other manufacturers of ink refills so they can FORCE you not to purchase from others.  This is a threat to you purchasing supplies from anyone other than HP.  I would recommend you investigate other printer manufactuers to ascertain their policies on replacement ink use and blocking techonology to prevent consumers from utilizing this source of products.  I consider what HP is doing to be anti-competitive and disruptive to consumers.  In adition, if you have ever taken a contract law course, you would know that every product sold has a requirement of performance.  HP is going in exactly the oposite direction that consumers want.  Instead of making thei products superior based on performance, they are instead investing time and money to identify if you are using the products of cmpetitiors in their printers... if you are, they make their equipment stop working.

I would file complaints with the FTC, as I have, and with your congressmaen.  Compete used to be part of the HP mantra.  now it is thei war cry to NOT compete.

dgr19530

[Nigh · Accepted solution]

We managed to fix this more or less by accident. Whilst poking about at the connections to the print head the main ribbon cable fell off. Having reconnected this the printer is now OK. I guess the cable must have come loose but was still being held by the connector & not making contact.