63/302; 65/304 ink carts not working in Officejet 3830 And paper error

[silryann]

recently got a OfficeJet 3830 secondhand at an estate sale with brand new carts of ink. i went to replace the missing black ink cart but noticed its different from the tricolor already inside the machine. The tricolor in the machine at first was a 65/304 in a small cart. A used/open tricolor and black cart i had received with it from the last owner are the bigger carts and only say 63/302 that don't work because their 'used'. The brand-new carts given to me that i opened to replace the original and missing carts are 63/302 AND 65/304 and give me a 'Hp Instant Ink Problem' warning. what flipping ink carts am i supposed to be using why was the previous owner mailed the right ones? and what am i supposed to do with these carts that are new that i opened before i knew they can't be used. I have one unopened brand new tricolor 63/302;65/304 and wondering if i can exchange any of these for the right ink carts. I now have a new to me printer for the first time and i can't even use it and theres no actual straight answers online. 

[silryann]

i forgot to mention the paper issue, every so often it'll tell me it can print on government letter paper???? i have regular white 8x10 printer paper loaded... 

[silryann]

update: I noticed a roller had broken off and at some point became jammed under where the ink cart releases the ink. i took tweezers and pulled the roller out but then saw the puddle of ink inside where the roller was sitting, how do i handle this? is there a was to clean it out or did i just end up with a paper weight (face-palm) please help i don't want to make it worse if its still fixable 

[Hawks_Eye]

@silryann,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

Ink Cartridge Issue

Your HP OfficeJet 3830 printer is compatible with HP 63 (USA) / 302 (Europe) ink cartridges. It is not compatible with HP 65/304 cartridges, which are used in different printer models.
 

The reason you're seeing an HP Instant Ink Problem warning is that the previous owner likely had an HP Instant Ink subscription, and the cartridges you received were linked to their account. Instant Ink cartridges stop working once the subscription is canceled or transferred.

What You Can Do:

1. Buy the correct cartridges – You need HP 63 (USA) / 302 (Europe) ink that is not an Instant Ink version.
2. Try exchanging the unopened cartridge – If you got it from a store, you might be able to exchange it for the correct one (HP 63/302).

Paper Error Issue

Your printer detecting "Government Letter Paper" instead of standard 8.5" x 11" (Letter) or A4 (8.3" x 11.7") means the paper settings are incorrect.

Fix:

1. Check Paper Size Settings – On the printer’s touchscreen, go to Setup > Preferences > Paper Size and make sure it's set to Letter (8.5" x 11") or A4.
2. Check Print Settings on Your Computer – When printing, select the correct Paper Size from the print dialog.

Ink Leak & Broken Roller Issue

Since a roller broke off and got stuck under the ink area, ink likely pooled inside. This can cause print quality issues and more paper jams if not cleaned properly.

How to Clean the Ink Spill:

1. Turn off the printer & unplug it – Prevent electrical damage.
2. Remove the ink cartridges – Place them on a paper towel.
3. Use a dry lint-free cloth – Gently blot excess ink from inside the printer.
4. Dampen a cloth with distilled water – Wipe ink buildup, but don’t soak the area. Avoid alcohol-based cleaners, as they can damage plastic.
5. Let it dry completely – Before reinstalling ink cartridges and powering on.
6. Check for missing parts from the roller – If a key roller is missing or misaligned, paper jams may continue.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Hawks_Eye

HP Support