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Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit)

I received a HP 8720 all-in-one printer as a gift a while ago.  I just got to opening the box and tried to start using it.  Right out of the box, I'm getting the error "printhead error: printhead is missing or damaged".  After powering it on and off a few times, it now says the cyan ink ("C") is missing.  After replacing the cyan ink cartridge, the printhead error reappears.  Is this printer a lemon right out of the box?

7 REPLIES 7
HP Recommended

@timothylee

 

Welcome to the HP Support Community.

 

Let's try to reset the Printer here:

 

Turn the printer on, if it is not already on.

  1. Wait until the printer is idle and silent before you continue.
  2. With the printer turned on, disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.
  3. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet.
  4. Wait at least 60 seconds.
  5. Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet.
  6. NOTE: HP recommends connecting the printer power cord directly to the wall outlet.
  7. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer.
  8. Turn on the printer, if it does not automatically turn on.
  9. Wait until the printer is idle and silent before you proceed.

If the issue persists, please perform the remaining steps from this document: https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-officejet-pro-8720-all-in-one-printer-series/7902032/documen...

 

Let me know if this helps.

 

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the Accepted Solution button, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!

 

Thanks!

Have a great day!


I am an HP Employee

HP Recommended

I've tried that numerous times.  I've reseated the printhead more than 20 times.  I've removed and reinstalled the ink cartridges 25 or more times.  I've followed the procedure you've outlined at least 8-9 times.  At this point, all the inks have been replaced with authentic HP ink (because they ran out).  I've been to local stores like Staples, Best Buy, Walmart, looking for a new printhead but nobody sells it.

 

On the last 2 times that I've followed the procedure you outlined, the printer either shuts down (after the initial selftest) after I've powered it on or it requests that I insert paper and complete a printhead alignment before proceeding.  There is paper in the tray, so that error is meaningless.  If I say "ok" to both the adding paper to the tray and the printhead alignment, the error reappears ("printhead missing or printhead damaged".

HP Recommended

I'm afraid, this looks like a hardware issue. I recommend you to contact the HP Support Team regarding this.

 

Link: www.hp.com/contacthp/

 

Note:  Select the country accordingly to get the contact details for support.

 

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the Accepted Solution button, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!

 

Thanks!

Have a great day!


I am an HP Employee

HP Recommended

I thought you were an HP support agent, part of the HP Support team?

HP Recommended

This is for you to get on a call with the Support Team.

 

Thanks 🙂

 

 


I am an HP Employee

HP Recommended

I had multiple calls with HP support via numerous 1-800 numbers and the last call was with HP printer hardware support.  To summarize, the calls went nowhere or recursively with each HP support person asking me to call another department and repeating the problem over and over again and asking me to repeat the diagnostic steps over and over again.

 

The last HP printer hardware support person suggested I buy another HP printer at $200 and then call back after I have the new printer set up - to see if I can trade all the HP 952 ink I purchased to troubleshoot ink for new ink that the new printer uses - no guarantees.

 

I guess I learned valuable lesson thinking that HP printers are great and dependable.  That's not the case anymore.  If an HP printer can be shipped to you dead-on-arrival, means these things lack the quality checks that define a a great company.

 

Time to switch brands and never look at HP products again.  Maybe they will be a US based company in the future and they will have consumer interests as their core commitments again.

HP Recommended

I understand. This situation will need some additional support from our internal teams in HP. For that to happen, we will give you additional instructions/information via Private Message.

 

Please do check your inbox on the forums page for the private message.

 

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the Accepted Solution button, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!

 

Thanks!


I am an HP Employee

† The opinions expressed above are the personal opinions of the authors, not of HP. By using this site, you accept the <a href="https://www8.hp.com/us/en/terms-of-use.html" class="udrlinesmall">Terms of Use</a> and <a href="/t5/custom/page/page-id/hp.rulespage" class="udrlinesmall"> Rules of Participation</a>.