My printer keeps displaying an error message about the ink cartridge

[CorkGirl]

I'm having the same incompatible cartridge error, which came out of the blue. It's the cartridge that came with the printer! Not signed up for Instant Ink. It's an OfficeJet 3830. HUGELY frustrating - have only printed 100 or so pages and the colour cartridge was almost full. Seems like a way of getting us to buy more expensive ink, even when we haven't gotten to use it. 

[sandytechy20]

@CorkGirl

Welcome to HP support community.

Clean the ink cartridge contacts

1. Gather the following materials:

   • Dry foam-rubber swabs, lint-free cloth, or any soft material that does not come apart or leave fibers (coffee filters work well)

   • Distilled, filtered, or bottled water (tap water might contain contaminants that can damage the ink cartridges)

        CAUTION: 

     Do not use platen cleaners or alcohol to clean the ink cartridge contacts. These can damage the ink cartridge or the printer.

2. Press the Power button to turn on the printer.

3. Close the output tray extender, and then push the output tray back into the printer.

   Figure : Close the output tray extender, and then push the output tray into the printer

   

4. Open the exterior door.

   Figure : Open the exterior door

   

5. Open the ink cartridge access door.

   The carriage moves to the center of the printer.

   Figure : Open the ink cartridge access door

   

6. Wait until the carriage is idle and silent before continuing.

7. Disconnect the power cord from the rear of the printer.

8. Disconnect the USB cable, unless your printer is connected to a wireless network.

9. Press down on the ink cartridge to release it, and then pull the ink cartridge out to remove it from its slot.

   Figure : Remove the ink cartridge

   

      CAUTION: 

   Do not remove both ink cartridges at the same time. Remove and then clean each ink cartridge one at a time. Do not leave an ink cartridge outside the printer for more than 30 minutes.

10. Hold the ink cartridge by its sides.

    Figure : Hold the ink cartridge by its sides

    

11. Inspect the contacts for ink and debris buildup.

12. Wipe the contacts with a dry swab or other lint-free material until no debris remains on them.

       CAUTION: 

    Be careful to wipe only the contacts. Do not smear any ink or debris elsewhere on the ink cartridge.

13. Dip a clean foam-rubber swab or lint-free cloth into distilled water, and then squeeze any excess water from it.

14. Clean only the copper-colored contacts, and then allow the ink cartridge to dry for approximately 10 minutes.

    Figure : Clean the contacts

    

15. Lightly moisten another foam-rubber swab with distilled water, and then squeeze any excess water from the swab.

16. Use the swab to clean the electrical contacts in the carriage, located inside the printer.

17. Clean the contacts in the carriage.

    Figure : The carriage contacts

    

18. Either let the ink cartridge sit for 10 minutes to allow the cleaned area to dry, or use a new swab to dry it.

    NOTE: 

    Make sure that the ink cartridge is not left out of the printer for more than 30 minutes.

19. Hold the ink cartridge by its sides with the nozzles toward the printer, and then insert the ink cartridge into its slot. Make sure that the ink cartridge is inserted in the correct slot.

    Figure : Insert the ink cartridge into the slot

    

20. Push the ink cartridge forward into its slot until it snaps into place.

21. Repeat these steps to clean and then reinsert the other ink cartridge.

22. Close the ink cartridge access door.

    Figure : Close the ink cartridge access door

    

23. Close the exterior door.

    Figure : Close the exterior door

    

24. Reconnect the power cord to the rear of the printer.

25. Reconnect the USB cable, unless your printer is connected to a wireless network.

26. Press the Power button to turn on the printer if it does not turn on automatically.

You can refer this HP document for more assistance:- Click here

Let me know how it goes.

To thank me for my efforts to help you, please mark my post as an accepted solution so that it benefits several others.

Cheers.

[CorkGirl]

Thanks @Sandytech20. I tried that solution multiple times after Googling this issue but it didn't work at all. Stuck with an almost full completely legitimate ink cartridge that I can't use now!

[sandytechy20]

@CorkGirl

This seems to be a hardware issue.

I request you to talk to HP support.

They might have multiple options to help you with this.

1. Click on this link - https://support.hp.com/us-en/contact-hp?openCLC=true
2. Select the country.
3. Enter the serial of your device.
4. Select the country from the drop-down.
5. Click on "Show Options".
6. Fill the web-form. A case number and phone number will now populate for you.

To thank me for my efforts to help you, please mark my post as an accepted solution so that it benefits several others.

Cheers.