Defective ink cartrige

[Tonfarb]

Brand new HP 902 black ink cartridge will not work. Purchased on 1-23-2026 at Office Depot in Owensboto KY. Put it in the printer and it will not print. I have done everything that is suggested and the printer will not recognize it. Please help as this costed $135.00 for the combo set!!

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Tonfarb 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thank you for already trying the basics. I understand how frustrating this is, especially after investing in a full combo set. 

If your brand-new HP 902 black ink cartridge isn’t recognized by the printer, even after following standard steps, the issue may be due to a contact misalignment, packaging residue, or a communication fault between the cartridge and the printhead. 

Let’s walk through a few precise steps to help restore functionality.

1. Power Reset the Printer

• Turn the printer on if it’s not already.
• With the printer powered on, unplug the power cord from the rear.
• Wait for 60 seconds.
• Plug the power cord back in and turn the printer on.

2. Remove and Inspect the Cartridge

• Open the ink access door and remove the black 902 cartridge.
• Check for any orange pull tab, plastic tape, or protective film that may still be covering the ink port or electrical contacts.
• Gently wipe the copper-colored contacts on the cartridge with a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water.
• Also clean the corresponding contacts inside the printer.
• Let everything dry for 1–2 minutes before reinserting the cartridge.

3. Reinstall the Cartridge Firmly

• Insert the cartridge into its slot and press down until it clicks into place.
• Close the ink access door and wait for the printer to initialize.

4. Check for Error Messages

• If the printer still does not recognize the cartridge, try removing and reinserting it again.
• If prompted, print a Print Quality Diagnostic Page to test ink flow.

If the issue persists, try these:

• Try the cartridge in another compatible HP printer (if available) to isolate whether the issue is with the cartridge or the printer.
• Update the printer firmware:
  • Visit HP Software and Drivers – HP 902 Series and enter your printer model.
  • Download and install the latest firmware for your printer.

Let me know how the cartridge behaves after these steps. If it’s still not recognized, I can guide you through additional diagnostics.

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Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye