Failure: Problem with the printer or ink system

[dcatanza]

Up until now I have had no problems with this machine.

The colored ink ran out, so I bought a fresh set of cartridges at Staples: Black 950XL and CYM 951's.  When printer prepared itself, it gave a message that there is a printer failure.  It instructed me to unplug the printer and then plug back in without first turning the printer off.  I have performed this step several times during the troubleshooting process.  I then went to the HP support center and downloaded the latest versions of Printer Doctor and Support Assistant and followed all troubleshooting steps, including trying - when instructed - to print test page several times.

I can't get the machine to print a test page.  Message reads:  "Printer failure.  There is a problem with the printer or ink system. Turn printer off, then on. If problem persists, contact HP."    The troubleshooter ran me through a series of steps and said there is a serious printer problem and  to contact HP.  So that's what I'm doing now.

[Raj_05]

Hi @dcatanza,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like your HP Officejet Pro 8600 is experiencing a common error related to the ink system. Since you've already tried standard troubleshooting steps, including unplugging, replugging, and using HP's diagnostic tools, you can try a few additional steps to potentially resolve the issue.

Steps to Fix Ink System Failure:

Check for Firmware Updates:

• Go to the HP Support website and ensure your printer's firmware is up to date. Sometimes, outdated firmware causes ink system errors.

Hard Reset the Printer:

• While the printer is on, disconnect the power cord from both the printer and the wall outlet.
• Wait about 60 seconds.
• Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet first, then reconnect it to the printer.
• Turn the printer back on if it doesn’t power on automatically.

Remove and Reinstall Ink Cartridges:

• Power off the printer, remove all ink cartridges.
• Clean the gold contact points on the cartridges with a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water.
• Reinsert the cartridges one by one and ensure they are properly seated.

Clean the Printhead:

• The printhead can sometimes be the issue. If you are comfortable with removing the printhead:
  • Turn off the printer and remove the cartridges.
  • Gently remove the printhead (following your printer manual for instructions) and clean it using distilled water and a lint-free cloth. Dry it thoroughly.
  • Reinstall the printhead and cartridges, then power the printer back on.

Reset Printer to Factory Settings:

• Access the settings menu and look for the factory reset option.
• This may resolve the issue if it's related to corrupted settings or configurations.

Bypass Faulty Sensor (Advanced):

• Sometimes the printer incorrectly detects ink levels due to faulty sensors. In this case, tap the "OK" button and try printing or replacing the cartridge with a known working one.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support