HP 8600 printer shows "There is a problem with the printer or ink."

[JHN42]

I have an HP 8600 printer.  I have installed all new HP ink cartridges (reinstalled multiple times), but I still get the error message "There is a problem with the printer or ink..."  I have tried unplugging the printer and wiping off the contacts on the individual cartridges multiple times also.  The ink level indicator from the desktop HP icon shows the three colored inks to be full, but shows the black ink to be empty, even though it is brand new. 

[VikramTheGreat]

Hi @JHN42,

Welcome to the HP Support Community.
 

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

We understand how discouraging it is to see the black ink still showing as empty even though you just replaced it with a brand-new cartridge. That kind of inconsistency between what you see and what the printer reports can be confusing and feel like the printer simply isn’t listening.

1. Check the Cartridge Chip & Contact Points

Even genuine HP cartridges rely on a small memory chip to report ink levels. If the chip on the black cartridge is dirty, damaged, or misread, the printer might reject it or display the wrong level.

• Gently wipe the gold-coloured contact on the black cartridge and the corresponding contact inside the printer using a lint-free cloth slightly dampened with distilled water.
• Let it dry fully before reinstalling.

2. Try a Different Black Cartridge (if available)

If possible, try inserting a different black HP 950xl or HP 950 cartridge—even an older one that still has some ink. This can help isolate whether it’s the cartridge or the cartridge reader in the printer that's causing the issue.

3. Perform a Semi-Full Reset

This is a deeper reset than a standard power cycle:

• Unplug the printer while it's on.
• Wait 60 seconds.
• Plug it back in while holding # and 6 on the keypad (for many models—if your printer has a touchscreen, let me know and I’ll adjust the steps). This can reset the printer’s memory, including ink level misreads.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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VikramTheGreat

HP Support