Defective Yellow 951 Ink Cartridge ?

[RC1097]

I have a HP Officejet Pro 8600.  The printer indicated I was out of Yellow ink.  I purchased a genuine HP replacement cartridge (951XL).  The cartridge was sealed and unopened..  It was purchased from BJs.  After installing the new cartridge and the printer doing its checks, I was told that the cartridge appeared to be damaged.  I turned the power off, unplugged the printer for over a minute, restored power and received the same error message.  What's going on ??

[Meghana_10]

Hello @RC1097, Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding the HP Officejet Pro 8600.

We appreciate the opportunity to assist you and are glad we could help work toward a resolution. We hope our support has been valuable.

To help us get started on resolving your issue, could you please let me know the make and model of the HP device so that I can assist you further?

Check Cartridge Installation:

• Ensure that the new cartridge is correctly installed in the slot. Open the ink cartridge access door, remove the cartridge, and then reinsert it. Make sure that it is seated correctly and securely in the slot.

Inspect the Cartridge:

• Examine the cartridge for any visible damage. Look for any packaging remains, protective tapes, or obstructions. Compare it to your old cartridge to check for any discrepancies.

Reset the Printer:

• Turn off the printer using the power button.
• Unplug the printer's power cord from the power source and wait for at least 60 seconds.
• Plug the power cord back into the wall outlet and reconnect it to the printer.
• Power the printer back on and check if the error persists.

Use the Printer's Control Panel:

• Check the printer control panel for any error messages. Try to access the printer’s setup utilities to see if a test page can be printed or if other maintenance utilities can be used.

Check Ink Levels:

• On the printer control panel, go to the ink level icon to confirm that the ink levels are as expected and that the printer correctly identifies the new cartridge.

Take care and have an amazing day! 

Regards,
Meghana

[RC1097]

Thank you for your response.  I tried all of your suggestions to no avail, I still get the error message.  I know that my cartridge that was out of ink was made in Singapore.  The cartridge that throws an error message was made in Malaysia.  Could something have changed in the cartridge's manufacturing in the transition form Singapore to Malaysia ??

[Meghana_10]

Thank you for the update @RC1097 

We request you to try a few more troubleshooting steps provided below so that we can assist you further accordingly. 

Reseat and Inspect the Yellow Cartridge

• Power on the printer.
• Open the cartridge access door.
• Remove the yellow cartridge.
• Check for:
• Protective tape fully removed
• No ink residue, scratches, or bent plastic
• Clean copper-colored contacts (no fingerprints or ink)
• Reinsert the cartridge firmly until it clicks into place.

2. Clean Cartridge and Printhead Contacts

Electrical contact issues are a frequent cause of “cartridge appears damaged” errors.

• Power on the printer and open the cartridge access door.
• Remove the yellow cartridge.
• Using a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with distilled water, gently wipe:
• The copper contacts on the cartridge
• The matching contacts inside the printer
• Allow all contacts to dry completely (at least 5 minutes).
• Reinstall the cartridge and close the access door.

3. Check for Regionalization or Firmware Lock

Although uncommon, printers can reject cartridges if there is a regionalization or firmware mismatch.

• Confirm all cartridges installed are HP 951 / 951XL intended for your region.
• Ensure the printer firmware is up to date via the printer menu or HP support tools.
• If the error began immediately after a firmware update, document this for escalation.

4. Test with Another Cartridge (If Possible)

If available, test with:

• Another new HP 951 or 951XL yellow cartridge
• Or temporarily reinstall the old empty cartridge to confirm the printer detects it correctly

This helps determine whether the issue lies with the cartridge itself or the printer’s ink system.

Take care and have an amazing day!