Officejet Pro 8100 not detecting newly installed ink cartrages

[IsamuKusanagi]

i have an Officejet Pro 8100 N8, i just ran out of yellow and cyan so i replaced both cartridges (951XL) and both were detected as empty. i've been all over this forum looking for tips and found Re: HP Officejet Pro 8500 will not recognize changed ink cartridge (4 Views), the original poster was having a the same issue. the rep who replied supplied a link, Cartridge Error, which i read through and found that the only thing i hadn't done yet was update the firmware. after performing the update yellow was detected as full but cyan still registers as empty, i removed the cartridge and inspected it again, contacts are intact and clean, no body damage, its not leaking, no evidance of spilled ink anywhere inside the printer, cartridge is pristine and full. now i'm not sure what to do. i'm looking for real help so please no kindergarden info or links to documents on how to change ink cartridges, just real support from a real technician who isn't reading from a troubleshooter script but actually knows the technical specs and design of the printer, someone who would have real insight would be appricated.

[jabzi]

Hello,

Please copy paste the below URL to access the troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue..

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02920346

Regards,
Jabzi

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I work for HP

[IsamuKusanagi]

thanks for the reply, unfortunately the linked document did not help, the problem persists. first, it doesn't display ANY error message, the only message that comes up is to replace the "empty" cyan (even though its brand new and full). i inspected all the cartridges and they were all pristine, no visible defects, no oxidation on any of the contacts of any of the cartridges. there was something kind of strange in the posted instruction, there is no cartridge latch in my printer, all the cartridges click into the their slots, there is however a lever that allows you to remove the entire assembly from the printer, however that was secure. the only thing i haven't tried is sending the cyan cartridge back to HP under the ink cartridge warranty to be replaced, however considering this cartridge is brand new, i'm not sure that would actually help but i'm going to try it anyway. if anyone has any better ideas however, maybe a link to an official service manual (not user manual, something only an official HP service technician would have and would never come with an HP product)?

[jabzi]

Hello,

Please try the below steps..

1. Power on the printer.
2. Remove all the cartridges from the printhead.
3. Push the Lever up and remove the Printhead.
4. Inspect the area where the Cyan cartridges get in and check if the metallic spring is intact and not bent.
5. Clean the metallic contact point on the Cyan cartrige.
6. Re-insert the printhead and lower the Lever on the right.
7. Install the cartridges, and close the cartridge access door.

If issue still persists, Call HP Tech Support for further assistance.

Regards,
Jabzi

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[mustanggirl331]

Replace the cartridges.  May have to go to a different store to get a good cartridge.  The THIRD set of cartridges (all HP Genuine) finally worked after I went to a different location, hoping to get away from that whole shipment of cartridges to that store.  They thought I was crazy but it worked.  HP has a cartridge problem.  All of them were HP geninue original new cartridges.  Maybe they need to consider the manufacturer of the cartridges or the packaging to help protect them better.  Cardboard box may not be working to protect them.  Good luck!

[Ciara_B]

Hi mustanggirl331, do you have an issue with an OJ Pro 8100 failing to detect cartridges?

Ciara

[Canopach]

@jabzi's recommendation worked.

I found this thread only after ordering a new HP OfficeJet 8100 printer from Amazon, though fortunately before opening the box.   Now I can get an RMA from Amazon and have UPS take the new, replacement printer back.

This problem highlights two issues with this HP inkjet printer:

 1.) It can chug along working without trouble for a long period of time, then get finicky.

 2.) Maintaining it is obtuse -- I am always inclined to open the top and remove the print head when all I need to do is change a cartridge, or cartridges.  And, once I have removed the print head, I live in fear of the printer's imminent demise.

Plus, there is a third, economic anomaly:

 3.) The printer is practically disposable compared to the cost of ink.  I get it.  That's how the whole printer industry works, but in this case the economic anomaly is extreme -- I can buy a whole new printer for less than the cost of a replacement print head.  That seems wasteful. (note to HP: I am not suggesting raising the price of printers!)

Following @jabzi's advice and the earlier info on the discussion board here, I did go through, step-by-step, removing the cartridges and then the print head, then replacing all.  I had limited success on my first pass and tried again with a new batch of cartridges.  I also did something extremely unorthodox -- after seeing ink sludge around the print face on the print  head, I took a micro fibre cloth and gently cleaned the print face area.  I also used another clean micro fiber cloth to clean all metal contacts.  It worked!

BTW -- I have had the printer in question for quite a while and never installed new firmware.

It is still finicky, the LED display bar on magenta ink level fades on the left side -- something's getting funky in the electronics, but the printer works.  

I'm happy.  Good luck if you have this problem yourself.  And, if you work at HP, please do give some thought to an improved design on future printers.

All the best,

PJ