Deskjet F380 Print Cartridge light blinking

[RunnyBunny]

On my Deskjet F380 the ink cartridge light blinks and and E shows. Computer tells me there is an problem with the colour ink. Have inserted new HP cartridge and no result. Have pulled out  and checked both cartridges and print heads. Have followed instructions to unplug, reset etc. Have tried to print out test sheet but it won't do it. Have tried to realign but it won't print out the sheet you need.

Admittedly i have previously used refills with success and the current black is still a refill. When i put in a new colour refill, all this started. But now i've put in an HP, it still won't work!!

It drives me nuts when help guides tell you do do things like check its switched on, or the door is shut. but then give you no help with real problems!

PLEASE can someone out there give me some advice. I'm a school teacher and the new academic year is approaching very fast!!!

[zodiac2020]

hi runnybunny.

got exactly the same problem with my F380 after putting new inks in. I have put refills in before and its been ok. The ink carrier moves up and down the carrier and thats about it. have you had any luck?

[willstatt]

I've got the same problem too, and it's driving me mad. I've tried several cartridges; all HP and have reinstalled the printer software, and restarted the PC a thousand times! Do HP monitor these pages? Can't they please help?

I urgently need an answer.

Will

[Heritage_Motel]

This seems like a symptom of disposable design.  It's happening to mine right now, almost exactly two years after purchasing the printer.

[Hooat]

Here we are, 2 1/2 years on and now I've got the same problem. The red light flashes, the screen displays "Print cartridges problem - Refer to printer documentation" but of course there isn't any. And nobody from HP has bothered to put any constructive suggestions into the Help files.

Which rival make of printer should I buy now?

[Cochin_Sujith]

Even I too face the same problem with the catridges. Im tired of buying catridges. Infact the catridges cost put together seems to be way higher than double the printers price. Funniest part is that the discarded catridges were seldom empty.

[timstohrer]

This forum is not really helping... I don't see any solutions. Definitely, I think the time has come to buy another printer by another manufacturer, maybe one who cares about their customer's problems...

Along with the blinking light problem, I can't install the CD that came with the printer, because IT CONTAINS A VIRUS!!!!!!! If any of you dweebs at HP do have an idea on how to solve this, feel free to answer.

If I don't get a solution by Monday, 04/11, I'll buy a printer of another company and I don't think I'll be able to recommmend any of HP products any longer.

[cris-b]

Hello fellow sufferers, I too have received the mssage "Print Cartridge(s) Problem", supposedly relating to the colour cartridge.  I've refilled the colour cartridge a few times in the past, but haven't bothered for quite a while, and have been opting to print from the black ink cartridge if there is any colour in what I want to print out.  So, why is it suddenly an issue, where now nothing works? 

Any way to disable the colour? and just have a black & white printer, copier, scanner?

Because there appears to be no cure, and HP is silent on the issue, it seems like there is a "sleeper" program that activates when HP feels its time for you to give them more money.

[blondieblue227]

i'm having the same problem and i'm guessing since no solution has been posted it's a HP defect.

cartridge light is blinking and green E in the window

i hope the solution is posted soon or my next printer won't be a HP.

has anybody got this to work?

Printing an alignment page using the printer control panel

Press and hold the Cancel button and then press the On button. Release both buttons.
Press and release the Cancel button. 
Press and release the Copies button. 
Press and release the Paper Type (Photo) button. 
Press and release the Color Start Copy button. An alignment sheet prints. 

Step one: Print and time a test page
Follow these steps to print a test page:
Load plain paper in the tray.
Press and hold the Cancel button and then press the Start Copy Color button The self-test page prints.

[shikdnl]

  E Error code and  the two little lights above are blinking. please advise.