HP 8600 & 8700 showing same error messages

[JPhelan23]

I have two HP Printers that I regularly use: HP OfficeJet 8600 at my home office, and an HP OfficeJet 8700 at my work location.  Both printers were working fine until I moved my work printer (HP 8700) and after the move it has a printhead error message.  The next day when I connected my computer to my home office and to my HP 8600, the same printhead error message appeared on this printer and I've been unable to get either to clear out.   The error messages always match between the two printers and at first it was the printhead needed to be aligned and now both printers say the printhead is missing, not detected, or incorrectly installed.

Can someone please help?

[Raj_05]

Hi @JPhelan23,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating issue with both your HP OfficeJet 8600 and 8700 printers displaying similar printhead error messages. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve these issues.

General Troubleshooting Steps:

Power Cycle the Printers:

• Turn off both printers and unplug them from the power source.
• Wait for about 5-10 minutes, then plug them back in and turn them on.

Check for Physical Issues:

• Ensure that the printheads are correctly seated. Open the printer cover and carefully remove and reinsert the printheads for both printers. Make sure they click into place.
• Inspect the printheads and cartridges for any visible damage or foreign objects that may have come loose during the move.

Clean the Printhead Contacts:

• With the printheads removed, gently clean the electrical contacts on the printheads and inside the printer using a lint-free cloth lightly moistened with distilled water. This can help improve connectivity.

Run Printer Maintenance:

• Access the maintenance menu on the printer's control panel and run any available printhead cleaning or alignment processes.

Update or Reinstall Printer Drivers:

• Ensure you have the latest printer drivers installed on your computer. Visit the HP support website, download the latest drivers for both printers, and install them.

Reset the Printer:

• For the HP OfficeJet 8600 and 8700, you can perform a factory reset. This will vary by model, so refer to the user manual or HP’s support site for specific instructions.

Check for Firmware Updates:

• Verify if there are any firmware updates available for your printers and install them.

If the Problem Persists:

Run HP Print and Scan Doctor: This is a free tool from HP that can diagnose and fix many printing and scanning issues. Download and run it on your computer.

Replace the Printheads: If both printers are still showing the same error after all troubleshooting, the printheads may need to be replaced. This is especially possible if they were both moved, as they can be sensitive to movement.

Additional Considerations:

• Since both printers are displaying the same error messages, consider the possibility of environmental factors or network issues if they are connected to the same network or power source.
• If you have spare cartridges or printheads, try swapping them between printers to determine if the issue is with the cartridges/printheads themselves.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

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Alden4

HP Support