HP c4180 changed into mfg mode

[John_Lam]

Recently. my HP Photosmart c4180 printer displayed the message "remove and check cartridge on the right". After removing and cleaning the metallic contacts both on the black cartridge and on the printer, the same message still displayed. On numerous trials, the printer was able to print out an alignment page successfully, and then the same message displayed again.

So I spent around one hundred dollars to purchase two new 95 and 98 ink. After inserting the two new cartridges, the same "remove and check cartridge on the right" still displayed. So I removed both, only inserted the black 98 ink and closed the printer door. This time, the printer briefly displayed the message "insert tricolor...." and then printed out an extended self test report with only the black cartridge installed successfully. I thought the problem had resolved. But as soon as I inserted the 95 tricolor cartridge to the left slot and closed the printer door, the same message "remove and check cartridge on the right displayed again and the printer just stuck there. Since an extended self test page could be printed with only the 98 ink installed, it didn't look like there was problems with the new 98 cartridge. Although I tried the above steps again, the printer wouldn't print the test page again.

The problem now is the printer suddenly goes into mfg mode. When I press the on/off button to turn off, the display turns off, but the on/off button and an "!" mark continue to light up. My question is how to do a printer reset?

Followings are information of my printer:

info menu R0613w

service ID: 18148

serial #: [Private information removed]

Region/Language: usa english

counter: pages 233  cycles 202

firmware version: FW R0613W

last 5 events level:  event 1 to 5: 69961 (all 5 events are the same)

last 1-5 assets: error 1 to 5 :0x00000000 (all 5 errors are the same)

Hope someone can help resolve the problems!

Thanks

[John_Lam]

After reading resoures on the web, the printer has been changed back to user mode, but the same "remove and check cartridge on the right" continues to display forever, and cannot print or copy. The only use now is to scan from the computer.

First, these are the step to access the "underware" menu. Press Left Arrow and setup keys together. When asked for the key combo, press Left Arrow, then OK, then Right Arrow in sequence; the underware will appear. The first menu is for toggling between mfg mode and user mode.

To access the underware information menu, first step is the same, press Left Arrow and Setup keys at the same time. When asked for key combo, press OK, the information menu will come up. Press Right Arrow for different menus. On the Reports Menu, press OK, then select selftest or extended selftest, then press OK. When asked for the key combo, do nothing, the report will be printed out.

Now the strength thing happened. I only installed the Black cartridge, and was able to printed out an extended selftest report nicely with the black ink cartridge. The printout is neat and clear, of course, only black text were printed. There doesn't seem to have any problem with the printing capabilities of the black cartridge. However the same error message still appears with no resolve.

Can HP experts explain exactly what's going on? Keep in mind that the black extended selftest report could be printed out, but the printer keeps asking to remove and check the cartridge on the right. Is it a firmware error?