I changed the black XL ink cartridge and now the printer says there is a General Printer error.

[Paul1424]

I changed the black XL ink cartridge and now the printer says there is a General Printer error.  As directed, I turned off the printer and unplugged the printer (several times) and the error screen still appears.  The error screen says if the unplugging does not work, to reach out to hp.com/support.  This is where that website directed me.  Any suggestions on what is wrong with my HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 Plus?

I have performed all the items in the response below (from a response to a previous question of the same problem), to no avail. By the way, the only way I could get the printer screen to be operational (other than show the general printer error) was to remove the black XL ink cartridge. I was not able to find a firmware section on the printer screen, so I checked it on the web, which said that the firmware was up to date.

Any more ideas? It does appear that the problem lies with the black ink connection somehow (I did clean the contacts).

Here are the suggestions offered to the previous post:

[Garp_senchau]

@Paul1424, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

It sounds frustrating to deal with that General Printer Error, especially when the steps you’ve already tried haven’t resolved the issue. Since you’ve already tried the basics (power cycling, cleaning contacts, etc.) and the printer only works without the black XL ink cartridge, it seems like the issue is specifically related to the black ink cartridge.

Here are some additional troubleshooting steps for your HP OfficeJet Pro 8600 Plus that might help you fix this issue:

Check the Ink Cartridge & Reinstall

Re-seat the cartridge: Sometimes, the cartridge might not be seated properly. Remove the black XL ink cartridge and carefully reinstall it, making sure it clicks into place securely.

Try another cartridge: If you have a spare black ink cartridge, try swapping it in to see if the issue lies with the cartridge itself.

Inspect for Obstructions or Ink Spills

Check the cartridge area: Look closely for any debris, paper, or even excess ink that might be interfering with the ink cartridge slot or contacts.

Clean the cartridge contacts: Even though you mentioned cleaning the contacts, try using a lint-free cloth and a little distilled water or isopropyl alcohol to gently wipe both the cartridge contacts and the printer’s contacts (where the cartridge connects). Let them dry completely before reinstalling the cartridge.

Reset the Printer to Factory Defaults

If you can access the printer settings on the screen (even if it’s just showing the error), try to reset the printer to its factory settings:

On the printer’s control panel, navigate to Setup > Printer Maintenance > Restore Defaults.

This can sometimes clear out any persistent software or configuration errors that might be causing the General Printer Error.

Run HP Smart:

• Download and run the HP Smart. Follow the prompts to diagnose and fix common printing issues.
• Refer: Use Diagnose & Fix in HP Smart to repair common printing issues (Windows, macOS) | HP® Support

Update Printer Firmware (Update the firmware on an HP printer | HP® Support)

• Go to the HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads page. Enter your printer model number and search for the latest firmware update. Follow the instructions to download and install the firmware update.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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