OfficeJet Pro 8620 - Missing or Failed Printhead

[ChristianThomas]

It's the usual Missing or Failed printhead. We know this isn't a hardware failure - being most likely in firmware - but all the possibilities I have tried have failed so far. They include switching off ink monitoring, a factory reset, download of the latest update of firmware and download of firmware that allows non-HP ink. I have also checked all the contacts on the printhead. What I want to know is whether there is definitive solution to this problem which seems to have plagued the whole 8600 series.

[Bob_Headrick]

The troubleshooting steps in the document here may help resolve the Missing or Failed Printhead message on your Officejet Pro 8620.

You indicate the issue is not hardware.  What makes you think the issue is not an actual printhead failure?  The printhead on the 8620 is considered a consumable and is designed to be replaceable.

While the replacement printhead may seem expensive, please note that it also includes a complete set of black and color cartridges.

[ChristianThomas]

We know this is not usually a hardware issue, but more likely firmware since it has occurred thousands of times only when people replace their ink. (there are millions of posts all over the web about it.)  It seems to me that HP won't divulge what the real problem is because it might risk disclosing what they did to stop people using non HP inks and in building in obsolescence. Perhaps it would be kind to finally tell people who have been loyal HP customers for decades. I date back to a Deskjet 670 and a 4L and all HP in between. This, however, is really getting my goat..

[Bob_Headrick]

There is a lot of misinformation in your post.  

I would suggest you go through troubleshooting steps in the document I linked above.

[ChristianThomas]

I have been through all the steps in the document, and in fact had found it before posting here.  I must have reseated the printhead two dozen times.  I had imagined that was pretty much implicit in my opening post, given that I had downloaded the two firmware possibilities.  

I am intrigued to know what is misinfo in my last reply.  This problem is all over the web and I personally must have read more than a hundred people's testimony of their printers giving up a year and a month into ownership or the next time they changed the ink.  [Content Removed]  There are also plenty of people who have had to buy a new printer because of it.  That's why I was after finding out if there was a definitive solution to it.  And as for it being or not being a hardware problem, the coincidence between changing ink cartridges and its occurence correlates at pretty much 100% which would push one towards saying that it isn't.

[Bob_Headrick]

I do not have time at this point to deal with all the inaccuracies in your post above, perhaps after taxes are done later this week I will get back to this thread.  

I will point out that the reason the failure tends to be reported as ink cartridges are changed is due to two factors:

• The printer does a self test of the printhead at various times such as  power on and when the lid is closed after accessing the cartridges.  The error will be reported when it is noticed, which will tend to be these times. 
• Removing and installing cartridges may disrupt the printhead seating.

[hwearsch1]

While HP considers the printhead to be consumable, one can purchase a new equivalent HP printer for about the same price which includes startup cartridges.

Why would anyone replace the printhead!     ?????????

[Bob_Headrick]

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@hwearsch1 wrote:

While HP considers the printhead to be consumable, one can purchase a new equivalent HP printer for about the same price which includes startup cartridges.

Why would anyone replace the printhead!     ?????????

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The printhead may seem expensive, but the printhead assembly does include a complete set of cartridges, which accounts for a good portion of the cost.  

[Haughfoot]

I was in the middle of doing stuff last night when this message came up. Leaving the printer overnight and switching on again today, I was able to a head alignment. After that was complered and trying to do anything else, the message returned.

If I power the printer off and then back on, I get the normal display. Then going to The HP Printer Assistant and then "Maintain Your Printer" and then selecting "Printhead Health" it shows the "Health" as "Good".

I then tested the Scan facility and was able to use that and generate a pdf scan on my PC.

Trying to print after that brings up the error message.

Clearly, the fact that the printer was able to do an alignment page indicates that the actual printhead is not faulty.

After messing about with it doing the same things as before and hey presto the printer said I should do an aligment. The printer has once again completed this process and following that the error message returns. Illogical

[Bob_Headrick]

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@Haughfoot wrote:

I was in the middle of doing stuff last night when this message came up. Leaving the printer overnight and switching on again today, I was able to a head alignment. After that was complered and trying to do anything else, the message returned.  [snip]

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The troubleshooting steps in the document here may help resolve the printhead error on your Officejet Pro 8620 printer.  Be sure to reseat the printheead as described.  If this does not resolve the issue I would suggest cleaning the electrical contacts in the printer and on the back of the printhead assembly with a lint-freee wipe.  A clean damp coffee filter works well for this.