Printer has come up with an error message when we changed one of the ink cartridges

[DreamBoatBill]

my printer has come up with an error message after we changed one of the cartridges for a HP cartridge from Instant Ink. It reads “ There is a problem with the printer or ink system. Turn printer off and on a problem assist contact HP”

Turning it off  and on doesn’t remove the error message, even after unplugging it from the wall. The printer is too old for any support.

does anyone have any ideas about how or if it can be fixed?

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @DreamBoatBill,

Welcome to the HP Support Community!

Thanks for reaching out!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

I understand your printer started showing a “There is a problem with the printer or ink system” error after replacing a cartridge with an HP Instant Ink cartridge. Let’s go through a few steps to check what could be causing this.

Perform a full power reset
Leave the printer turned on and unplug the power cord from the back of the printer.
Unplug the cord from the wall, wait 60 seconds, then reconnect and power the printer back on.

Remove all ink cartridges
Open the cartridge access door and remove all cartridges from the printer.
Close the door and turn the printer on without any cartridges installed.

Restart the printer with no cartridges
Allow the printer to fully start and display a missing cartridge message.
This helps reset the internal ink system state.

Reinsert cartridges one at a time
Insert one cartridge, close the door, and wait a few seconds.
Repeat for each cartridge to see if the error appears after a specific one.

Check cartridge type compatibility
Confirm all cartridges installed are the same type (either all Instant Ink or all standard HP cartridges).
Mixing Instant Ink and non-Instant Ink cartridges can trigger ink system errors.

Clean cartridge and printer contacts
Use a lint-free cloth lightly dampened with distilled water.
Gently clean the copper contacts on each cartridge and the matching contacts inside the printer.

Inspect for ink leaks or residue
Look inside the cartridge area for pooled ink, corrosion, or heavy residue.
Ink contamination in the carriage area can cause permanent ink system errors.

Reset the printer electronics again
With the printer on, unplug the power cord from the rear of the printer.
Press and hold the Power button for 15 seconds, then reconnect the power.

I hope this helps.

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Best regards,