THERE IS A MESSAGE THAT SAYS ERROR 0502 EVERYTIME I TRY TO PRINT

This is copied out of Lexmark's KnowledgeBase, just so you know I'm not coming up with this off of the top of my head. Go to www.lexmark.com and click Support > Technical Support, and then search for ID: ENUS22800 if you would like to see the original, complete with pictures. Or, here's a text version:

The 0502 error can have any of four possible causes:

- A faulty black/photo cartridge
- A faulty color photo cartridge
- A dirty encoder strip
- The encoder strip being out of position
The steps below will help you to identify and resolve each of these four issues.

1. Turn the printer off and disconnect the power cable from the back of the unit.

2. Open the printer's front cover.
Pinch the top of the carrier belt and gently move the cartridge carrier to the center of the printer.

3. Remove both of the cartridges.

4. Move the cartridge carrier over to the left-hand side of the printer using the carrier belt.

5. Gently clean the encoder strip with the cloth.

6. Move the cartridge carrier back to the right-hand side of the printer using the carrier belt.

7. Reconnect the power supply and turn the printer back on.

8. Perform the printer hardware test. Instructions on how to do this are here: http://support.lexmark.com/perl/support/support.cgi?ccs=229:1:0:483:0:0&docid=ENUS3744

Did the printer pass the hardware test?

If yes, proceed to step 9.
If no, proceed to Reseating the encoder strip.

9. Power the printer back off and disconnect the power cable from the back of the unit.

10. Open the printer's front cover.
Move the cartridge carrier over to the middle of the printer using the carrier belt.

11. Reinstall the printer cartridges and move the cartridge carrier back to the right-hand side of the printer.

12. Reconnect the power supply and turn the printer back on.

13. Perform the printer hardware test.

Reseating the encoder strip:

1. Turn off the printer and disconnect the power cable from the back of the unit.

2. Open the printer's front cover.
Pinch the top of the carrier belt and gently move the cartridge carrier to the center of the printer.

3. On the back of the cartridge carrier, there is a small slot that the encoder strip fits into. Gently pushthe encoder strip down and then back up to get it into the slot. Ifthe strip is completely out of the slot, it may be necessary to moveit first forwards and then back.

4. Move the cartridge carrier back to the left-hand side of the printer with the carrier belt.

5. Reconnect the power supply and turn the printer back on.

6. Perform the printer hardware test. Click here for instructions.

Did the printer pass the hardware test?

If yes, proceed to step 9 of Cleaning the encoder strip.
If no, proceed to the Black/Photo cartridge troubleshooting steps.

Black/Photo cartridge troubleshooting steps:

1. Turn off the printer and disconnect the power cable from the back of the unit.

2. Open the printer's front cover.

Pinch the top of the carrier belt and gently move the cartridge carrier to the center of the printer.

3. Remove the black/photo cartridge.

4. Move the cartridge carrier back to the left-hand side of the printer using the carrier belt.

5. Reconnect the power supply and turn the printer back on.

6. Perform the printer test. Details on how to do this are here: http://support.lexmark.com/perl/support/support.cgi?ccs=229:1:0:483:0:0&docid=ENUS3744

Did the printer pass the hardware test?

If yes, repeat steps 1-7 with a new black/photo cartridge.
If no, continue to Color cartridge troubleshooting steps.

Contact Lexmark if the problem persists with a new cartridge.

Color cartridge troubleshooting steps:

1. Turn off the printer and disconnect the power cable from the back of the unit.

2. Open the printer's front cover.
Pinch the top of the carrier belt and gently move the cartridge carrier to the center of the printer.

3. Remove the color cartridge.

4. Move the cartridge carrier back to the left-hand side of the printer using the carrier belt.

5. Reconnect the power supply and turn the printer back on.

6. Perform the printer hardware test. Instructions on how to do this are here:
http://support.lexmark.com/perl/support/support.cgi?ccs=229:1:0:483:0:0&docid=ENUS3744

Did the printer pass the hardware test?

If yes, repeat steps 1-7 with a new color cartridge.
If no, contact Lexmark.

Hope this helps!