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There are several different ways I've come across which will resolve ink cartridge errors on the HP Officejet 5510.
HP's standard, pat answer to the problem is "Buy brand new genuine HP ink cartridges." If you refill your own ink cartridge or have it done at Walmart or somewhere else, you will eventually run into this problem. Why? Because the 5510 stores information on as many as 2 of the black ink & 2 of the color ink cartridges you have used in the machine - complete with an "expiration" date for each of those cartridges. You can refill them, but unless you clear the stored memory in the printer you probably won't be able to get around the errors. Even if you do, they usually come back in a short period of time. I know this because I own a 5510 & a 5110 and have battled this problem myself for a couple of years.
Short of buying "genuine new HP ink cartridges", using your printer for target practice, or testing it's aerodynamic design... lofting it not-so-gently from a 2nd-story (or higher) window... aiming for the nearest dumpster ;) you might try:
- http://www.misterinkjet.com/hpreset.htm Scroll down and you will find links to pages for the #56 & #57 cartridge serial number reset procedure.
- If the above doesn't resolve your problem, try removing both cartridges, then - with the printer still turned "ON", unplug the power supply cord from the back of the machine. After one minute has passed, press down and hold both the "#" button and the "6" button on the keypad and while pressing those buttons, reach back and plug the power cord back into the machine. The LED readout will indicate "Initializing" and "Reset..." Then, release the "#" and "6" buttons and wait until the machine re-initializes and prompts you to install ink cartridges. Reinstall the cartridges and see if the problem is resolved. The reset procedure, as well as other troubleshooting procedures (paper jams, ink cartridge jams, etc.) can be found here, on the HP support pages.
- Another way of working around the cartridge error problem is to keep at least 3 sets of cartridges on hand, using the newest sets for re-filling. You may have to switch out 2 or 3 times just to get the machine's memory maxed out, but the third set should work. This particular method works best with OEM HP cartridges, but I've heard it works with other brands, too.
For more adventurous-techie-types, who can't resist tearing into the machine in an effort to resolve the cartridge error permanently, I found the following information posted on a DIY (Do It Yourself) repair forum:
The 5510 has a pair of 1.5v batteries which function much like the CMOS battery on the motherboard of your computer - they supply power to the memory chips which store the serial numbers and expiration dates of the last 2 sets of ink cartridges which were used. The batteries are sealed together at the top and bottom and are attached to a circut board inside the printer on the left-hand side. At a glance, they look a lot like a capacitor or something like that attached to the board. If you look closely, you will see the "+" and "-" markings.
Breaking the connection (located at the top) between these two batteries will clear the ink cartridge serial number info from the printer's memory - but be advised this will probably also clear other short-term memory items also - such as last number redial, etc.
The clever individual who posted this info actually attached wires - one to the top of each of the 1.5v batteries - and ran the wires out through the opening above the paper trays. The wire-ends are connected together - I imagine they would need to be held out of the way of the paper path with a piece of tape.
(M-I-C-K-E-Y...M-O-U-S-E) He, he
When it's time for a cartridge change/refill, the wires are disconnected to clear the memory, then reconnected again after the full cartridges have been installed.
I've read posts from people with different models of printers have mentioned installing a switch to clear the memory - a preferable solution than to have wires running out from the inside of your printer.
This is a widespread issue and regardless of how you resolve the error messages, one must always remember that when you bypass something that is built-into the design of an electronic device, you run the risk of damaging components. In this case, the biggest problem would be running too low or completely out of ink and burning out the print head on the ink cartridge; then you would end up having to replace the cartridge anyway.
Personally, I'm basically fed up with the way HP has been forcing people who buy their printers and All-In-Ones to pay outrageous prices for replacement cartridges, by building machines which generate error messages and reject refilled and non-OEM cartridges. Their drivers and software programs often have compatibility problems even with other HP products which are installed on the same computer with an HP printer. Too many problems for me - I won't be buying any more HP printers and I hear Dell is not much better.
While I haven't tried to jump out the memory on my 5510 yet, that will be my last and final effort before giving it the aerodynamics test... into the nearest dumpster!
