An error message comes up saying, Insert toner cartridge when I try to print, but there's a cartridge in place and the printer was working quite well with it half an hour before the error message started appearing.

With very few exceptions, modernprinters need a full set of cartridges to even try and print.

the reasons for this are not quite an sinister as you may think. Many printers use a little colour and them finally apply black to create a very deep shade of black. printers also periodically do small cleans, checks and calibrations to keep the printer running as efficiently as possible. In order for many of these to be performed they need a cartridge of each colour to avoid damage etc.

SOLVED IT!
- PROBLEM: I'm using a refilled toner / NOT original Samsung (supplier: Peach, Switzerland)
- SOLUTION: 1. Remove the toner 2. Simply put a tape over the four metal contacts on the backside of the toner 3. Insert the toner
- It will now print, the printer says "low toner" & the LED status light is red - just ignore! It still work well....
- EXPLANATION: the chip (behind the four contacts) seems not be needed. I used a compatible 3rd party toner (Peach, Switzerland)
- Observation: The refilled toner worked well for the first 2-3 weeks, then suddenly I had this error message.

Error: "Invalid Toner Cartridge"; Error: "Invalid Refill"; Message: "Change Cartridge"
Solution
One of these error messages may appear on the printer display immediately after or shortly after a new toner cartridge is installed into the printer. Note: This may not be specifically a toner cartridge problem; the error may be due to a stuck cover open switch on the printer.

To see if the cover open switch is the cause of this problem, open the top front cover and observe the message on the printer's display panel. The display should read Close Door or Insert Cartridge.


If this message is not displayed, the top cover open sensor and switch will need to be replaced. In addition, the printer may have damaged the new toner cartridge. If the cover open sensor is not operating properly, a new cartridge can be incorrectly flagged as a refilled cartridge by the printer. If this happens, the new cartridge will continue to cause an Invalid Refill or Invalid Cartridge error even if you try reinstalling it or installing it into another printer. If this should occur, please contact the point of purchase of the cartridge to find out how to get the cartridge replaced.

Caution: If the cover open sensor is not operating, do not install another new toner cartridge until you have completed the directions below. Inserting another new cartridge can cause that cartridge to stop working as well. Should this situation arise, please take the following actions:


Place the original working cartridge (the empty or near-empty one) back into the printer. This should clear the error message.

Turn the printer off. Doing this will disengage the cover open sensor.

With the printer switched off, open the top lid and remove the old toner cartridge.

Now replace the old cartridge with another new Lexmark toner cartridge.

Power the printer back on. The printer should now read this cartridge as a newly installed toner cartridge and the error should be cleared. The printer and toner cartridge should function properly now, but the top cover sensor on the printer will still need to be replaced.

If your printer is still under warranty or covered under a service contract, please contact Lexmark Technical Support or your service provider for further recommendations and instructions. Until you can get the cover open switch replaced, remember to have the printer powered off whenever you replace the toner cartridge.

If the top cover switch appears to be working fine, or if you have followed the above steps and your printer continues to post an Invalid Toner Cartridge or Invalid Refill error, make sure you are using a new original Lexmark toner cartridge. A toner cartridge remanufactured or refilled by a third party can cause this error.

To help identify a refilled cartridge, look for the yellow label attached to the toner drum and the body of the toner cartridge. If this is damaged or removed, the cartridge may have been refilled.

If you are using a third-party refilled or remanufactured toner cartridge, it is recommended that you install a new Lexmark brand toner cartridge. Lexmark cannot guarantee the compatibility of any third-party toner cartridges with our printers.

OR

1 Switch on the Lexmark X83 printer.

2 Lift open the cartridge door at the front of the device, below the scanner unit. The printer automatically moves the cartridge carrier to the correct position.

3 Pull each ink cartridge toward you to unclasp it from the carrier. Lift the cartridge out of the cartridge carrier.

4 Clean the copper contacts on the bottom of each cartridge with a clean, dry lint-free cloth. Use a gentle, circular motion to clean the contacts.

5 Insert the ink cartridges back into the cartridge carrier. Push back firmly on each cartridge until it snaps into place.

6 Repeat each step in this procedure again. Close the cartridge door.

The toner cartridge maybe failed, try with another cartridge.

If you removed and reinstalled toner correctly several times and this error code is flashing, you need to try another new toner cartridge, even though the other one may seem still good to you. If this doesn't remedy problem the Troubleshooting section of the Canonusa.com website says to call 1-800-OK-CANON.

Open the printer's lid.
Remove the cartridges.
Cut the AC-power to the printer.
Plug it back in.
Insert the "black" cartridge into the "black" carrier.
Insert the "colour" cartridge into the "colour" carrier.
Be sure that each cartridge "clicks" into place.

Remove the "new" cartridge, and re-insert the "old" cartridge, to see if _only_ the "new" cartridge causes the error.

Otherwise, take the printer to a qualified technician.

Is "CH" steady or flashing? If it's steady, the door is not shut properly.
If it's flashing, the machine doesn't detect the presence of the toner cartridge (defective toner cartridge). Try another toner cartridge (an empty cartridge will do).

To get the blue handle to stay locked sometimes takes fiddling with it when the cartridge is in.

I just posted the similar problem recently. After talking to canon printer service tech, this is what solved my problem:

1. open the top cover and remove the cartridge
2. Inside the printer, these is black roller (with sponge&soft material). Press this gently couple of times
3. below this roller, there is a gray roller. press this roller upward couple to times gently
4. insert the cartridge and try to get print out

hope that helps.

For starters aftermarket cartridges are just not like the new ones from Dell. I quit using aftermarket ones long ago to save these headaches, with Dell you can get on Dell Chat and they will gladly help with issues like this. Try that with "Bob's Printer Cartridge and Music Rental" you won't get anywhere.